| Warm rent | Cold rent | |
|---|---|---|
| Heating included | Yes | No (paid separately) |
| Hot water included | Usually | Often separate |
| Cost over the year | Even | Varies by season |
| Most common in | Older rentals | New builds, IMD buildings |
| Risk | Few surprises | High winter bills |
Rental listings can be hard to compare when one shows SEK 7,200 a month and another SEK 6,400 – but the cheaper one turns out costlier once winter arrives. The difference is often cold rent (kallhyra) versus warm rent (varmhyra). Here is what is included, how they differ and how to work out your real housing cost.
What does warm rent (varmhyra) mean?
Warm rent means heating and usually hot water are included in the rent. You pay the same amount every month – summer and winter – and the landlord covers the heating cost. Most Swedish rental flats have historically used warm rent.
The advantage is predictability: your cost is the same in January as in July, no matter how cold it is outside.
What does cold rent (kallhyra) mean?
Cold rent means heating – and sometimes hot water – is not included and is paid separately. The rent looks lower in the listing, but heating costs that vary by season and consumption are added on top.
Cold rent is increasingly common in new builds and in buildings with individual metering. The risk is that an attractive low rent hides high winter costs.
Cold rent vs warm rent – quick comparison
What is actually included?
Whichever model applies, always ask the landlord to specify what is included. Common items:
- Heating – the biggest variable
- Hot water – may be separate even with warm rent
- Cold water – usually included
- Property electricity (stairwell, laundry room) – usually included
- Household electricity – almost always paid separately by the tenant, in either model
IMD – individual metering and billing
A clear trend is IMD, where heating and hot water are metered per flat and you pay for your actual consumption. It rewards shorter showers and lower indoor temperatures, but makes the cost less predictable. IMD is in practice a metered form of cold rent.
Which is best for you as a tenant?
- If you want security and a fixed cost, warm rent is usually easier.
- If you are economical with heating and hot water, cold rent or IMD can be cheaper.
- Always compare listings on total monthly cost, not just the base rent. Ask for an estimate of the heating cost for a winter month before signing.
If you are the landlord
When you set the rent, be clear about what is included – it affects both what counts as a reasonable rent and how attractive your listing is. On Bofrid you can list your home for free and meet BankID-checked tenants with Bostadsmerit, so you can focus on the right person rather than paperwork.
FAQ
Is cold rent always cheaper than warm rent? No. The base rent is lower, but adding heating and hot water can make the total higher – especially in winter.
Is hot water included in warm rent? Usually, but not always. Always ask the landlord to confirm in writing.
What is the difference from IMD? IMD is individual metering where you pay for your actual heating and hot water consumption – a metered version of cold rent.
Do I need my own electricity contract? For household electricity, almost always, regardless of the model. Heating and hot water depend on the setup.
