The Rent Tribunal in Stockholm — what it does and when to turn to it

The Rent Tribunal in Stockholm — what it does and when to turn to it

The Rent Tribunal in Stockholm is the authority that decides rental matters for those who live in Farsta and the rest of Stockholm Municipality. If you have a dispute with your landlord about the rent, want to sublet your apartment, or disagree about the condition of the home, the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm may be the way forward. Here we explain what the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm does, which matters it handles, and what you need to know before contacting it.

What the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm decides

The Rent and Lease Tribunal makes impartial decisions in matters concerning homes, premises, and leases. For you living in a rental apartment in Farsta, the following issues are particularly relevant:

• Rent and rental terms, for example if you consider the rent unreasonable or if the landlord wants to raise the rent
• Subletting, if you need the landlord's permission or want to appeal a rejection
• Changes to the terms of the tenancy agreement
• The condition of the home and repairs that the landlord does not carry out
• Disputes about security of tenure and the right to remain in the apartment

The Rent Tribunal in Stockholm also mediates in disputes between tenant and landlord. The goal is for the parties to reach an agreement without a longer legal process. Mediation can, for example, concern how a repair should be carried out or whether the rent level is reasonable in relation to the standard of the home.

What the Rent Tribunal does not do

It is equally important to know what the Rent Tribunal cannot help with. The tribunal:

• does not represent either the tenant or the landlord in a dispute
• does not provide legal advice to individual parties
• does not give advance opinions on how a future dispute will be assessed
• cannot force a landlord to carry out a repair before a decision has been made

If you need personal legal assistance, you can instead turn to the Swedish Union of Tenants if you are a member, or to a lawyer specialized in tenancy law.

How to contact the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm

You reach the Rent Tribunal through the Swedish Courts. You submit a written application describing what the dispute is about and what solution you want. The application should be clear and contain the information needed for the tribunal to investigate the case, such as the address of the home, what the dispute concerns, and what action you are requesting.

When the application has been received, the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm investigates the matter and issues a decision. Both you as the tenant and your landlord are given the opportunity to comment before the decision is made. It is important that you respond on time if the tribunal sends a request for additional information.

Note that the Rent Tribunal does not handle all types of rental-related cases. Disputes concerning, for example, eviction or damages are instead handled by the district court. The tribunal's role is limited to the matters explicitly stated in the Swedish Land Code.

Appeal and time limits

If you are not satisfied with the Rent Tribunal's decision, you can in some cases appeal it to the Court of Appeal. The appeal must be made within three weeks from the date you received the decision. It is important to keep to this time limit, as a late appeal may be dismissed without being examined on the merits.

You should also know that not all decisions can be appealed. Certain decisions, for example those made after a settlement between the parties, may be final.

Postponement of moving out

An area where the Rent Tribunal can be relevant is if you need a postponement of moving out of your home. The tribunal can grant a postponement of up to two years from the end of the tenancy period, but you must apply for it before the tenancy ends. Do not wait until the last day — the earlier you submit your application, the better.

A postponement can be relevant if you, for example, have difficulty finding a new home or if there are special circumstances that would make it particularly hard to move right now.

Examples of situations where the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm can help

To make it easier to decide whether the Rent Tribunal is the right authority for you, here are some concrete examples:

• Your landlord has raised the rent and you consider the new rent unreasonable in relation to the condition and location of the home.
• You want to sublet your apartment for a year, but the landlord says no without giving a reason.
• The landlord refuses to fix damp in the bathroom even though you have reported the problem several times.
• You and your landlord disagree about who should pay for a repair that arose while you were living there.

In each of these cases, the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm can examine the issue and issue a decision that both parties must comply with.

Summary for you in Farsta

The Rent Tribunal in Stockholm is an authority that decides rental matters and mediates in disputes for tenants in Stockholm Municipality, including Farsta. It can help you with questions about rent, subletting, contract terms, and the condition of the home. It does not represent either party and does not provide legal advice, but it makes impartial decisions that both parties must comply with.

If you have a rental-related problem that you cannot resolve directly with your landlord, the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm is one option. Read more on the Swedish Courts' website or contact the Swedish Union of Tenants if you are a member and need support before submitting an application.