Skebo has apartments in many locations around the municipality. Number of applicants in the city, for older housing: 300–400 people.
Skellefteå's population is growing by 50 to 70 residents each month, while the number of new apartments remains stagnant.
This has created a housing shortage, leading to intense competition for any available units. Location and condition are no longer major factors; people apply for any apartment they can find, although newer developments are slightly less in demand.
Skebo, the only local property company with a dedicated queue, provides a clear picture of the housing crisis.
Every month, 700 new people join the queue, bringing the total to 8,400 over the past year. While approximately 4,000 people have been removed due to various reasons, the queue currently stands at 52,174 individuals. Notably, around 3,000 of these are existing Skebo tenants seeking to relocate within their portfolio.
Not all applicants on the housing waitlist are actively looking for a place to live. A survey conducted two years ago revealed that just over half were saving points for potential future use. Approximately 30 to 40 percent planned to move within the next few years, while only 10 percent had an urgent need at the time.
However, the situation has changed since then.
– Today, there are more people with immediate housing needs, says marketing manager Anna Ersson.
The high demand is evident whenever vacant apartments become available. For older units in Skellefteå, Skebo typically receives 300 to 400 applications. In the outskirts, the number is around 50 to 100. For newly constructed apartments, the demand is lower, with 80 to 100 applicants in Skellefteå and about 50 in the outskirts.
Maritha Nordström talks about the sharply increasing demand in Sjungande Dalen. Robin Wilhelmsson knows everything about the demand in Anderstorp and Sunnanå.
Heimstaden, another major property company in Skellefteå, also faces significant demand. Communications manager Robin Wilhelmsson states that their most sought-after area, Sunnanå, attracts 400 to 500 applicants per listing. Anderstorp and Västra Erikslid are close behind, with around 400 applications each.
Wilhelmsson emphasizes that size and condition are no longer major factors influencing demand. In fact, the number of applicants has doubled over the past year.
– Those who eventually secure an apartment typically have been on Heimstaden's waitlist for 4 to 5 years. For newly constructed units, the waiting time is slightly shorter.
It's important to note that Heimstaden's queue is nationwide, making it difficult to determine the exact number of people specifically waiting for Skellefteå apartments.
Location: Anderstorp. Owned by: Heimstaden. Number of applicants per apartment: 400 people.
Location: Sunnanå. Owned by: Heimstaden. Number of applicants per apartment: 400–500 people.
Location: Västra Erikslid, Storfågeln. Owned by: Heimstaden. Number of applicants per apartment: 400 people.
Sveafastigheter, the city's third-largest housing company, is also experiencing high demand. Their Morö Backe apartments typically attract around 200 applicants per listing.
Newly constructed units in central Moröhöjden have also been in high demand. A recent two-room apartment listing received 126 applications.
– We've noticed a significant increase in demand, says property manager Catarina Holmér.
The second phase of the Jullen project in Skelleftehamn recently became available. With 60 apartments on offer, the project has received 967 applications, averaging 16 applicants per unit. Interested individuals still have an opportunity to apply.
Sveafastigheter utilizes the nationwide Home Q system for apartment applications.
Location: Morö Backe. Owned by: Sveafastigheter (SBB). Applicants per apartment: 200 people.
Location: Moröhöjden, Gruvgatan. Owner: Sveafastigheter (SBB). Number of applicants per apartment: 126 people.
Riksbyggen, another housing company using Home Q, manages apartments in various locations.
Their Sjungande Dalen units typically receive around 200 applications per listing, while Klintfors attracts approximately 160 applicants. Those who secure an apartment in these areas often have been on the waitlist for 5 to 9 years.
Maritha Nordström, regional manager, says that the demand in Sjungande Dalen has increased significantly. Just a few years ago, the average number of applicants per apartment was only 77.
Riksbyggen has also observed that newly constructed rental apartments are less appealing to some due to higher rents. They manage Arkadia's extensive holdings in Kåge, where each listing receives 70 inquiries. This represents a substantial increase from a year ago, when only 9 people were interested in a single Kåge listing.
Location: Sjungande Dalen. Managed by: Riksbyggen. Number of applicants per apartment: 200 people.
Location: Klintfors, Degerbyn. Managed by: Riksbyggen. Applicants per apartment: 160 people.
Location: Kåge, Åkerbäret block, new development. Managed by: Riksbyggen. Number of applicants per apartment: 70 people.
In conclusion, the competition for rental housing in Skellefteå is intensifying, and unfortunately, there's no end in sight. The situation is likely to worsen over the next year as nearly all rental apartments started before the construction crisis have now been completed and occupied.
The only exception is Sveafastigheter's ongoing Jullen project in Skelleftehamn. Phase 2 has just been released, and phase 3, with 60 apartments, is scheduled for release later this autumn.
The next newly constructed rental buildings won't be available until the autumn of 2025. These include Skebo's new apartments in Sörbyn and Kåge, as well as new buildings on Krongatan by Sveafastigheter.
Until then, the congestion in the housing queues will only continue to grow.
Footnote:
Have you been struggling to find housing in Skellefteå for an extended period? If you're willing to share your experience, please contact Norran's reporter.
Anna Ersson discusses the pressure on Skebo’s properties. Catarina Holmér knows everything about the demand in Morö Backe.