It is acceptable to sublet if you have received approval from SGS and follow existing legislation.
SGS approves subletting in the case of an exchange semester, leave of absence from studies, internship in another location, trial cohabitation, or an extended stay abroad.
The subtenant must be enrolled in at least 15 credits per semester on-site at the University of Gothenburg or Chalmers University of Technology during the rental period.
Subletting may be approved for a maximum of one year. You must have lived in your apartment for at least six months and intend to return after the subletting period.
You can find the application and full terms and conditions here.
Summer Subletting
It is allowed to sublet during June, July, and August without the primary tenant having a specific reason for subletting. However, the subtenant must be actively studying at the University of Gothenburg or Chalmers University of Technology during the summer, with a minimum of 5 credits.
Applications can only be emailed after the subtenant has received their letter of admission.
You can find the application and full terms and conditions here.
Roommates
As a primary tenant, you are, of course, entitled to have a roommate if you, yourself, reside permanently in the residence. It is a prerequisite that you reside permanently at the address. If you do not reside permanently at the address you are in breach of the tenancy agreement regarding unapproved subletting and you risk losing your contract.
Note: You are not permitted to have a roommate if you live in a single room with a shared kitchen.
You, as a tenant, are not permitted to gain financially from your tenancy agreement by lowering your own living costs at the expense of your roommate. Therefore, the rent that you charge must be proportionate to the size of the space at your roommate’s disposal. Reasonable additions for furniture, equipment and other facilities may be charged. If you have multiple roommates the total amount of rent you receive from them may not exceed that which you, as the primary tenant, pay to SGS.
If the rent you charge your roommate is excessively high, you risk losing your contract.
Having a roommate works in a similar way to subletting the entire apartment. The rent charged cannot be unreasonable, however, no permission is required from the landlord.
Examples of how to calculate a reasonable rent
Example 1:
The primary tenant rents out a 15 m² room in his/her three room, 60² apartment to a roommate. The primary tenant pays a total of SEK 5 000. The primary tenant also has a 15 m² room at his/her disposal. Both parties have access to the living room, kitchen, bathroom and hallway. The shared area is 30 m², i.e. each of the parties can be said to have the use of 15 m² of this area. The roommate must not be required to pay more than a proportionate amount, which is half the rent paid by the primary tenant ([15 m² + 15 m²] / 60 m² ), i.e. SEK 2 500.
Example 2:
The primary tenant lives in a four room 120 m² apartment and pays SEK 9 000 in rent. He/she rents out two equally sized rooms to two roommates. The total of the rented area is 40 m², i.e. 20 m² per roommate. The primary tenant keeps a room and a bathroom measuring 20 m² together for his/her own use. The shared area in the apartment consists of a living room, a kitchen and hall which in total measure 60 m², i.e. each of the inhabitants of the apartment have 20 m² of the shared area at their disposal. Each of the roommates are to pay no more than one-third of the rent paid by the primary tenant ([20 m² + 20 m²] / 120 m² ), i.e. SEK 3 000.
