---
title: "What can a landlord ask about your finances? (Swedish law explained) | Bofrid"
author: "William Wiklund"
authorUrl: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/authors/william-wiklund"
datePublished: "2026-09-08T07:34:37.756Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T07:34:37.888Z"
description: "What can a landlord ask about your finances? Here we explain permitted questions, privacy limits and your rights as a tenant in Sweden."
keywords: ["what can a landlord ask about finances", "landlord ask about income", "credit check rental flat", "tenant privacy", "payment defaults rental"]
categories: ["Landlord", "Guides"]
canonical: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/what-can-a-landlord-ask-about-your-finances-swedish-law-explained-bofrid"
language: "en"
image: "https://bofrid.media/cms/72093930ce8fd1b8a59c163da3a119dc73ac416c.webp"
---

# What can a landlord ask about your finances? (Swedish law explained) | Bofrid

A landlord may ask about your finances to the extent needed to assess whether you can pay the rent, but no more. What sets the boundary is the privacy protection in Chapter 12, Section 24 of the Land Code (jordabalken) and the rules in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For example, a landlord may ask about your income and whether you have payment defaults (betalningsanmärkningar), but not about your illnesses, religion or political views.

## What can a landlord ask about your finances – the permitted questions

When you apply for a rental flat (hyresrätt), the landlord wants to know that you can pay the rent. It is therefore permitted to ask about your monthly income, whether you have permanent employment or other regular income, and whether you have payment defaults or debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden). The landlord may also ask you to verify the information with, for example, payslips or certificates of employment.

However, the landlord may not ask about how you manage your finances in other respects – for example, how much you spend on food, leisure or savings. Such questions have no connection to the tenancy agreement and would violate your personal privacy.

## What can a landlord ask about your finances during a credit check?

During a credit check (kreditprövning), the landlord may process information about your finances that is necessary to assess your ability to pay. This follows from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Article 6.1(f), which permits processing when it is necessary for a legitimate interest – here, the landlord's interest in getting paid.

However, the landlord may not carry out a credit check without informing you. You have the right to know what information is collected, why it is collected and how long it is kept. If the landlord uses a credit reference agency, such as UC or Bisnode, you must be notified that a credit check will be carried out.

## What may a landlord not ask about?

The landlord may not ask about matters that are irrelevant to the tenancy. This includes:

- Health conditions and illnesses
- Sexual orientation
- Religion or political views
- Ethnicity
- Trade union membership

Such questions may breach the Discrimination Act (diskrimineringslagen, 2008:567) and the GDPR. If a landlord asks such questions, you can report it to the Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen, DO) or the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten, IMY).

## What applies to income requirements?

Many landlords require your income to be at least three times the rent. This is a common benchmark, but there is no law saying it must be so. The landlord may decide what requirements to set, as long as they are not discriminatory. However, a requirement for a certain income can be indirectly discriminatory if it hits certain groups harder, such as young people or people with disabilities.

If you have a lower income, you may still get a flat if you have a guarantor or pay the rent in advance. However, it is up to the landlord to agree to that.

## What applies to self-employed people and pensioners?

Self-employed people may find it harder to show a regular income. The landlord may then ask for annual accounts or tax returns to assess your finances. Pensioners can show their pension statement. The landlord may not require you to have a particular type of income, but it must be sufficient to cover the rent.

## What applies to subletting?

In subletting (andrahandsuthyrning), the tenant is the landlord for the subtenant. The same rules apply – as a landlord, you may ask about finances to the extent needed, but no more. For example, you may not demand to see the applicant's full bank statement.

## What applies to lodgers?

If you rent out a room in your own home to a lodger (inneboende), the Private Housing Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen, 2026:772) applies. Under that law, you may charge rent that corresponds to your cost for the room. You may ask about the lodger's finances to assess whether they can pay, but you may not demand to see their entire personal finances.

## What applies to deposits?

A deposit (deposition) is security that the tenant will behave properly. The landlord may charge a deposit, but it must be reasonable. According to practice from the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden), a deposit of two to three months' rent is common. The landlord may not demand a disproportionately high deposit. Read more in our article on [higher deposits for furnished lettings](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/can-you-charge-a-higher-deposit-for-furnished-lettings).

## What applies to advance rent?

The landlord may require you to pay the rent in advance, but only for one month at a time. This follows from Chapter 12, Section 19 of the Land Code (jordabalken). The landlord may therefore not require you to pay several months in advance. Read more in our article on [payment in advance](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/can-the-landlord-demand-rent-in-advance).

## What applies to credit checks?

A credit check is a review of your ability to pay. The landlord may carry out a credit check, but must inform you about it. You have the right to know which company carries out the check and what it contains. If you are refused a flat because of a credit check, you have the right to know why.

## What applies to payment defaults?

The landlord may take payment defaults into account when assessing your application. A payment default can be a reason to refuse you a flat, but it is not automatic. The landlord must make an individual assessment. If you have a payment default, you can explain the circumstances – for example, that it is old or due to a dispute.

## What applies to refusing a flat?

The landlord may refuse you a flat if you do not meet the requirements, for example on income. But the landlord may not refuse you on discriminatory grounds, such as ethnicity, gender or religion. If you suspect discrimination, you can report it to the Equality Ombudsman (DO).

## Frequently asked questions

**Can the landlord ask about my debts?**

Yes, the landlord may ask whether you have debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden) or payment defaults. This is relevant for assessing your ability to pay. But the landlord may not ask about the cause of the debts, for example whether they are due to gambling or illness.

**Can the landlord require me to show my bank statement?**

No, the landlord may not require you to show your entire bank statement. That would give them access to information about your purchases, income and expenses that is not relevant to the tenancy agreement. The landlord may ask for specific information, such as payslips, but not your full bank statement.

**Can the landlord ask whether I have children?**

No, the landlord may not ask whether you have children or plan to have children. That would be discriminatory. The landlord may also not refuse you a flat because of children.

**What do I do if the landlord asks prohibited questions?**

If the landlord asks questions that are not relevant to the tenancy, you can refuse to answer. If the landlord refuses you a flat because you did not answer, you can report it to the Equality Ombudsman (DO) or the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden). You can also contact the Swedish Union of Tenants (Hyresgästföreningen) for advice.

## Summary

The landlord may ask about your finances to the extent needed to assess your ability to pay. This means they may ask about income, employment and payment defaults. However, they may not ask about your health, religion or other privacy-sensitive information. If you feel a landlord is overstepping the line, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) or the Equality Ombudsman (DO). For more information about your rights as a tenant, see our articles on [disputes with your landlord](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/dispute-with-your-landlord-how-to-report-to-the-swedish-rent-tribunal) and [landlord access to your flat](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/can-the-landlord-enter-your-flat-without-asking).

*This text is general information and not legal advice.*