A guide to Renting out your property

Here is some advice if you are thinking about renting out a room or an apartment:

1. Get permission to let

If you wish to let one or several rooms in your apartment to a lodger, you don’t need permission from the property owner/landlord. If you sublet the entire apartment to someone who will be using it independently, you always need permission from the landlord or from the board of your condominium association. Subletting without permission can lead to you losing your contract. If your landlord does not allow you to sublet, you can in some cases appeal and get a permit from the Regional rent tribunal (Hyresnämnden).

Extended fire regulations apply when you house more than one lodger or sublet to several students and you may have to take extra precautions. Always refer to the local fire authorities for more information. It may for instance matter if you as a landlord live on the premises or not. Basements rooms are not allowed to let exept under certain conditions for evacuation. It is also a good idea to contact the muncipality regarding ventilation and minimum hygene facilities when renting out to several students.

2. Decide how much rent you should charge

In Sweden rent has to be reasonable according to the law. This means that determining rent is not a matter for market forces. The rent level is set in negotiations betwen landlords and the Tenants' association. More information here.

BoPoolen.nu is operated by the Lund University Student Unions’ Association (LUS) and we strive for good and cheap housing for students. As a part of this advocacy work we do not publish ads that have higher rent than our policy permits.

In 2025, the national student loan is approximately SEK 13,500/month with full study grant. According to a recommendation from the Swedish Student Union (SFS), a reasonable rent should not exceed 30% of this income, which means a rent of no more than SEK 4,050/month. This may then be adjusted to the local rent level in the respective university town.

We have assessed that a reasonable rent in Lund is approximatly 35% of the CSN for a normal-sized furnished room that includes electricity and internet. For free advertising on BoPoolen.nu, however, we have set a maximum rent of SEK 5,200/month for slightly larger or otherwise more attractive rooms. Applied to apartments where several students can reasonably share the rent, the maximum limit is the number of people living together times SEK 5,200/month. The maximum rent should always include electricity, internet and furniture.

3. Decide on the time period for the contract

If you want to let a room or apartment for nine months or less, the rental period can be set in the contract and no period of notice is necessary. The tenant must move out at the agreed date. It is although possible to agree upon a period of notice, and the contract must then be terminated in accordance with this.

If you want to let for longer than nine months, the contract needs to be terminated with a period of notice. You can read more about period of notice here.

4. Create an ad on BoPoolen

Write a short text about the apartment or the room you wish to let. It is important for the person looking for housing to know whether the room is furnished, if the rent includes electricity and internet, how large the room is, and so on. If you are letting outside of Lund it might be a good idea to include som information about the distance to Lund and public transportation. Create an account on BoPoolen.nu and upload your ad. It is easy and completely free of charge!

5. Check the section "Find tenant"

Students looking for housing can write a short description about themselves and what kind of housing they are looking for. You will find these housing ads under the headline Find tenant. Check in and see if you find anyone who fits what you are looking for in a tenant.

6. Enter into a lease agreement

When you have found your tenant, it is important that you sign a lease agreement that contains all the conditions for the rental. You are welcome to save/print and fill out BoPoolen’s contract templates - they contain everything that is important to agree upon. Don’t forget the two appendixes "List of furniture and fittings" and "Defects and damages". When the contract is signed, a normal arrangement is for the first month’s rent to be paid at the turn of the month before the tenant moves in. If you wish to ask for a deposit, BoPoolen recommends a deposit of maximum one month’s rent.

7. Important to consider

Protection of tenancy - If you are subletting your apartment for a longer period than two years, protection of tenancy could become relevant. It means your tenant no longer has to move out without grounds if you wish to terminate the contract. If you want to rent out for a longer period of time, but be able to move back to the apartment whenever you wish, you and your tenant should agree on them abstaining from the protection of their tenancy.

Insurance - Your home insurance normally does not cover a tenant who is subletting, nor does it cover the belongings of a lodger. Make sure the person renting gets their own home insurance. We recommend that you contact your insurance company to see what requirements they have.

8. Declare your earnings

Earnings from subletting or letting of housing should be declared as capital income and is taxed at 30 %. It is not allowed to make your own tax deductions, but starting 2013 a template deduction of SEK 40 000 per year per private housing property, tenant-owned apartment or rental apartment is allowed. You may also make deductions for the amount you yourself is paying in rent for the rented room or apartment. If you rent out a self-owned house, you may instead make deductions for a further 20 % of your rental earnings. You can read more at the Swedish Tax Agency's website here.

9. Do you have other questions about subletting?

You will find more information about subletting on BoPoolen.nu under the headline Laws & regulations.

If you need more advice or have any other questions, you are always welcome to contact us!