Housing in Stockholm has no specific formal regulations relating to a tenant’s nationality. Generally, it is up to the landlord to set their own requirements for a prospective tenant. However, having requirements that can be considered discriminatory, for example when they are related to ethnicity or nationality, is not permitted under Swedish law.
That said, the reality is that it can be significantly more difficult for expats or foreign nationals to reliably find a good option for housing in Stockholm. Especially if you happen to be abroad and unable to attend viewings, sign contracts, etc. in person.
One of the most common obstacles, besides not being able to be physically present, is related to digital identification. Many Swedish housing platforms, even those aimed towards private individuals, require that users identify themselves when logging in or applying for apartments. Most platforms specifically request that you use BankID (Sweden’s state-sponsored method for digital identification) for this. The issue with this is that in order to get a BankID, you need to have a registered address in Sweden, a Swedish Personnummer, and a Swedish bank account. All of which are, understandably, very difficult to arrange before you have actually relocated to Sweden.
It is also very possible to point to an expat’s lack of a social network as a notable obstacle. A lot of apartments in Stockholm, especially on the rental market, never even reach the larger housing platforms. Instead new tenants are found through recommendations and/or direct referrals. The reason for this stems from the notably high demand on the market, and that the landlord in question does not need to actively search for new tenants. As you can imagine, this system is very difficult to navigate without already having established yourself in the city.
Finally, there is the sad truth that there are many individuals and groups that take advantage of the system to scam people looking for housing in Sweden – and in Stockholm most of all. There are many fraudulent operators that disproportionately target expats and foreigners with fraudulent rental schemes. For this reason, it is important to have clear documentation and to take an appropriate amount of care when searching for housing abroad.
For the reasons mentioned above, renting from professional companies that are designed around renting to internationals can be a more convenient and secure way to arrange housing in Stockholm. Companies like Allihoop work to lower the obstacles that may otherwise get in the way of establishing yourself in Sweden, by offering alternative identification methods, an open and accessible application process, and a professional structure for agreements, payments, etc.
