# Sublet in Sundsvall: rent, contracts and your rights *Tuva Sundström* *23 oktober 2026* > Renting second-hand in Sundsvall? How to check that the person subletting is allowed to, the maximum rent and how long you can stay. If you are looking for a sublet in Sundsvall, check three things before you pay anything: that the person renting it out is allowed to do so, that the rent is lawful, and which law applies to your particular contract. A second-hand contract in Sundsvall can be a good way in while you wait in a housing queue, but it gives you fewer rights than a first-hand contract, so it pays to know where the limits are. ## Who is renting it out – and which law applies? The first thing you need to know is who owns or rents the home. The answer decides which rules protect you. - **The person subletting holds a rental tenancy (hyresrätt).** You then rent second-hand under the Tenancy Act in Chapter 12 of the [Land Code (jordabalken)](https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/jordabalk-1970994_sfs-1970-994/). The first-hand tenant may not sublet the flat for independent use without the landlord's consent or permission from the rent tribunal (sections 39–40). - **The person renting out is a private individual who owns the home**, for example a tenant-owned flat (bostadsrätt), a house or an owner-occupied flat. From 1 July 2026 the Private Letting Act (2026:772) applies, which replaced the Act on letting one's own home. It applies when a private individual lets a home as a dwelling and does not regularly let more than two flats outside their own home. Always ask directly: "Do you have the landlord's or the association's written approval?" Ask to see it. Someone who sublets a rental flat without consent risks losing their contract, and then you are left without a home at short notice. ## Sublet in Sundsvall: what may the rent be? Rent is where most subtenants end up paying too much. The rules differ between the two laws. ### Subletting a rental flat Under Chapter 12, section 55, fourth paragraph of the Land Code, a sublet rent that is higher than the rent the first-hand tenant pays is never reasonable. A supplement for furniture and equipment may be added, but at most 15 percent of the first-hand rent. If, for example, electricity or broadband is included, the person subletting may charge what it actually costs, no more. If you have paid too much, section 55 f lets you apply to the rent tribunal and get the excess back with interest. The decision can cover up to two years back from the day you apply. So ask to see the first-hand contract or the latest rent notice before you sign. ### Private letting of an owned home Under the Private Letting Act, the rent must be set as a fixed amount in the agreement. If it is substantially higher than what is generally charged for similar privately let homes, you can apply to the rent tribunal to have it changed. Compare with other listings for similar flats in the same part of Sundsvall before you accept. ## The contract: in writing, clear and with the right notice period Always ask for a written agreement. Under the Private Letting Act the agreement must be in writing if either party asks for it, and when subletting a rental flat a written agreement is your most important evidence. Check that it states: - who is renting it out, with personal identity number and address - the flat's address and what is included, for example storage, furniture and electricity - the rent amount and how it is to be paid - whether the agreement runs until further notice or until a set date - the notice period Under the Private Letting Act, an agreement runs until further notice if no fixed term has been agreed. An open-ended agreement can be terminated to the turn of a month at the earliest three months after notice is given. If you have a fixed-term agreement, you as the tenant may still always terminate it with the same three-month notice. ## Sublet in Sundsvall and security of tenure Security of tenure (besittningsskydd) means you have the right to stay when the contract is terminated. With a sublet, this protection is limited. Under Chapter 12, section 45 of the Land Code, the right to an extension does not apply when a flat is sublet and the tenancy ends before it has lasted more than two consecutive years. Nor does it apply when you rent part of the landlord's own home. If you rent from a private individual under the Private Letting Act, you have no security of tenure at all: the agreement ends when the term runs out or when it is terminated with three months' notice. So treat a second-hand contract as temporary, and keep your place in the housing queue in the meantime. ## Warning signs to look out for - The person renting out wants a deposit or the first month's rent before you have seen the flat or the agreement. - They cannot show a first-hand contract, proof of ownership or an approval. - The rent is to be paid in cash, or to an account in a name other than theirs. - You are not allowed to register your address there. If something feels wrong, walk away. There are more sublet listings in Sundsvall to choose from. ## Where can you get help? [Hyresgästföreningen](https://www.hyresgastforeningen.se/) (the Swedish Union of Tenants) gives advice on second-hand contracts and rent levels. [Boverket](https://www.boverket.se/sv/samhallsplanering/bostadsmarknad/) (the National Board of Housing) monitors the housing market in the country's municipalities. You can find the legal text at the [Riksdag](https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/jordabalk-1970994_sfs-1970-994/).