Temporary housing in Umeå: How to find a place while you wait

Temporary housing in Umeå means a home for a limited time — while you wait for a housing queue to move, finish your studies, or wait for a first-hand contract to take effect. In a student city like Umeå, with Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), demand is high. Here we go through the options available, what the Swedish land code says about deposits, and how to proceed without being left unprotected.

Temporary housing in Umeå: the most common routes

There are several ways to get temporary housing in Umeå. Subletting is one of the most common: a tenant with a first-hand contract rents out their apartment on a second-hand basis for a limited time. Permission from the landlord is usually required, and the subletting should be handled in writing.

Student housing is another route, especially if you study at Umeå University or SLU. Bostaden Umeå (bostadenumea.se) manages many student apartments and has its own queues, as does Studentbostäder i Umeå. Queues can be long, so it pays to join several at once.

Furnished apartments and short-term contracts suit those who need housing quickly and only for a few months. They are often more expensive than ordinary rental apartments, but you save on furniture and can move out on short notice.

The Swedish Land Code, chapter 12 sections 39 and 40 — what applies to deposits?

When renting temporarily, it is common for the landlord to request a deposit, a kind of security paid in advance. Under the Swedish Land Code, chapter 12 sections 39 and 40, a landlord may not require a deposit in ordinary residential leases covered by security of tenure. The rule exists to protect the tenant from unreasonable costs.

This means that if you rent a home with security of tenure — for example, an ordinary rental apartment via Bostaden Umeå — the landlord may not require a deposit from you. However, some temporary leases, such as short-term subletting of a furnished apartment, may be exempt from security of tenure. Then the rules may look different, and it is especially important to read the contract carefully before you sign.

Sources: Swedish Land Code (1970:994) via riksdagen.se, Hyresgästföreningen (hyresgastforeningen.se).

Bostaden Umeå and other contacts

Bostaden Umeå is the largest public housing company in Umeå and has both ordinary rental apartments and student housing. Their website, bostadenumea.se, shows vacant apartments and how the queues work.

Hyresgästföreningen (hyresgastforeningen.se) is the tenants' association and can help you review the lease and understand your rights. As a member you get support if a landlord, for example, demands a deposit in violation of the land code.

For students, the student housing queues via Umeå University and SLU are central. Those who are not students can turn to private landlords and rental agencies, but then it is extra important to check who is renting out and that the contract is in writing.

What to do before signing the agreement

1. Always sign a written lease, even for temporary housing. The agreement should state rent, rental period, notice period and what is included.
2. Do not pay a deposit if the home is covered by security of tenure. The land code forbids it.
3. Check the rent level. Compare with similar homes in Umeå so you do not pay unreasonably much.
4. Inspect the apartment together with the landlord before moving in, and take photos of damage and defects.
5. Keep all written contact with the landlord — emails, contracts and receipts.

Summary

Temporary housing in Umeå comes in several forms: subletting, student housing, furnished apartments and short-term contracts. Whichever route you choose, the land code rules on security of tenure and deposits apply to most residential leases. Read the agreement, check with Hyresgästföreningen if you are unsure, and never pay a deposit that is not allowed.

With bostadenumea.se and hyresgastforeningen.se as your starting point, you have the most important addresses for finding a home while you wait.