Understanding letters from your landlord
Who sends these letters
Most rented flats in Sweden belong to municipal housing companies or private landlords (hyresvärdar). Rents for most of them are negotiated every year between the landlord and Hyresgästföreningen, the Swedish Union of Tenants, a member organisation that also gives its members legal advice. Letters from landlords are typically rent invoices (hyresavi), rent increases after negotiation, notices about work in the building, complaints about disturbance, and confirmations when you move out.
Deadlines and your right to challenge a decision
Rent is paid in advance, no later than the last weekday before each month starts, unless your contract says otherwise. As a tenant you normally have three months' notice, counted from the turn of the month after you give notice. Subletting (andrahandsuthyrning) needs your landlord's written consent or permission from the rent tribunal (hyresnämnden). The tribunal also settles disputes about rent.
Checked on 2026-10-07 against: Säga upp hyresavtal, Uthyrning i andra hand, Hyresnämnden, Jordabalken 12 kap. (hyreslagen). Rules change: the official website and your letter always win.
These pages explain the Swedish words in official letters. They don't replace the letter itself or advice about your case. Always check the deadline printed on your letter, and contact the agency (their phone number and your case officer are usually at the bottom of the letter) if anything is unclear. Lingolib is not connected to any of the agencies named here. Facts were last checked on 2026-10-07.
Example letters, word by word
These letters were written by us to show the style and the typical phrases. The names, amounts and dates are made up; real letters look different from agency to agency and year to year. Tap a word to see what it means.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
1 2027
Heading: your new rent from 1 January 2027.
Exempelbostäder 2027.
The (made-up) landlord and the tenants' union have agreed next year's rents.
4,1 .
Your rent goes up by 4.1 per cent.
7 420 , 6 980 440 .
The new monthly total is 7,420 kronor: 6,980 for the flat and 440 for parking.
, 30 .
The new rent applies from January's rent, due by 30 December (31 December, New Year's Eve, does not count as a weekday for deadlines).
.
If you pay by direct debit, the new amount is taken automatically.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
Heading: about disturbance from your flat.
.
Neighbours have complained several times about loud noise late in the evening.
. 22.00 07.00.
The house rules ask for quiet between 22:00 and 07:00.
.
They ask you to make sure the disturbance stops.
, .
If it continues, they may send a formal warning, and in the end your lease could be terminated.
.
You are welcome to contact them to tell your side.
29 key words in letters from your landlord
The words specific to these letters first, then the general ones every agency uses.
- hyresvärdlandlord
- The company or person you rent from.
- hyresgästtenant
- You, the person renting.
- hyresavtaltenancy agreement
- Your lease, also called hyreskontrakt. Keep a copy; agencies often ask for it.
- hyresavirent invoice
- The bill for your rent, with an OCR reference to pay with. Pay by the due date, usually the last weekday of the previous month.
- hyreshöjningrent increase
- For most flats the increase is agreed in negotiation between the landlord and Hyresgästföreningen, and the letter tells you the result.
- hyresförhandlingrent negotiation
- The yearly negotiation about rents between landlord and tenants' association.
- förhandlingsklausulnegotiation clause
- A clause in your lease saying the rent is negotiated by the tenants' association.
- Hyresgästföreningenthe Swedish Union of Tenants
- A tenants' organisation that negotiates rents and gives members legal help. Membership is voluntary.
- uppsägningnotice to terminate
- Ending the lease. Give notice in writing. A tenant normally has three months, counted from the next turn of the month.
- uppsägningstidnotice period
- How long the lease continues after notice is given. You pay rent for this period.
- andrahandsuthyrningsubletting
- Renting out your flat to someone else. You need the landlord's written consent or permission from the rent tribunal, or you risk losing your lease.
- hyresnämndenthe rent tribunal
- A public body that settles disputes between tenants and landlords, for example about subletting or rent.
- felanmälanfault report
- Reporting something broken in your flat to the landlord. Do it promptly.
- besiktninginspection
- The landlord checks the flat, typically when you move out. Damage beyond normal wear can be charged to you.
- störningdisturbance
- Noise or behaviour that bothers neighbours. Serious or repeated disturbance can put your lease at risk.
- rättelsecorrection (formal warning)
- A formal demand from the landlord that you stop doing something, such as disturbing neighbours. Take it seriously; it is often the step before termination.
- ordningsreglerhouse rules
- The building's rules, for example quiet hours and laundry-room times.
- tvättstugalaundry room
- The shared laundry room, usually booked in advance.
- huvudnyckelmaster key
- The landlord's key to all flats, used for repairs with your permission or when announced in advance.
- aviseringnotice (of work)
- Advance notice that someone will enter the flat or do work in the building.
- renoveringrenovation
- Larger work in the building. Big renovations that raise the rent require tenants' approval or the tribunal's.
- påminnelsereminder
- Notice that a payment is late. Pay at once: late rent can, in the worst case, lead to losing the flat.
- lägenhetsnummerflat number
- The four-digit number of your flat, used in your address, for example lgh 1102.
- avflyttningmoving out
- Leaving the flat at the end of the lease. Clean it and return all keys.
Words every agency uses
- förfallodagdue date
- The last day to pay. Pay a day or two early if your bank needs time.
- senastat the latest, no later than
- Marks a deadline: senast 15 november means 15 November is the last day. It must usually have arrived by then, not just been posted.
- bilagaattachment, enclosure
- A document sent with the letter. Bilaga 1 is enclosure 1. Bifoga means to attach.
- vänligenplease (formal)
- Formal please, used mainly in instructions: Vänligen kontakta oss. It is polite, not a sign of a problem.
- härmedhereby
- Formal word that marks the letter itself as the notice: Du kallas härmed means this letter is your summons.
What to do next
- Find the date and the deadline. Look for senast, inom and förfallodag. Write the deadline in your calendar.
- Find who to contact. The handläggare and a phone number are usually at the end. You can ask them to explain the letter in simpler Swedish or English, and to book an interpreter.
- Answer in writing when it matters. Our email templates include a polite Swedish message asking an agency to explain a letter.
- Look up other words in the all-agency glossary or the Swedish dictionary.
Letters from other agencies
Reading letters like these gets easier fast once the everyday words are automatic. Season 1 of our course is free in full, and the guide to the language you need when moving to Sweden covers the basics.