Kan ägarlägenheter föra Sverige ett steg närmare en väl fungerande bostadsmarknad?

Sammanfattning: The Swedish housing market has been pressured for a long time with a majority of Swedish municipalities reporting housing shortages. The efficiency loss due to unmet demand is estimated at 10 billion SEK annually. Identified obstacles on the housing market are lack of functioning vacancy chains, long housing queues, high prices and constraining legislation. In 2009, new legislation was introduced making it possible to build condominiums that can be used for living, renting or as investment, without having to be part of a housing association. This new entity – together with shortcomings of the housing market – spurred our interest and this degree project will discuss the possibilities of this new form of accommodation. Does it create a possibility for an alternative on the rental market to form, where private citizens buy individually condominiums as investment to let? Would such a development ease pressure of the current rental market and make the housing market more efficient? The project also analyzes Norway, where condominiums are widespread, with a subsequent large private rental market. Through a literature review, combined with qualitative interviews, we conclude that condominiums provide a unique flexibility on the market. Increased investment and letting of this form of housing would create a growing supply of rented accommodation. With legislation already in place, this could lead to the development of a market of privately rented accommodation. This creates a possibility for citizens to quickly acquire temporary housing, which is showcased by the Norwegian example. However, condominiums make up an insignificant portion of Swedish housing, and can thus only lead to marginal alterations of the general market. Nonetheless, they constitute a good complement, allowing increased mobility and diversity. Among the interviewed respondents, condominiums and a private rental market were generally regarded as valuable addition. However, individuals working for rental associations, publicly owned real estate companies and other stakeholders that historically have advocated for an extensive rental market, were largely skeptical.