In many parts of the country, finding an apartment is a challenge, to say the least. Especially in larger cities and close to universities, many people find it difficult to rent an apartment. Many are therefore forced to sublet their home. As a second hand tenant, it can sometimes be difficult to know what rights you have.
Something that has become increasingly common in recent years is renting through letting agents. Then the property owner rents out the apartment to a letting agent, who then rents the apartment out to a tenant. In some cases, this can affect the tenant in the form of higher rents. It also sometimes leads to the tenant losing their protected tenancy. Protected tenancy means that you as a tenant have the right to an extension of your lease if the landlord terminates your agreement before the contract has expired.
In some cases, as a second hand tenant who rents your apartment through a letting agency, you may also be entitled to a first-hand contract, reimbursement of any excess rent you may have paid and fair rent in the future. To find out if you have the right to get a first-hand contract, get back rent you’ve paid or even have the right to have your rent adjusted, you need to review your lease with a lawyer.
How do you know you’re renting an apartment through a letting agency?
When letting agencies sublet apartments, it risks eroding the Swedish residential rental market. It becomes more difficult for people to find apartments with reasonable rent. At the same time, the letting agents can drive up rental prices when they own the rental contracts for several residential areas. By extension, it also results in fewer available rental apartments on the market.
You can easily find out if you’re subletting your apartment by looking at the name plate at the main door of the house where you live. The owner of the house must be named there. Compare the name with the name that appears on your lease. If there’s a different name on your lease than what’s on the nameplate, you’re most likely renting your apartment through a letting agent.
