Fastighetsägarna wants to raise rents in Skellefteå and Norsjö by twelve percent. This affects 2,764 rental apartments. 

– There is no reason to this; it is something we will never accept, says Krister Häggling, of the Tenants Association (Hyresgästföreninge).

– Rents must develop in line with costs. Demand depends on the economic situation, says Jens Pihlblad, responsible for economic policy at Fastighetsägarna Mittnord.

Fastighetsägarna represents private property owners. In Skellefteå, 2,541 households are involved in the negotiations. The Norsjö district has 223 households.

– We have agreed on a model that shows the factors that will be used to calculate the cost increases. When we calculate on this basis, we end up with 16 percent, says Pihlblad.

Twelve percent is still high, isn't it?

– It is incredibly important for apartment and property owners to be able to invest, renovate, maintain and also provide new accommodation.

He points to a Novus survey commissioned by Fastighetsägarna, which shows that 82 percent of respondents expect an increase that is equal to or greater than last year.

– Tenants are prepared for rent increases that are higher than has been the case in recent years, says Pihlblad.

Hyresgästföreninge considers the demand excessive.

– It is a very high increase, says Häggling, negotiator for the Tenants Association.

The landlords want compensation for all increased costs.

– It's a strange attitude. You cannot pass on all the costs to the tenants when times are tough. Shockingly high rents do not help people cope with the economic crisis we are in. Everyone, both tenants and landlords, benefit from balanced and reasonable increases.

Hyresgästföreninge hopes for smoother negotiations than last year.

– But the negotiations will be tough, says Krister Häggling.

In the last negotiations, neither the landlords nor Skebo reached an agreement. Skebo's rent increase was set at an average of 4.15 percent by the Rental Market Committee, while Fastighetsägarna's was set at 4.10 percent by an arbitrator.

Skebo's demands for rent increases will come later this year.