Attefall dwelling: what to know before you rent one

An attefall dwelling is a small detached house of up to 30 square metres that a homeowner has built on their plot, and it is increasingly rented out as a permanent home. If you rent an attefall dwelling from a private individual, the Swedish Private Letting Act usually applies, which means you have weaker protection than in an ordinary rental apartment – but the rent must still be reasonable and termination follows fixed rules.

Here is what you need to know as a tenant: what an attefall house is, which law governs the contract, how long you may stay and what to check before you sign.

What is an attefall dwelling?

Attefall houses are named after former housing minister Stefan Attefall, and the rules allow a supplementary dwelling of up to 30 square metres to be built without a building permit on the plot of a one- or two-dwelling house. The builder must still notify the municipality and receive a start notice before construction begins, and a final notice before the house may be used.

For you as a tenant, this means the house is small. Thirty square metres usually holds one room with a kitchenette, a sleeping area and a bathroom. It suits a single person or a couple who want their own home without sharing a kitchen and bathroom with the landlord.

Which law applies when you rent an attefall dwelling?

When a private individual lets a home they own, the Private Letting Act applies. For leases signed on or after 1 July 2026, the new Private Letting Act (SFS 2026:772) applies. Contracts signed before that date follow the older Act on Letting One's Own Home.

The key points:

• No security of tenure. When the contract ends, you have no right to have it extended.
• Written notice. Notice of termination must be given in writing.
• Notice period. Under the new law, the notice period for an open-ended contract is three months, for both you and the landlord.
• Fixed-term contract. A fixed-term contract ends when the rental period is over. As a tenant you can still terminate it early under the rules set out in the law.

If the letting instead counts as a business, for example when someone lets many homes, the Tenancy Act in chapter 12 of the Land Code may apply instead. You may then have stronger protection.

How much may the rent be?

The rent for a privately let home must be reasonable. It is compared with what similar homes cost to rent. If you think the rent is too high, you can turn to the rent tribunal. Also ask what is included: electricity, heating, water, internet and furniture can make a big difference to the total cost, and in a small house electric heating in winter can be a noticeable expense.

Checklist before you rent an attefall dwelling

1. Ask about the final notice. An attefall house may not be used without a final notice. Ask to see it.
2. Sign a written contract. It should state the rent, what is included, the rental period and the notice period.
3. Check what you may use. Is laundry, storage, parking or part of the garden included? Put it in writing.
4. Document the condition. Photograph the house when you move in. You are not responsible for normal wear and tear, but you may have to pay for damage you cause.
5. Never pay before you have seen the home. Do not send a deposit or rent to someone you have not met and whose right to let the home you have not checked.

Good to know about living next to your landlord

In an attefall dwelling you often live on the same plot as the owner. That can be handy when something breaks, but it also makes it important that the rules for shared areas, noise and visitors are clear from the start. A short conversation about expectations before you move in saves a lot of misunderstanding.

If you want advice on your contract, Hyresgästföreningen (the Swedish Union of Tenants) can help with questions about rent and rights.