Types of home in Sweden: what you actually own
Villa, terraced house, bostadsrätt, freehold, owner apartment, holiday home and new build, what you own, what you are responsible for, and what it costs.
Applies to: Sweden. Reviewed 2026-09-18.
Key takeaways
- A bostadsrätt is not an owned apartment. You own a share in an association and receive the right to use a specific apartment.
- Freehold means you own the property, apply for title registration, and are responsible for all maintenance yourself.
- US concepts such as condo and HOA do not map onto a Swedish bostadsrätt. The rules differ fundamentally.
Comparison of ownership types
| Type | What you own | Your maintenance duty | Recurring payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa (freehold) | The property with building and land, with registered title | Everything | Running costs, insurance, municipal property fee |
| Terraced/linked house | Either a freehold property or a bostadsrätt, check which | Depends on the type | Depends on the type, sometimes a joint facility fee |
| Bostadsrätt | A share in the association plus the right to use the apartment | The interior of the apartment, under the act and the statutes | Monthly fee to the association |
| Owner apartment | The apartment as its own property, with registered title | Your own apartment, jointly for the rest | Joint facility fee |
| Holiday home | Usually a property, sometimes a building on leased land | Everything, plus seasonal supervision | Running costs, insurance, fee or ground rent |
What a bostadsrätt actually means
A bostadsrätt is governed by the Tenant-Ownership Act (1991:614). You buy a share in an economic association and receive the right to use a specific apartment for an unlimited period. The association owns the building. You must be approved as a member, and the act and statutes divide maintenance duties between you and the association.
Land lease, ground lease and buildings on leased land
With a land lease the municipality owns the land and you pay a ground rent that is reviewed at intervals. A building on leased land is movable property: the building is yours, the land someone else. Both affect loan terms and future cost.
Questions to ask
- What falls under the association maintenance duty and what falls on me?
- Does the association own the land, or is it a land lease?
- What are the share ratios, and is the fee fairly distributed?
Red flags
- The listing describes an owner apartment but it is in fact a bostadsrätt.
- It is unclear who is responsible for pipes, windows or the balcony.
Sources
- Tenant-Ownership Act (1991:614) (Sveriges riksdag)
- Land Code (1970:994) (Sveriges riksdag)
- Buying, owning, selling or gifting property (Lantmäteriet)
- Property fee and property tax (Skatteverket)