AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT ON RESIDENTIAL LEASES

The Act on Residential Leases (AHVL) will be amended as of 1 October 2026. The purpose of the reform is to clarify the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants and to reduce issues of interpretation and disputes relating to tenancy agreements. This notice outlines the key changes from the tenant’s perspective.

Most significant changes as of 1 October 2026:

Tenant’s obligation to provide information on persons residing in the apartment:

• If the apartment is occupied by other persons in addition to the tenant, the tenant must notify the landlord in writing of the number of residents and the basis on which they are entitled to reside in the apartment (e.g. spouse, child or subtenant).
• In addition, for residents who are of legal age, the tenant must provide their name, date of birth and contact details.

The landlord has a legitimate need to know who resides in the apartment and on what basis. This information is relevant, for example, to the maintenance of the apartment, monitoring its use, investigating disturbances, maintaining communication and fulfilling the landlord’s statutory obligations. Failure to comply with the obligation to provide information may result in termination or cancellation of the tenancy agreement.

Smoking ban:

• The smoking ban applies both to tenancy agreements and tenancies that are in force when the Act enters into force and to those concluded after the Act enters into force.
• The smoking ban covers the use of all tobacco products intended to be smoked or otherwise heated, including the smoking of herbal products intended for smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes, as well as the smoke, vapour and particles generated thereby.
• The smoking ban applies to the interior of the apartment, any balcony belonging to the apartment, and any other private indoor or outdoor area associated with the apartment.

Violation of the smoking ban may result in termination or cancellation of the tenancy agreement.

Landlord’s right to cancel the tenancy agreement is expanded:

• In future, cancellation of the tenancy agreement will also be possible based on another exceptionally compelling reason. Such an “other exceptionally compelling reason” may include, for example, a situation in which the tenant commits a serious violent offence in the immediate vicinity of the apartment, residential building or property, in such a manner that the neighbours’ domestic peace and sense of security are compromised.

Yours sincerely, Oy BC Consulting Ab / Svenska Lärarhögskolans Bostadsstiftelse sr