Rent increase in Solna: How to respond to a rent increase letter

If your landlord wants to raise the rent, the landlord must first notify you in writing. Under Chapter 12, Section 54 of the Land Code (jordabalken), the party who wants to change the rental terms must notify the other party in writing. If you cannot agree, the landlord or you can apply to the rent tribunal (hyresnämnden), but no earlier than one month after the notice was given. You therefore have time to read, check and reply.

This guide explains what the law says, what to check in the letter and how to reply. It applies to rented housing in Solna. The Land Code applies across Sweden, but if your flat is covered by a negotiation agreement under the Negotiation Act (hyresförhandlingslagen), the rules can differ.

What does the law say about a rent increase?

A rent increase is a change to the rental terms. Under Chapter 12, Section 54, first paragraph, of the Land Code, the party who wants to change the terms must notify the other party in writing. If you do not agree, that party may apply to the rent tribunal. The application may be made no earlier than one month after the notice was given to the other party.

This means a letter about a higher rent does not by itself create a new rent. Under Section 54, third paragraph, a rent tribunal decision changing the rental terms counts as an agreement on the terms for continued letting. There is an exception for certain tenancies, described in the section on Section 54 a letters below.

What must the letter contain?

The stricter requirements in Chapter 12, Section 54 a of the Land Code do not apply to every tenancy. Under the first paragraph of that section, the second and third paragraphs apply to tenancies that run for an indefinite period and concern a flat in a building with a negotiation agreement, where the flat is not covered by that agreement.

If the landlord wants the letter to have the effect described in the law, the letter must, under Section 54 a, second paragraph, state: the increase in kronor, the total rent, the date the new rent starts, that you become obliged to pay the higher rent unless you tell the landlord by a stated day, no earlier than two months after the letter, that you object, the landlord's address, and information that the rent tribunal can review whether the requested rent is reasonable and what you must do to start a review.

If any of these details is missing, the rule in Section 54 a, third paragraph, does not apply. Always check the figures against your current rent and the date in the letter.

How much time do you have to reply?

The time depends on the type of letter. For an ordinary written notice under Section 54, the earliest the rent tribunal application can be made is one month after the notice. For a letter under Section 54 a, the stated last day to object must be no earlier than two months after the letter. Under Section 54 a, third paragraph, the higher rent may start only after that last day.

If you wait too long, you may miss the time the letter gives you. Reply in time, even if you intend to ask for a review.

Step by step: how to reply

1. Read the letter twice. Note the increase in kronor, the new total rent and the start date.
2. Compare with your contract. Does the current rent match, and what kind of tenancy do you have?
3. Check the formal requirements. If a detail that Section 54 a, second paragraph, requires is missing, the rule in the third paragraph, that you are considered to have accepted the increase, does not apply.
4. Reply in writing. Write the date, your address, the flat's address and whether you object or accept. Keep a copy and proof that the letter arrived.
5. Ask for the basis. You can ask the landlord why the rent is rising and how it was calculated.
6. Contact Hyresgästföreningen (the Swedish Union of Tenants) if you are a member or unsure how to read the letter.

When can the rent tribunal decide?

If you do not agree, the landlord or you can apply to the rent tribunal. It then decides what a reasonable rent is. Under Chapter 12, Section 55, first paragraph, of the Land Code, the rent must be set at a reasonable amount if the landlord and the tenant dispute the size of the rent.

The rent is not reasonable if it is clearly higher than the rent for comparable flats, taking the utility value into account. In the review, rents agreed in negotiation agreements under the Negotiation Act must be considered first. If comparison with flats in the locality is not possible, rents for flats in another locality with a comparable rent level and similar conditions may be used.

This is a review on the merits. You do not need to be a legal expert to ask for one, but it helps to have documents ready: your contract, earlier rent increases, inspection records and information about the flat's condition.

Common mistakes

The most common mistake is paying the new rent without reading the letter. Another is missing the time the letter gives you under Section 54 a. A third is not being able to show that your reply reached the landlord. Reply in writing and keep a copy.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay the new rent straight away? No, not automatically. Under Section 54, the rental terms change through agreement or through a decision of the rent tribunal. A Section 54 a letter with the details the law requires can, however, mean that you are considered to have agreed to the rent the landlord requested if you do not tell the landlord within the time the letter states that you object (Section 54 a, third paragraph).

Can the landlord raise the rent during the contract? That depends on the agreement and on whether the terms can be changed under Section 54. The change requires a written notice, and the other party can have the question reviewed by the rent tribunal.

What do I do if I am unsure? Write a short reply saying that you object for now and ask for the basis of the increase. Do not wait until the last day. Then contact Hyresgästföreningen or the rent tribunal.

See also Bostadskö i Solna: Så fungerar den kommunala kön if you are looking for a new home, and Hyresgästföreningen i Solna for how the association can help.

Sources: Land Code, Chapter 12, Sections 54, 54 a and 55, read on lagen.nu on 7 November 2026, and Hyresgästföreningen.