The majority of Swedish people rent their accommodation. The rental market in Sweden is highly regulated, and rental prices are relatively low compared with other parts of Europe. However, prices vary considerably in different parts of the country.

Private landlords can let out only a percentage of their properties direct to tenants; the rest must be rented out via the Bostadsfomedlingen, a state-run body for the redistribution of vacant accommodation. This organisation charges a fee to tenants for placing them in accommodation.

There is a severe shortage of rental accommodation in Stockholm and other cities, partly due to a trend in which apartments owned by private landlords are being sold off to tenants. This is driving up rental prices considerably, and making it very difficult to find vacant properties in the cities.

Rental accommodation in the cities consists almost entirely of apartments, but houses to rent may be found in smaller towns and rural areas.

Details of houses and apartments to rent can be found in local and regional newspapers, and from public or private housing agencies (listed in the telephone directory under 'bostadsforetag') . However, since properties are snapped up so quickly, one of the most effective ways of finding accommodation in Sweden is by asking personal contacts if they know of anyone who will be vacating their accommodation, and contacting the relevant landlord direct.