| Type of installation | Permission required? | If you ignore it |
|---|---|---|
| Loose furniture | No | Nothing – it is allowed |
| Bookshelf screwed to wall | Yes | You may need to fill holes and paint when moving out |
| Fixed installation without permission | Yes | Landlord can demand restoration at your expense |
| Painting or wallpapering | Often yes | You may need to restore before moving out |
| Tiling or other fixed cladding | Yes | Expensive to remove, and you pay for it |
Tenants can furnish freely – but there are limits
As a tenant in a rental flat (hyresrätt), you have the right to furnish the flat as you wish. Your landlord cannot dictate which furniture you place there, provided you do not damage the flat or make permanent changes. This right flows from your occupancy agreement, and the limit is set by your duty of care in chapter 12, section 24 of the Land Code (the rental legislation): you must care for the flat and compensate for any damage you cause.
The key distinction is between loose furniture, which can be removed without leaving marks, and fixed installations, which are screwed or bolted into place.
Loose furniture – free choice for tenants
Loose furniture can be moved and taken with you without leaving marks behind. This includes:
- Sofas, beds and sofa beds
- Bookshelves that stand freely and are not screwed to the wall
- Lights that plug into existing outlets
- Dining tables and chairs
- Cabinets and wardrobes that stand freely
For loose furniture, you do not need your landlord's permission. You choose freely, so long as the furniture does not damage parquet flooring, walls or other fittings that belong to the flat.
Fixed installations require landlord consent
Fixed installations are permanently attached and cannot be removed without leaving marks. You should have your landlord's written permission before you start. Examples include:
- Built-in bookshelves and shelving systems screwed to walls
- Tiling and other permanent wall cladding
- White goods and kitchen equipment fixed in place
- Built-in wardrobes and cabinets
- Benches and beds mounted permanently
- Mirrors and pictures fixed permanently
If you install something fixed without permission, your landlord can require you to remove it and restore the flat before you move out.
Painting and wallpapering – their own rules
Painting and wallpapering walls follow their own rules. Read more in our article Paint & wallpaper in a rental flat 2026: Your rights to avoid disputes when you move.
What applies – a quick summary
Before you install – ask yourself these questions
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What does your rental contract say? Some contracts expressly cover fixed installations. Read the agreement before you do anything.
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Are you renting a furnished flat? If so, the landlord's furniture is part of the contract, and you must not discard or alter it.
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What is the wall material? Concrete, plasterboard and wood require different plugs and fixings. The wrong fastener creates unnecessarily large holes.
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Are you subletting in a tenant-owned flat (bostadsrätt)? If so, the building association's bylaws and house rules may impose additional restrictions beyond the rental legislation.
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Are you renting on a first-hand or second-hand basis? Subtenants often have more limited scope. Read more in First-hand or second-hand: Everything you need to know about rental contracts.
How to prepare an installation
Step 1: Ask in writing Email your landlord and describe exactly what you want to install and where. Attach a picture or sketch if possible.
Step 2: Wait for a reply Do not start before you have permission. Save all communication – it is what counts if you disagree later.
Step 3: Use the right fixings Choose plugs and screws based on the wall material. The right plug creates a small hole that is easy to repair.
Step 4: Document Photograph both before and after. The pictures are your proof at the moving-out inspection.
Step 5: Budget for restoration Include the cost of repairs and repainting in your budget from the start, not the month before you move.
What counts as normal wear and tear?
The occasional nail hole from a picture usually counts as normal wear and tear and does not need to be repaired. Many holes, large holes or marks from fixed installations, however, are something a landlord can demand compensation for.
For a fuller discussion of the boundary between wear and damage, read Normal wear and tear or damage? Your complete guide to a dispute-free move-out.
Special cases: pets and charging points
Pets and electric car charging stations have their own rules that do not follow furnishing rules. See Pets in rental flats: Rules, rights and agreements – Your complete guide and Charging points for electric cars in rental flats: Rules, grants and cost sharing for landlords and tenants.
Frequently asked questions
Can I screw a bookshelf to the wall? Yes, but then it becomes a fixed installation, and you should have your landlord's written permission first. If you want to avoid asking: choose a freestanding shelf.
The landlord says no – what can I do? Negotiate, or find a solution that does not require fixing to the wall. If you think the decision is unreasonable, you can contact the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) – see The Rent Tribunal: how it works and your rights as a tenant. Do not install anyway – it will cost you more than what you gain.
Must the landlord pay to remove what I have put up? No. If you have put it up, you are responsible for taking it down and restoring the flat.
What happens if I do not repair the holes before moving out? The landlord can deduct the repair cost from your deposit. The occasional nail hole usually passes as normal wear and tear, but many or large holes do not.
This text is general information about furnishing a rental flat and does not replace legal advice. Contact a lawyer or the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) if you are unsure.
