This year’s rent increases are expected to be the highest in 30 years. But so far, only about half of all negotiations have been completed, and many tenants are therefore still living in uncertainty and worry. – I’m a little afraid that I won’t be able to pay the rent, says tenant Khaled Arouf. Normally, about 80 percent of the rental negotiations are completed by this time of the year. But so far, only 56 percent of the 2023 rent increases have been fully negotiated, including the large housing giants. Above all, it is the negotiations in Gothenburg and certain parts of Norrland that are not finished. Erik Elmgren is head of the Tenants’ Association and he testifies to tough negotiations between the Tenants’ Association and the property owners – who in the negotiations, among other things, point to high overhead costs. – The negotiations began in October and the landlords then demanded ten percent, and we were clear that we will never accept that. That, together with the big question – who will pay for the crisis, has caused the negotiations to drag on, says Erik Elmgren. Fears a rent increase of SEK 2,500 Khaled Arouf lives in Bergsjön in Gothenburg with his daughter. Today, he has a rent of approximately SEK 7,000, but he fears that it may increase by around SEK 2,500 after the rent negotiations are completed. The reason for the unusually high increase is due to the fact that Khaled Arouf and his neighbors, in addition to the annual rent increases, are also expecting increases as a result of the tribal changes and facade renovations that their tenancy association will carry out. – We are very worried, we don’t know where to go. All this affects us very negatively, says Khaled Arouf. In several parts of the country, the rent negotiations are not yet complete, but right now the average increases are 4.16 percent. A high figure compared to the average rent increases of the past five years, which have been around one to two percent. And so far the Tenants’ Association does not know when the negotiations have been completed. – We want to be done as soon as possible, but it may take a few more weeks, says Erik Elmgren. In the player above: Khaled Arouf talks about the concerns.
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Khaled’s concern about the rent increase: “Afraid I won’t be able to pay”
