![]() One in three homes in the Netherlands is owned by a housing association. It’s a similar situation in Dutch cities, for many of the same reasons. The result: average waiting times for rent-controlled apartments in Swedish cities exceed ten years. This is also why middle- and high-income renters jump at the opportunity to buy their flat if they can. Houses are taxed at a lower rate than other property and homeowners can deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage from their taxes. Little wonder more homes are built for buyers, who enjoy tax breaks. The European University Institute has calculated that rents would need to rise 70 percent to give developers a 5 percent return on their investment. Tenants can renew their contracts indefinitely. Rents must match those of comparable apartments nationwide, so landlords can’t ask a premium for a flat in downtown Gothenburg or Stockholm. The last major change was in the 1990s, when Carl Bildt, the first center-right prime minister in sixty years, and later foreign minister, pulled government subsidies from municipal housing associations, which still own half of all rental apartments in Sweden, or one-fifth of the total housing stock.īildt didn’t lift rent controls, which could have encouraged more construction of rental apartments. The Swedish left argues “liberalization” in housing has gone too far, but from a pro-market perspective Sweden’s “liberal” reforms are underwhelming. Authorities in Barcelona want to extend a moratorium on evictions that has been in place since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.īut perhaps the best comparison is with the Netherlands, which organizes public housing in much the same way as Sweden. Spain’s central government is challenging a Catalan rent cap. Berlin instituted a citywide rent freeze last year, but it was struck down as unconstitutional by Germany’s highest court. Other countries struggle to find the right balance between public and private in housing too. Rents in Sweden are usually negotiated between landlords and tenants’ associations. Löfven, a social democrat, lost the support of the far left over a proposal to allow landlords to freely set rents for newly-built apartments. Stefan Löfven may be Europe’s first prime minister brought down by a housing crisis, but he is unlikely to be the last. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.Early morning in Stockholm, Sweden (iStock/Marcus Lindstrom) The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker. Operating in the state of New York as GR Affinity, LLC in lieu of the legal name Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC. You are not required to use Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC as a condition of purchase or sale of any real estate. Learn more!Ĭoldwell Banker Realty and Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC share common ownership and because of this relationship the brokerage may receive a financial or other benefit. Protect your home and budget with an American Home Shield® home warranty. Popular Cities In or Near Bucks County, PA
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