The demand from the municipal housing company Falköping Hyresbostäder was among the highest in Västra Götaland. For an average three-room apartment that costs SEK 6,000 a month, a rent increase of 9.18 percent would mean an increased cost of SEK 550.
Falköping Hyresbostäder has a total of just over 2,000 apartments. Tomas Thiel is CEO of the company. He mentions three reasons why they demanded so much in the rent increase. It is about the electricity price going from fixed to variable, that local tariffs were raised from an already high level and the cost situation on the construction side which affects ongoing maintenance.
– It is clear that there will be a concern when you have to raise. We have also had to assess how much our tenants can handle. Now it is the case that we are raising from a relatively low rent level. So in kroner and ören the increase will not be that high, says Tomas Thiel, CEO of Falköping Hyresbostäder.
“I think both are equally dissatisfied”
However, the housing association had to settle for half of the demand. After negotiations with the Tenants’ Association, the increase landed at 4.75 percent. For a three-room apartment for SEK 6,000, this means an increase of SEK 285.
– I think both are equally dissatisfied, says Tomas Thiel, CEO of Falköping Hyresbostäder.
Tenant Kerstin Kristensson thinks the increase was high.
– I have to cut back on something else, she says.
Start the clip to hear both the tenant and the CEO about the consequences of the rent increase.
