What does it mean?
Modular housing refers to prefabricated homes manufactured in factories and transported to the building site for assembly. The construction technique enables faster and cheaper production compared to traditional building — a complete modular home can be move-in ready within weeks of delivery. Quality varies but modern modular homes meet the same BBR requirements as conventional buildings.
Modular housing is used both as temporary solutions (evacuation housing, asylum accommodations, student housing) and as permanent residences. Municipalities across Sweden have used modular housing to quickly address housing shortages. They can be erected as rental apartments or temporary housing with time-limited building permits (up to 15 years). Notable modular building companies in Sweden include BoKlok (IKEA/Skanska), Lindbäcks, and Derome.
Key Points
- Prefabricated in factories — faster and cheaper than traditional construction
- Meet the same BBR requirements as conventional buildings
- Used as both temporary and permanent housing
- Time-limited building permits possible (up to 15 years)
- Municipalities use modular housing to quickly address housing shortages
Practical Tip
Modular housing can be a good option if you're looking for housing in a municipality with shortages. Check whether the housing is permanent or temporary — time-limited building permits mean the housing may need to be demolished after a certain period.
Legal Basis: Planning and Building Act Ch. 9 (time-limited building permits)