Rents in the Stockholm area have risen by 23 percent in five years, according to the Tenants’ Association. The association called for a 0.7 percent increase, but it and the Property Owners could not agree. The Property Owners did not make their demand public, and the negotiations went to a special arbitrator.
“It is a hard blow to tenants in Stockholm, as it comes after several years of extremely high rent increases,” says Sanna Kolk.
In Malmö, private landlords have also taken the negotiations to an arbitrator, who has recommended a 2.8 percent rent increase. The Tenants’ Association wants the law amended to require property owners to negotiate directly with the association.
“We see that the increases arbitrators decide on are generally higher than those agreed during negotiations,” says Håkan Björkenklev of the Skåne Tenants’ Association.