Many first-hand rental apartments are distributed through bostadskö (housing queues). You sign up, collect waiting time (called queue days), and apply for apartments when they become available. The longer you’ve been in the queue, the better your chances of getting a first-hand rental contract directly with the landlord.
If you’re planning to rent long-term, there’s one thing you should do as early as possible: Join a housing queue.
Sweden uses queue systems to distribute many first-hand rental apartments — the most stable and secure type of rental housing in the country, if not the entire world.
Instead of landlords choosing tenants privately, applicants are prioritised based largely on how long they’ve been waiting in the queue.
It might feel unusual at first, but once you understand the system, it becomes a powerful tool for finding permanent housing in Sweden.
Housing queues are specifically designed to allocate first-hand rental apartments.
A first-hand rental means:
- you sign the contract directly with the landlord or housing company
- the rent is usually regulated
- contracts are often long-term or open-ended
Because these apartments are highly sought after, many cities use queues to distribute them fairly.
how a housing queue works
The process is simple:
- You register in the housing queue
- You accumulate queue days (waiting time)
- When apartments become available, you apply for them
- The applicant with the longest queue time who meets the requirements is usually offered the contract
A well-known example is the queue system operated by Bostadsförmedlingen i Stockholm, which distributes thousands of rental apartments in Stockholm.
what are queue days?
Queue days represent how long you have been registered in a housing queue:
- Your queue days start counting the day you register
- Each day adds one more day to your waiting time
- Applicants with more queue days generally receive higher priority
For example: someone who joined the queue 5 years ago will usually rank ahead of someone who joined 1 year ago.
typical waiting times
Waiting times vary depending on the city and neighbourhood.
Rough examples:
- Smaller towns: months to a few years
- Medium cities: several years
- Central Stockholm: often 8–10+ years
Because of this, many newcomers start with second-hand rentals while waiting for a first-hand apartment through the queue.
housing queues (first-hand)
You rent directly from the landlord, which means your contract is solid and your lease is stable. Rents are regulated, making it more predictable, and it’s perfect for long-term living. The catch? You usually have to wait — sometimes years — especially in big cities like Stockholm or Gothenburg.
second-hand
These are arranged through another tenant or private owner. The contracts are usually temporary, and the rent can be higher than first-hand apartments. On the plus side, you can move in much faster.
Most first-hand apartments are distributed through municipal housing queues, but not all.
Some private landlords offer first-hand contracts through their own platforms, such as:
- HomeQ – a nationwide platform used by many landlords
- ByggVesta – housing developer with its own rental queue
- Heimstaden – one of Sweden’s largest private landlords
Unlike municipal queues, these platforms sometimes allow landlords to select tenants based on income, references, or suitability, rather than waiting time alone.
For newcomers, these platforms can sometimes offer faster access to first-hand rental contracts.
common private queues
common municipal first-hand queues by city
stockholm
- Bostadsförmedlingen i Stockholm: The largest official queue
gothenburg (göteborg)
- Boplats Göteborg: The main municipal and private housing hub for the city
malmö
- Boplats Syd
- MKB Fastighets AB: Malmö's largest public housing company
uppsala
- Uppsala Bostadsförmedling: The central queue for Uppsala
linköping
- Stångåstaden: Major public housing company in Linköping
örebro
- ÖrebroBostäder (ÖBO): The municipal housing company
västerås
- Mimer: The primary municipal housing company
helsingborg
- Helsingborgshem: Public housing company
- Boplats Syd: Covers part of the Skåne region, including some listings in the area
norrköping
- Hyresbostäder in Norrköping: Main public housing provider
- Vätterhem: Municipal housing company
- Not every first-hand rental apartment is distributed through a queue, but queue systems remain one of the most reliable ways to secure long-term housing in Sweden
- That’s why many residents join queues years before they expect to move
This article provides general information about housing in Sweden and does not constitute legal advice. Rental rules and contract terms may vary depending on your situation. For specific disputes or legal questions, consult a qualified legal adviser or tenant support organisation.
- Join housing queues as early as possible
- Register in multiple cities if you’re flexible
- Keep your account active so your queue days continue to accumulate
- Many newcomers and internationals use second-hand rentals as a temporary fix while building their queue days for their first-hand apartment
↗ The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket)
↗ Bostadsförmedlingen i Stockholm – About the Stockholm Rental Agency
↗ Boplats – Official municipal first-hand rental queue platform
↗ HomeQ – Sweden’s nationwide platform for private rentals
↗ Swedish Consumer Agency
⬢ Learn more about hyresrätt (renting first-hand)
⬢ Learn more about andrahand (second-hand)
⬢ Your inneboende (living with roommates) guide
⬢ Buying property in Sweden: smart guide for international buyers
can internationals join housing queues?
Yes. Many queues allow registration even before moving to Sweden.
do housing queues cost money?
Some charge a small yearly fee, while others are free.
do queue days expire?
Usually no, as long as your account remains active.