(edit title) What is the penalty for illegal renting 'owners'? Fedup of super high rentals and unstable agreement Options

[prash_gandhi]

If I sound a bit arrogant or rude, please forgive me. I am fed up of rental situation in Stockholm.

The home owners(for bostadsrätt and not Villa owners where you really own the property) are too greedy in Stockholm.

Stockholm is such a nice place and Swedish are probably one of the most considerate people, but still its hell of an experience for new comers.

There seems to be some kind of nexus with someone who wants to rent out their bostadsrätt and real estate agents.

• Even though its illegal, almost all of rentals in my friends circle or whoever I know are paying way too much than 'actual expense' of bostadsrätt. How come its possible in country like Sweden?
• Its natural to have higher rents when demand is so high, but, why its so easy for bostadsrätt 'owners' to set whatever rent when they themselves are not complete owners.
• There are some illegal real estate people, who always encourage these bostadsrätt owners to steep hike the rents or keep short term agreements.

Can you please suggest some actions one can take if we know of such bostadsrätt owners?

• what kind of penalty one needs to pay?
• If its there, is it just financial penalty?
• Is there any ombudsman body or complaint taking institution which can take action against such agents or so called BRF 'owners'?

Please suggest.. it helps this city make a better place

[prash_gandhi]

Any longtime residents of Sweden... or knowledge cape crusaders... ?

[animesh]

http://www.hyresgastforeningen.se/Sidor/default.aspx

Cheers.
Animesh

[Donut]

Don't know if it's happened yet, but there was discussion about allowing BRF owners to rent their apartments out and set the rent. Probably you have never lived in another capital city (London etc) as what you would pay in rent in Stockholm is pretty reasonable by comparison. The issue to me seems more on stability and security, and allowing BRF owners to do that long-term helps address that problem.

[prash_gandhi]

It has not happened yet. Its agreed in principle by political parties to debate in parliament.

Stockholm is no London. and these prices for such small apartments is highly inflated.

[jostein]

"Even though its illegal, almost all of rentals in my friends circle or whoever I know are paying way too much than 'actual expense' of bostadsrätt. How come its possible in country like Sweden?"

You are a communist?

[Fernandis]

The minimum cost for a 2 room apartment is SEK 1.5-2 million. If someone buys an apartment, he/she pays following:

Avgift: 3000-4000 per month
Interest: at 3% (minimum): SEK 3000 per month for SEK 1 million loan, and 4500 on SEK 1.5 million loan
Electricity: SEK 350-500 average

All this becomes arround SEK 7500 per month.

And if the apartment is already furnished, they can ask for SEK 10000 per month, which is reasonable.
So if you think, SEK 10000 is too much , then sweden is not right country for you.

[Boar]

Stockholm is not London. Then London is also not Stockholm. Look at infrastructure. London is worse. There are a number of varieties of bills in London. Not sure how many. But, one could mention London please. As, for Stockholm I can say. For my Radhus, I pay:
1. Rent
2. Electricity
3. Internet plus phone plus TV all in one package.

That's it. And, I pay tenants union (Hyresgästföreningen) fees as 80 sek per my choice. That is not compulsory. I chose to be a member. But, for some apartments Electricity is included as I know.
Birgitta Ohlsson donated Gym for free in Nacka for the members.
http://berattelser.hyresgastforeningen.se/...aning-for-alla/
One can rent a car trailer for free in many places.

[prash_gandhi]

"Even though its illegal, almost all of rentals in my friends circle or whoever I know are paying way too much than 'actual expense' of bostadsrätt. How come its ... (show full quote)

"Even though its illegal, almost all of rentals in my friends circle or whoever I know are paying way too much than 'actual expense' of bostadsrätt. How come its possible in country like Sweden?"

You are a communist? ... (hide full quote)

You said something indirectly there on what you think about Sweden.I am true capitalist by heart and profession.

If its open market, then owners need to have that fairness and openness to write agreements on what they are charging to their rentals. and today they dont do that. They are coy and discrete on agreements. Thats why they call it black market.

You have to live within your norms and laws of society and Sweden is NOT open rental market.

[prash_gandhi]

The minimum cost for a 2 room apartment is SEK 1.5-2 million. If someone buys an apartment, he/she pays following:Avgift: 3000-4000 per monthInterest: at 3% (minimum): SEK 300 ... (show full quote)

The minimum cost for a 2 room apartment is SEK 1.5-2 million. If someone buys an apartment, he/she pays following:

Avgift: 3000-4000 per month
Interest: at 3% (minimum): SEK 3000 per month for SEK 1 million loan, and 4500 on SEK 1.5 million loan
Electricity: SEK 350-500 average

All this becomes arround SEK 7500 per month.

And if the apartment is already furnished, they can ask for SEK 10000 per month, which is reasonable.
So if you think, SEK 10000 is too much , then sweden is not right country for you. ... (hide full quote)

I agree to your equation there. But, sadly, not everyone doesn't think like you

Some of the experiences are as follows..

I talked to an owner and for similar Bostadsrätt as you have mentioned above, she quoted 12000 SEK. I sw the place and she said I was the first to visit and I will have the first right to refuse. I went home and I called her to finalize the agreement, and now she is saying, the rent is 14000 SEK. because, there were too many other who were willing to pay. And most of these are real estate agents (who promised to get customers for 14000)

I am staying in an apartment(2 room) where I am paying 11000 SEK for last one year. Now the owner wants to increase. We have an agreement for an year. But, he says, he dont want to pay for power and electricity. Why?? He says, because, there are many who are willing to pay more. Thats not the reason. Its clear breach of agreement. Its greed.

I can really go on and on ranting on the instances.. but.. thats not the point.

I have stayed in New York, LA and CA.. the bang for the buck is really less here. Probably its my view and you may not need to agree to it.

[Donut]

I talked to an owner and for similar Bostadsrätt as you have mentioned above, she quoted 12000 SEK. I sw the place and she said I was the first to visit and I will have the fi ... (show full quote)

I talked to an owner and for similar Bostadsrätt as you have mentioned above, she quoted 12000 SEK. I sw the place and she said I was the first to visit and I will have the first right to refuse. I went home and I called her to finalize the agreement ... (hide full quote)

If you can afford 12k/m why not just buy an apartment and stop complaining?

[Yorkshireman]

If You do not feel the rent is fair then You can always submit a claim to Hyresnämnden, they will make a decision based up the current rules about similar apartments and rents.

You do not have to be living there when making the claim, ie. in most cases people will be coming to the end of the rental period, then make a claim (no point p*ssing-off the landlord beforehand!). If Hyresnämnden find that the rent You paid/pay is too high, they will order the landlord to repay to You the difference between what they think was a real rent compared to what you pay/paid. They will back date that to a maximum of 12 months, if I remember correctly.

This is quite useful where You have desperate need of an apartment for a temporary period say a few months to 1 year, you can accept the high rent in the contract, and once the contract is ending make a claim with Hyresnämnden

This does not apply if it is considered a business-to-business rental, there rents can be whatever is agreed between companies.

[prash_gandhi]

If you can afford 12k/m why not just buy an apartment and stop complaining?

yeah. I am doing the visning. I will be an 'owner' soon

That does not mean, you can not voice your opinion for something shitty happening around you.

[prash_gandhi]

If You do not feel the rent is fair then You can always submit a claim to Hyresnämnden, they will make a decision based up the current rules about similar apartments and rents ... (show full quote)

If You do not feel the rent is fair then You can always submit a claim to Hyresnämnden, they will make a decision based up the current rules about similar apartments and rents.

You do not have to be living there when making the claim, ie. in most cases people will be coming to the end of the rental period, then make a claim (no point p*ssing-off the landlord beforehand!). If Hyresnämnden find that the rent You paid/pay is too high, they will order the landlord to repay to You the difference between what they think was a real rent compared to what you pay/paid. They will back date that to a maximum of 12 months, if I remember correctly.

This is quite useful where You have desperate need of an apartment for a temporary period say a few months to 1 year, you can accept the high rent in the contract, and once the contract is ending make a claim with Hyresnämnden

This does not apply if it is considered a business-to-business rental, there rents can be whatever is agreed between companies. ... (hide full quote)

Thanks a lot for inputs. I needed this kind of inputs.

[prash_gandhi]

http://www.hyresgastforeningen.se/Sidor/default.aspx. Cheers.. Animesh

Thanks