The Stockholm Housing Agency – how it works
The Stockholm Housing Agency (Bostadsförmedlingen) acts as an agent, helping you to find vacant rental apartments in the Stockholm region. Apartments are allocated on the basis of the time spent in the housing queue. To apply for an apartment, you must first register for the housing queue.
Who can register for the housing queue?
Anyone who is aged 18+ and has a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) or a coordination number (samordningsnummer) can join the housing queue. It doesn’t matter where you live or whether you already have an apartment. Your queue time starts as soon as you have registered, and once you have registered you can start searching for and registering an interest in apartments. The fee for the housing queue is SEK 200 per year.
Different types of housing
You can search for different types of housing and contract types via the Stockholm Housing Agency. If you are studying at a university or are in higher vocational education, you can apply for student housing. If you’re aged between 18 and 25, you can apply for youth housing. Special housing designed for senior citizens is also a possibility if you are aged 55+. Short-term contracts offer the option of temporary accommodation while you continue to build up your queue time.
Be proactive
It’s up to you to search for and register an interest in the vacant apartments advertised on our website. The advertisements contain detailed information about the accommodation, along with the landlord’s letting requirements for prospective tenants. Once you are logged in, you can register an interest in an apartment via the advertisement. Remember that the more actively you search, the greater your chances of finding an apartment.
How long does it take to get an apartment?
How long you have to wait depends on a number of factors, including where you want to live and the kind of rent you can afford.
Most people who get an apartment have a queue time between 7 and 11 years, but it can be quicker or slower than this. Generally speaking, you will need a longer queue time for an apartment in the city centre or surrounding suburbs than you will for housing further outside central Stockholm.