---
title: "Can the landlord enter your flat without asking?"
author: "Esther Asmundsson"
authorUrl: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/authors/EstherAsmundsson"
datePublished: "2026-08-04T11:14:26.877Z"
dateModified: "2026-08-04T14:49:19Z"
description: "Sometimes yes, without asking. The Swedish Rental Act gives landlords access for necessary inspections and urgent work. Know your rights and boundaries."
keywords: ["can landlord enter flat", "landlord access to rental flat", "landlord enters without asking", "12 kap 26 § jordabalken access", "denying landlord access"]
categories: ["Hyresgäst", "Guider"]
canonical: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/can-the-landlord-enter-your-flat-without-asking"
language: "en"
image: "https://bofrid.media/cms/c3bcf76366ce8d2ef7f612a95a61c3f70ca3f08f.png"
---

# Can the landlord enter your flat without asking?

## Sometimes yes — and it surprises most people

Most tenants assume that a landlord is never allowed to enter without asking. That is not true. **The Rental Act (hyreslagen) gives the landlord an explicit right of access in certain cases**, and in those instances, you do not need to give consent for it to be legal.

The rules are found in **Chapter 12, Section 26 of the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken)**. They distinguish between three situations, and the difference between them determines whether you can say no.

## The three scenarios

### 1. Necessary inspection and work that cannot wait — without delay

Upon request, the landlord is entitled to access **without delay** (utan uppskov) to:

- perform a necessary inspection of the flat or how it is being used, or
- carry out improvement work that cannot be postponed without causing damage.

"Without delay" means exactly that. There is no statutory notice period here. A spreading water leak, a suspected gas leak, or moisture damage that worsens daily falls into this category — as does inspection that is truly necessary, not just convenient for the landlord.

It is therefore not only urgent emergencies that grant access, which is the most common misconception.

### 2. Viewings when the flat is available for rent

If the flat is available for letting, you are **obligated to allow it to be shown at a suitable time**. This typically applies after the contract has been terminated while you are still living there.

"A suitable time" is the only limit the law sets, and it is yours to determine. Viewings in the middle of the night or without you having agreed on a time are not a suitable time.

### 3. Less urgent improvement work — at least one month's notice

For work that **can** wait, **at least one month's notice** must be given, and the work must not cause significant hindrance or inconvenience to your right of use.

Two important limitations:

- Such work **may not** be carried out without your consent during the **last month** of the tenancy.
- If the landlord wishes to perform **other** work in the flat, you have the right to terminate the agreement within **one week** of the notice. The work may not begin before the date you could have terminated the agreement, unless you agree otherwise.

That week is therefore **your notice period** — not the landlord’s notice period. It is easy to confuse the two.

## Summary

| Situation | Notice period by law | Can you refuse? |
|---|---|---|
| Necessary inspection | Without delay | No |
| Work that cannot be postponed without damage | Without delay | No |
| Viewing when the flat is available for rent | Suitable time | No, but you control the time |
| Less urgent improvement work | At least one month | No, if the notice is correct |
| Same work during the last month of tenancy | Requires your consent | Yes |
| Other work | You may terminate within one week | Work must wait until then |
| Landlord just wants to check, no reason | — | Yes |

## What happens if you say no?

If you refuse access in a situation where the landlord is entitled to it, the landlord can apply for **special enforcement (särskild handräckning) at the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogdemyndigheten)**. That is the correct path — not the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden), which is a common misconception.

In repeated cases, refusal can also affect your rental flat (hyresrätt), as you are legally obligated to grant access.

## What the landlord is not allowed to do

The right to access is tied to the three scenarios above. Outside of those, the landlord does not have the right to enter simply because a key is available in the caretaker's cupboard.

Furthermore, in all cases, the landlord must ensure that you **do not suffer more inconvenience than necessary**, and must compensate you for any damage caused.

Entering someone's home without legal support and without consent can constitute **trespassing (hemfridsbrott)** according to the Swedish Penal Code. If you suspect that someone has entered without the right to do so: document the date and time, ask the landlord for an explanation in writing, and file a police report if the situation remains unclear.

## How to handle it in practice

- **Ask for the reason in writing.** Which of the three scenarios is being cited? The answer determines everything.
- **Agree on the time.** Even when you cannot refuse access, you can usually influence when it happens.
- **Be home if you can.** You have the right to be present.
- **Document.** Save notices — a month is a month, and the landlord must be able to prove that the notice period has passed.
- **Write down what was done.** Especially during inspections that may lead to discussions about damage or wear and tear (slitage).

If the visit concerns an inspection before moving out, it is worth reading about what counts as [normal wear and tear or damage](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/normal-wear-and-tear-vs-damage-rental-in-sweden) — that is where disputes actually arise.

## Frequently asked questions

**Does the landlord have to give notice before a necessary inspection?**
No. For necessary inspections and work that cannot be postponed without damage, the landlord is entitled to access without delay. The law does not set a notice period for those cases. In practice, the landlord usually gets in touch anyway — an agreed time works better for both parties.

**How much notice applies to regular renovations?**
At least one month. This applies to less urgent improvement work that does not cause significant hindrance or inconvenience to the right of use. During the last month of the tenancy, your consent is also required.

**Can the landlord show the flat to new tenants while I am still living there?**
Yes, when the flat is available for letting, you are obligated to allow it to be shown at a suitable time. You cannot refuse the viewing as such, but the time must be suitable and it is reasonable that you agree on it.

**What do I do if the landlord enters without having the right to do so?**
Request a written explanation of the legal basis being cited and document the event. If no legal basis exists, it may be trespassing, which is a matter for the police. If it is instead a dispute regarding the condition of the flat, you can contact the [Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden)](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/dispute-with-your-landlord-how-to-report-to-the-swedish-rent-tribunal).

## Further reading

The Rental Act regulates much more than just access. We have gone through [your rights and obligations under Chapter 12 of the Land Code](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/swedish-rental-act-hyreslagen-guide-for-expats), and what you [are allowed to change in the flat](https://bofrid.se/en/articles/tenant-s-right-to-install-furniture-what-does-the-law-say) without asking.

*This text provides general information about the Rental Act and does not constitute legal advice. In the event of a specific dispute, contact the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden), the Swedish Union of Tenants (Hyresgästföreningen), or a lawyer.*