--- title: "What happens to your rent in a rent-to-own agreement under the new law?" author: "Esther Asmundsson" authorUrl: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/authors/EstherAsmundsson" datePublished: "2026-08-04T12:10:57.316Z" dateModified: "2026-08-04T14:49:49Z" description: "New law (2026:843) on rent-to-own requires reasonable rent. Learn how rent is checked, what is considered reasonable, and how to protect yourself." keywords: ["rent-to-own rent new rules 2026", "reasonable rent rent-to-own", "law 2026:843 rent-to-own", "how is rent-to-own rent checked", "rent-to-own market rent"] categories: ["Guider", "Hyresvärd"] canonical: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/what-happens-to-your-rent-in-a-rent-to-own-agreement-under-the-new-law" language: "en" image: "https://bofrid.media/cms/cd78228908bef45f4b4ef4f03b8f51372790ae70.png" --- # What happens to your rent in a rent-to-own agreement under the new law? ## Rent-to-own rent new rules 2026 – what changes for you? Rent-to-own is a way of buying a home where you pay a monthly fee during an agreement period, usually 5–10 years, before you become the legal owner. The new Act on Rent-to-own of Housing (Lag (2026:843) om hyrköp av bostad) sets new requirements for how the rent should be calculated and what is permitted. The most important change is that the rent must be skälig hyra (reasonable rent) and not significantly higher than what a corresponding home costs on the rental market. Without clear rules, many rent-to-own agreements previously contained excessively high rents, covering almost the entire actual purchase price contribution. ## What does the new law say about rent-to-own rent? Lag (2026:843) establishes that the rent in a rent-to-own agreement must not be unreasonable. This means the landlord cannot set just any rent. The legislator assumes that the rent should correspond to market rents for similar homes in the same area. In practice, this means that if you enter into a rent-to-own agreement, the landlord must be able to demonstrate which rents are standard for equivalent homes. This is a protective rule for the buyer – you should not pay for something that clearly exceeds the market value each month. The rent should cover: - Property tax and operating costs - Possible return on the capital the landlord invests - Insurance and maintenance What should not be included is a hidden part of the purchase price concealed within the rent. ## How is the rent checked – who reviews it? The new law contains no automatic supervision. There is no authority that routinely reviews rent-to-own agreements before they are signed. Control is instead reactive – meaning the buyer must question the rent themselves if it seems too high. If a rent is obviously unreasonable, the buyer can file a claim in court or demand renegotiation before the agreement is signed. It is therefore critical that you review the agreement carefully before signing. Currently, there is no specific forum or government body that handles disputes specifically regarding rent-to-own rents. Instead, it is the general court that would decide the issue of whether a rent is unreasonable according to the principles following from Lag (2026:843). ## How do you compare the rent with market rents? To understand if a rent-to-own rent is reasonable, you should compare it with: - Advertised rents for corresponding homes in the same district or area - Local rental market standards from Boverket (the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning) or statistics from larger rental companies - Previous rent-to-own agreements for comparable homes If the seller cannot show any market basis for the rent, it is a warning sign. | Factor | What you should check | |--------|------------------------| | Location and size | Does the rent match rents for 2–3 rooms in the same area? | | Rental market | Are there other rent-to-own deals or rental flats to compare with? | | Operating costs | Are the estimated costs reasonable? Ask the landlord for a specification. | | Capital cost | What return does the landlord expect on their capital? | | Agreement period | Longer periods may justify a higher total rent, but not per month. | ## Rent-to-own rent new rules – practical steps before the agreement 1. **Request a specification of the rent.** The landlord must be able to explain which costs the rent covers. If the landlord cannot justify the figures, it is reason to be cautious. 2. **Obtain market rents.** Contact local property owners, the tenant association, or use housing market reports to get a realistic picture. 3. **Consult a lawyer or estate agent.** If you are unsure whether the rent is reasonable, it is worth paying for a review before the agreement becomes binding. 4. **Do not hesitate to negotiate.** Rent-to-own agreements are private legal matters. You can always object to the rent and demand an adjustment or move on to another option. 5. **Check the agreement.** Ensure that the agreement clearly states both the size of the rent, inflation adjustments (if permitted), and when it expires. ## Can the rent be increased during the agreement period? The new law does not explicitly state how rents may be adjusted during the agreement period. This is instead regulated in the individual rent-to-own agreement. Many agreements allow annual adjustment according to a certain index, often based on the CPI (Consumer Price Index). It is important that the agreement is clear about whether this is permitted or not, and if so, by what percentage. If the agreement allows increases, these should not automatically be able to change the economy of the rent-to-own agreement significantly. This means that extraordinarily high index transfers could be questioned as an attempt to circumvent the rules on reasonable rent. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: What do I do if I already have a rent-to-own agreement with a rent that seems too high?** A: You can try to negotiate a renegotiation with the landlord before the agreement expires. If the landlord is unwilling, you can consult a lawyer about whether there are grounds to question the rent in court according to Lag (2026:843). Early action is better than waiting. **Q: Is there a maximum limit for how high a rent-to-own rent can be?** A: No, the law is not formulated as a percentage limit. Instead, the rent must align with market rents for corresponding homes. What is reasonable is decided on a case-by-case basis depending on location, size, and local conditions. **Q: Can a landlord refuse to sell to me if I question the rent?** A: The landlord cannot force you to sign an agreement you do not want. Conversely, you cannot force the landlord to negotiate. If you cannot agree on a reasonable rent, it may be better to choose another way to buy the home or continue to rent. **Q: Who decides what a market rent is?** A: No authority does this officially. You must investigate market rents in your area yourself. Use advertisements, housing market reports from the municipality, or large property owners' statistics as a reference. ## See also More on how rent is calculated and what is reasonable: [Skälig hyra 2026: så räknar du ut rätt hyra](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/rental-levels-2026-guide-to-reasonable-rent-for-bostadsratt-and-how-to-calculate-capital-costs-i). If you are planning to sell or buy a home in another way: [Bolånetaket 2026: Nya regler för förstagångsköpare – En komplett guide från Bofrid](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/the-mortgage-cap-2026-new-rules-for-first-time-buyers-in-sweden-a-complete-guide-from-bofrid). If you are instead renting out and want to know what is permitted: [Hyra ut hus 2026: Guide till regler, skatt & avtal](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/renting-out-house-villa-guide-2026-sweden). If you are considering subletting (andrahandsuthyrning) as an alternative: [Andrahandsuthyrning av bostadsrätt: nya regler 2026](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/sweden-s-second-hand-rental-market-2026-new-rules-for-renting-out-your-cooperative-apartment-you). *This text is general information and does not replace legal advice. Always consult a lawyer before signing a binding rent-to-own agreement.*