Expat Life · Housing · Published 5 July 2026
Renting second-hand in Sweden: the checklist before you pay a deposit
A pre-payment checklist for second-hand contracts, deposits, permission, viewings and the red flags newcomers should not ignore.
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Updated 13:35 · 5 min read
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Second-hand renting is common in Sweden, but newcomers are easy targets because they need housing quickly and may not know what a normal process looks like. Slow the deal down before you send money.
Ask who owns or rents the home, why it is being rented out, how long the rental is approved for and whether written permission exists when permission is needed. A serious landlord should be able to explain the setup clearly.
Never let urgency replace verification. View the home or arrange a live video viewing, compare the name on the contract with the payment recipient, and avoid paying a deposit to an account you cannot connect to the person renting to you.
“A pre-payment checklist for second-hand contracts, deposits, permission, viewings and the red flags newcomers should not ignore.”
DailySweden Editorial DeskThe contract should say who pays electricity, internet, insurance, furniture damage, association fees and notice periods. Photograph the home at move-in and write down existing damage before the first night.
Before you pay
If the price is far below market, the landlord is abroad, the keys will be mailed after payment or the viewing is always impossible, assume the listing needs extra checks. A real apartment can survive a few careful questions.
Before you pay
- Verify who has the right to rent out the home.
- Do not send deposits before the home and payment recipient are checked.
- Put rent, deposit, notice period and included bills in writing.
- Photograph the home at move-in and save all messages.
What happens now
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Original DailySweden guide desk. We write practical Sweden explainers for newcomers and update them when official guidance changes.
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