Andrahand apartments in Stockholm for expats
Stockholm is a global tech capital where international talent is actively recruited but the local housing market was never designed for them. Andrahand is not a compromise here — it is the standard entry point for nearly every expat who arrives without a decade of queue points. Speed is everything: well-priced listings in central neighbourhoods are typically gone within 24 to 48 hours.
Stockholm is Sweden's most competitive rental market — and for expats, that challenge is doubled. The first-hand (förstahand) housing queue averages nine to twelve years in the city centre, making andrahand apartments the only realistic short-term path to a proper home. Second-hand sublets sit entirely outside the bostadskö: a current tenant rents their flat to you directly, typically for one to three years, and no queue points or personnummer are required to apply. Stockholm's booming tech scene, Spotify and Klarna among hundreds of scale-ups, draws thousands of international employees every year. Expatriate monitors all major andrahand platforms in real time and sends you an English email the moment a Stockholm listing matching your filters appears — so you can apply before the competition does.
Why expats choose Stockholm
Stockholm is a global tech capital where international talent is actively recruited but the local housing market was never designed for them. Andrahand is not a compromise here — it is the standard entry point for nearly every expat who arrives without a decade of queue points. Speed is everything: well-priced listings in central neighbourhoods are typically gone within 24 to 48 hours.
Where expats live in Stockholm
The best neighbourhoods for andrahand apartments and expat life.
Södermalm
11 000–16 000 kr/moStockholm's creative heart, packed with independent cafés, galleries, and waterfront views of Gamla Stan. Popular with tech workers and younger expats. Andrahand competition here is fierce — set up alerts immediately.
Vasastan
10 500–15 000 kr/moCentral, residential, and relatively calm. Close to Stockholm University and the city's main hospital cluster. Well-served by T-bana. Strong supply of larger andrahand flats sublet by academics on sabbatical.
Östermalm
13 000–22 000 kr/moThe embassy district: grand pre-war buildings, wide boulevards, and proximity to the international schools along Lidingövägen. Higher rents but lower turnover — when listings appear, act within hours.
Kungsholmen
10 000–14 500 kr/moAn island neighbourhood west of the city centre, favoured by professionals relocating for Stockholm's financial and consulting sector. Well-connected, quieter than Söder, with a strong café culture.
Solna / Sundbyberg
8 500–12 000 kr/moBordering the city to the north-west, Solna and Sundbyberg offer significantly better value. Solna hosts Karolinska University Hospital and several life-science campuses — practical for healthcare expats and researchers.
Stockholm rent prices for andrahand apartments
Typical monthly rents for second-hand sublets in Stockholm. All prices in SEK.
| Apartment type | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio (1 room) | 8 500–12 000 kr/mo |
| 1 bedroom (2 rooms) | 10 500–16 000 kr/mo |
| 2 bedrooms (3 rooms) | 14 000–22 000 kr/mo |
Ranges reflect typical andrahand market prices. Furnished apartments typically add 10–25%. Prices vary by neighbourhood and listing platform.
Tips for finding an expat apartment in Stockholm
Practical guidance for expats navigating the Stockholm andrahand market.
Create your alert profile before you land. Stockholm listings on platforms like Qasa and Samtrygg go live and fill within 24–48 hours. Having Expatriate monitor in the background while you travel means you won't miss the window.
Target Solna and Sundbyberg if budget is tight. Both are a single metro stop from the city centre and rent at 20–30% below comparable Stockholm flats. Many Karolinska researchers live there by choice.
No personnummer is not a dealbreaker for andrahand landlords. Unlike social services or Swedish bank accounts, private andrahand contracts do not legally require a personnummer — bring proof of employment, a reference letter, and three months' payslips instead.
Budget for the deposit. Stockholm landlords typically request two to three months' rent upfront. On a 14 000 kr flat that is 28 000–42 000 kr. Plan for this before your search begins.
Furnished apartments are more common here than in most Swedish cities. Tech expats on two-year assignments often specifically request furnished — availability is decent in Östermalm and Kungsholmen.
Check commute to your employer before signing. The T-bana is excellent but Stockholm's sprawl means Solna to Slussen can take 35 minutes. Use Google Maps in 'commute' mode against your expected office hours.
Other Swedish cities for expats
Expatriate monitors andrahand listings across all major Swedish cities.
Gothenburg
590,000 residents
Gothenburg offers expats a softer landing than Stockholm: rents are 15–25% lower, neighbou…
View city guideUppsala
175,000 residents
Uppsala is fundamentally an academic city, and that shapes everything about its housing ma…
View city guideMalmö
350,000 residents
Malmö's unique draw for expats is its dual identity: Sweden's most diverse city and Copenh…
View city guideLive listings in Stockholm
Active andrahand apartments updated in real time.
Henriksdalsringen 123
5 750 krNybrogatan, Stockholm
59 999 krKatarina Bangata, Stockholm
35 000 krThorildsvägen, Stockholm
14 200 krNina Einhorns Gata, Stockholm
21 000 krDrottningholmsvägen, Stockholm
29 830 krDrottningholmsvägen, Stockholm
30 280 krPålsbodagränd, Stockholm
5 600 krWallingatan, Stockholm
4 200 krDrottningholmsvägen, Stockholm
24 500 krKungsklippan, Stockholm
13 420 krGröndalsvägen, Stockholm
16 000 krFree plan · No personnummer · Cancel anytime
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from expats searching for andrahand apartments in Stockholm.
Do I need a personnummer to rent an andrahand apartment in Stockholm?
No. Andrahand (second-hand) contracts are private agreements between you and the current tenant. Swedish law does not require a personnummer for private rental contracts. In practice, most landlords will ask for proof of income — payslips, an employment contract, or a bank statement — rather than a personnummer. You will need one eventually for a bank account and certain services, but it is not a prerequisite for securing housing.
How long can an andrahand contract last in Stockholm?
Swedish law allows andrahand contracts for up to two years in the same address without automatic renewal. After two years, the tenant typically needs to reapply to their housing association or landlord for an extension. In practice, many Stockholm expats sign 12-month contracts with one renewal option. Contracts in student areas sometimes run for just one semester.
How competitive is the Stockholm andrahand market compared to other Swedish cities?
Stockholm is by far the most competitive andrahand market in Sweden. Popular listings on Qasa regularly receive 50–100+ applications within the first day. Expatriate's real-time alerts give you a meaningful edge: you get notified within minutes of a listing going live rather than discovering it hours later via manual searches. Pairing fast alerts with a strong application — good income proof, a polite cover message, and references — is the winning formula.
What is a typical Stockholm andrahand rent for expats?
A studio or one-room flat in a central neighbourhood (Södermalm, Vasastan) typically runs 9 000–12 000 kr per month. A two-room flat (one bedroom) in the same areas costs 11 000–16 000 kr. Östermalm and Djurgården command premiums of 20–40% above these figures. Furnished apartments add roughly 15–25% to the base rent. Solna and Sundbyberg offer the same quality at 20–30% less.
Which platforms have the most Stockholm andrahand listings?
Qasa is the largest single source of Stockholm andrahand listings by volume, followed by Samtrygg and Bofrid. Expatriate aggregates all three plus Residensportalen, Homii, HousingAnywhere, Spotahome, and Studentlya — so you don't need to set up separate filters across eight different interfaces.
Can I find an English-speaking landlord for an andrahand in Stockholm?
Yes — Stockholm has among the highest English proficiency rates in Europe. The vast majority of andrahand landlords under 50 are entirely comfortable conducting the entire tenancy in English. Contracts are often in Swedish, but Expatriate can point you toward resources to understand the standard terms. International landlords are also common, particularly in Östermalm and around the Karolinska campus.
Is it safe to rent an andrahand apartment in Stockholm without meeting in person first?
Exercise the standard caution you'd apply anywhere. Always verify the landlord is the actual registered tenant by asking for their hyresavi (rent statement from the housing company). Legitimate landlords will never ask for payment before you've seen the flat and signed a contract. Platforms like Qasa and Samtrygg include identity verification — listings from those sources carry lower risk than ads posted on open forums.