Renting a flat / home
Finding a place to call home is an important part of settling into a new country. On this page you will find information on the various forms of housing and where to start your search.
In Sweden apartments are usually classified by their size in square metres (boarea) and number of rooms (excluding kitchen and WC). There are two types of rental contracts available. Both usually include the cost of heating and water in the rent. Other services such as electricity and broadband may or may not be included in the rent. All apartments will have a cooker, fridge and freezer in place and most have a washing machine or access to a shared laundry room.   
First hand contracts (Förstahandskontrakt)
On a first hand contract you rent directly from the owner of the building. It is currently very difficult to obtain such a contract in Gothenburg and queuing can take several years. In surrounding municipalities, however, the queueing times are often much shorter. First hand contract apartments are always unfurnished.
Second hand contracts (Andrahandskontrakt)
On a first hand contract you sublet from the individual who rents directly from the owner. Normally these contracts are for a limited period of time. The apartments or rooms may be furnished or unfurnished. Landlords often receive many applications, so you should try and respond to listings quickly. And when doing so, make sure to introduce yourself properly and to try and show why you would be a suitable tenant. 
 
Where to search
Boplats and Home Q are the main portals for rental apartments in the Gothenburg region and you should consider registering with both sites. Boplats is owned by the City of Gothenburg and on its website you will find postings for mostly municipally-owned apartments, but also from some private landlords. Home Q is a private initiative and on its website you will find available apartments from some of the region's major private landlords.
If you plan on staying in the Gothenburg region for a few years we recommend that you register with Boplats, which costs SEK 200. The applicants rank by the number of days they are registered, so the longer you're on there, the better your chances are of securing a first hand contract with these landlords. According to Boplats, if there are more than 50 applicants ahead of you, your chances of being offered a viewing are minimal.
Boplats also works with the municipal landlords in Mölndal and Öckerö as well as a number of municipal and private landlords in several municipalities around Gothenburg. The queuing time is shorter outside the municipality of Gothenburg and for new apartments. As many newly produced apartments come out at the same time, the queue time can, in some cases, be significantly shorter than the average presented.
For apartments outside of the Gothenburg region, contact your municipality to find out how to sign up for your local housing queue. In addition, their websites sometimes have information about local apartments for rent.
Useful options to expand your search
Sublets, lodgings as well as houses and townhouses to rent all across West Sweden can be found on Blocket, a highly popular digital marketplace (in Swedish).
Other alternatives for rentals include the sites Bostaddirekt, Residensportalen, Housingtarget, Qasa and Findroommate, as well as the following sites in Swedish Hyresbostad, Andrahand, and Bostadsdeal. Note, some of the housing sites charge some form of subscription or membership fee. Make sure you read closely the terms and conditions to avoid any unwanted additional charges.
There are also Facebook groups where accommodation is sometimes advertised. An example in English is Find accommodation in Goteborg!.
Landlords often receive many applications, so you should try and respond to listings quickly. And when doing so, make sure to introduce yourself properly and to try and show why you would be a suitable tenant.
A number of companies also offer furnished apartments, generally for short periods of time. Some of them include Företagsbostäder, Waterfront Cabins, WOW Apartments and Beautiful Apartments.
There are also options for co-living spaces in Gothenburg and these help promote social connections. Colive offer coliving space in Gothenburg to young adults aged 20-35 for both students and workers.
If you have a company and are looking for accommodation for your employees, relocation companies may be able to help. Some of the region’s major relocation firms include Key Relocation, Human Entrance, Nordic Relocation Group, Alfa Quality Moving & Relocation and Cito.
For immediate accommodation options, such as hotels and hostels, visit the official tourist guides for Gothenburg and West Sweden. Another option is Airbnb, where you can rent a place or room from a local host.
Top tips to find a home in the Gothenburg region, West Sweden
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If you are studying at a university, you can also apply for student apartments. Gothenburg students can find more information on the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers websites. If you are studying in Borås, the university website has helpful information. In Trollhättan, the municipal landlord Eidar arranges accommodation for University West students; while the University of Skövde takes care of the application process for its students.
Another useful site for international students is Housing Anywhere, where you can find rooms offered by other students.
TENANCY RIGHTS
When renting an apartment in Sweden you have comprehensive rights as a tenant. If you can’t agree on a matter with your landlord or if you have any questions about, for example, your tenancy agreement or what you are allowed to do in your apartment, you can contact the Swedish Union of Tenants (Hyresgästföreningen) or the Regional Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) in Gothenburg.
In general, rent rises are negotiated between the tenants’ associations and landlords. For sublets, the rent you pay shouldn’t exceed the head lease, although if it is a furnished apartment, a markup of 10% is considered reasonable.
Photo Credits: Per Pixel Petersson/imagebank.sweden.se