bostadsrättshavare

A bostadsrättshavare, often translated as a housing cooperative owner or condominium owner in English-speaking contexts, is a person who holds a bostadsrätt, which translates to a right of residence. This right is a form of ownership in a Swedish housing cooperative (bostadsrättsförening). The bostadsrättshavare does not own the physical property outright, as they would in a freehold property. Instead, they own the right to live in a specific apartment or dwelling unit within the cooperative.

The bostadsrättshavare is a member of the housing cooperative and, as such, has a say in the management and decision-making of the association, typically through voting at general meetings. They pay a monthly fee, known as a månadsavgift or årsavgift, to the cooperative. This fee covers the operational costs of the building, such as maintenance, repairs, insurance, and often includes heating, water, and sometimes even cable TV and internet. In addition to the monthly fee, bostadsrättshavare are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the interior of their own dwelling.

When a bostadsrätt is sold, the seller is transferring the right of residence, not the physical property. The buyer acquires this right and becomes a member of the housing cooperative. Mortgages can be taken out against the value of the bostadsrätt, but the loan is secured against the right itself, not directly against the real estate. The specific rights and responsibilities of a bostadsrättshavare are governed by the bylaws of the bostadsrättsförening and Swedish law.