---
title: "What Does a Vacancy Cost? Calculating Empty Apartments"
author: "William Wiklund"
authorUrl: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/authors/william-wiklund"
datePublished: "2026-07-04T14:27:32.112Z"
dateModified: "2026-07-04T15:15:29Z"
description: "An empty apartment costs more than the lost rent. Here's how to calculate what a vacancy really costs your property company — with an example."
keywords: ["what does a vacancy cost", "cost of empty apartment", "vacancy rate", "reduce vacancy", "property company vacancy"]
categories: ["För fastighetsbolag"]
canonical: "https://bofrid.se/en/articles/what-does-a-vacancy-cost"
language: "en"
---

# What Does a Vacancy Cost? Calculating Empty Apartments

An empty apartment feels like a small problem — until you do the maths. For a property company, vacancy is one of the largest and most underestimated costs, precisely because it doesn't show up as an invoice but as *missing* income. This article shows how to calculate what a vacancy actually costs and why every saved week is worth more than you'd think.

## A vacancy costs more than the lost rent

When a unit sits empty you don't just lose the rent. You also keep paying **running costs** (heating, property management, insurance, interest), **marketing and admin** for the next let, and in some cases the cost of long idle time before the next move-in. The simplest direct cost is still the lost rent — and it's easy to quantify.

## The formula

Lost income: **Monthly rent ÷ 30 × number of empty days = lost rent**

At portfolio level, use the [vacancy rate](/en/knowledge-bank/vakansgrad):
**(Empty units ÷ total units) × 100 = vacancy rate in %**

## Worked example

Say a unit rents for **SEK 9,000/month** and sits empty for **two months** between tenants:

- Lost rent: 9,000 × 2 = **SEK 18,000**
- Running costs, say SEK 2,500/month: 2,500 × 2 = **SEK 5,000**
- **Total cost of the vacancy: ~SEK 23,000** for a single unit.

Scale it up: a 50-unit portfolio at just a 4% vacancy rate averages two empty units year-round — over **SEK 270,000 per year** in lost income and running costs in this example.

## What is every saved week worth?

Shaving just **one week** off idle time per let saves roughly **SEK 2,100** per unit here (9,000 ÷ 30 × 7). With high turnover this adds up fast — which is why speed from *vacant* to *signed lease* is one of the most profitable things a property company can optimise.

## How to reduce vacancy cost

- **Start marketing early** — ideally when notice comes in, not after move-out.
- **Distribute widely** — more channels, more applicants, shorter idle time.
- **Speed up screening** — have a ready process for [credit](/en/knowledge-bank/kreditkontroll-hyresgast) and [reference checks](/en/knowledge-bank/referenskontroll).
- **Get help when needed** — a placement service can fill vacancies with no fixed cost.

With [Bofrid's placement service for property companies](/en/for-property-companies), verified tenants are forwarded straight to you and you pay only when a forwarded prospect signs — a low-risk way to cut that expensive idle time.

## Summary

A vacancy costs lost rent plus running costs and admin — often SEK 20,000–25,000 for a single unit empty for a couple of months. Calculate your own vacancy rate, put a value on every saved week, and invest in what shortens the time from vacant to let. For the letting side, see our [complete guide for property companies](/en/articles/renting-out-apartments-as-a-property-company).

## FAQ

**What's included in the cost of a vacancy?**
Mainly the lost rent, but also running costs (heating, management, insurance, interest) and the cost of marketing and screening for the next let.

**What's a normal vacancy rate?**
It varies by location and portfolio, but even a few percent adds up over a year. The point is to measure it and work systematically to lower it.

**How do we cut vacancy cost fastest?**
By shortening idle time: market early, distribute widely and screen fast. A no cure–no pay placement service can fill vacancies with no fixed cost — [read more](/en/for-property-companies).