Almost every fifth Swede, nineteen percent, is considering moving because of increased violence and gang crime. According to brokers, there has been a trend break – safety and security are now the most important criteria in a housing transaction.
The Lugo family, who have lived in the Stockholm district of Hässelby for ten years, are one of the families with children who have grown tired of the violence. They feel insecure with the development of violence, including after several bombings and shootings in the area.
– We only live in Stockholm because we have jobs here. If we had been able to get permanent employment in a smaller place in the country, we would have left the big city. It’s too worried here, says David Lugo.
Even Thomas Hasselblad, who lives in Hässelby, wants to move. He thinks the big city feels dangerous. There have been too many shootings and explosions in the Stockholm area.
Young men are most insecure
The survey shows that nine percent of Swedes are worried that they themselves or someone in the family will be exposed to violence linked to gang crime in their residential area. It is also clear that men aged 18–29 are the ones who feel most insecure. A higher percentage of that group wants to move because of insecurity (19 percent) and feel that they have become less safe in the last two years (22 percent).
Many who live in areas where there has been crime want to sell, but it is a challenge to get the homes sold.
– It is clear that it affects and is confirmed by our brokers. It is a trend breaker to see how housing consumers choose housing. Previously, people wanted to move to the countryside for the proximity to nature, but now it is because it feels safer and calmer. The increase in crime makes people more observant, says Johan Engström, CEO of the Real Estate Agency.
Checking out the neighbors
The buyers also want to know who the neighbors are to a completely different extent than before.
– You are careful to know who lives in the property, if something criminal has happened in the area and if so, you hesitate to buy, says Engström.