Gotland rent tribunal: apply, fee and what they rule on

The rent tribunal is a court-like board in Sweden that mediates rental disputes and rules on certain disputes between tenant and landlord. Turning to the rent tribunal is free of charge. It handles matters under chapter 12 of the Swedish Land Code (the Rent Act), the Tenant-Ownership Act and related legislation.

What the rent tribunal rules on

The rent tribunal can rule on, among other things:

• Permission to sublet when the landlord has refused consent.
• Waiver of security of tenure, which in some cases must be approved by the board.
• Disputes over rent setting and unfair rent.
• Matters concerning agricultural tenancy through the close connection to the tenancy board.

If you want to sublet your apartment and the landlord says no, you can turn to the rent tribunal for permission. The board can also examine whether a rent is unreasonable, for example if the rent has been set much higher than what is reasonable for a comparable apartment.

Where is the rent tribunal covering Gotland

There are eight rent tribunals in Sweden with geographical jurisdiction: Stockholm, Västerås, Linköping, Jönköping, Malmö, Göteborg, Sundsvall and Umeå. Gotlands tingsrätt (district court) is located in Visby at Artillerigatan 2 A, with postal address Box 1143, 621 22 Visby, and telephone 0498-28 14 00. In rent tribunals outside Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö, the chief judge of the local district court heads the board.

Which of Sweden's eight rent tribunals has territorial responsibility for Gotland could not be confirmed from the sources reviewed for this article. If you live on Gotland and need to turn to the rent tribunal, we recommend contacting Gotlands tingsrätt or Hyresgästföreningen to find out which board is competent for your case.

How to apply to the rent tribunal

An application to the rent tribunal is made in writing. You do not need to be a lawyer to apply, and it costs nothing. The application should describe the dispute and the question you want the board to rule on. Attach the lease and other relevant documentation, for example correspondence with the landlord.

If you are unsure how to write the application, you can get help from Hyresgästföreningen if you are a member, or from a legal adviser.

Who can apply

Both tenants and landlords can turn to the rent tribunal. It is enough that you are a party to a rental-law dispute that the board has the power to rule on. You do not need to live in a specific municipality or be a member of any organization to have your case heard.

Processing time

Processing time varies depending on the type of case and the board's workload. Simple matters may be handled faster, while more complicated disputes can take longer. The rent tribunal usually tries to resolve the dispute through mediation before making a formal decision.

Cost

Turning to the rent tribunal is free of charge. You pay no application fee to have your case heard. Any costs for counsel or legal advice are your own if you choose to use such services.

Appeal

Some decisions from the rent tribunal can be appealed to Svea hovrätt (Court of Appeal). The decision states whether it can be appealed and, if so, how to proceed.

Links and contacts

For more information about renting and the rent tribunal, you can turn to:

• Hyresgästföreningen — support and advice for tenants
• Boverket — information on rental law
• Jordabalken (1970:994) on riksdagen.se — chapter 12 on rent
• Gotlands tingsrätt in Visby — the local court on Gotland

If you are looking for a home on Gotland, we have written about Gotlandshem's housing queue, how to find a student apartment in Visby, and how to rent an apartment directly in Visby.

Summary

The rent tribunal is a free instance that mediates and rules on rental disputes. It can, among other things, grant permission to sublet, approve waiver of security of tenure, and examine whether a rent is unfair. Gotlands tingsrätt is in Visby, but which rent tribunal is competent for Gotland should be confirmed with the district court or Hyresgästföreningen before you submit an application.