This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
You are here: At home → Termination of Lease Agreement
The guide belongs to At home. It does not replace union or association advice, but it prevents you from missing the deadline while you "wait and see". Start in when it creaks.
Rent arrears
For a residence, the tenancy right can be forfeited if the rent is delayed more than one week after the due date. This is the most common basis in practice. In certain cases, you can recover the tenancy by paying – or depositing with the County Administrative Board – within the time specified by law, typically three weeks after you have been properly notified. The Social Welfare Board must also be notified. Do not miss the envelope.
Disturbance and Lack of Proper Conduct
After SFS 2024:313, the law addresses disturbances in housing and lack of proper conduct. The main rule is a notice to rectify plus notification to the social welfare board. Particularly serious cases can skip this step. A loud stereo is not the same as violence in the stairwell. See rectification demand.
Unauthorized subletting, neglect, access
- Subletting Without Permission is a classic ground for forfeiture. "The friend takes care of the cat" may suffice if they actually live there.
- Neglect are damages and wear beyond the ordinary – not that the landlord themselves allowed the moisture to remain.
- Denied Access when the landlord has a legal basis, it can become its own track. Document the times you offered.
A landlord terminating a tenancy must do so in writing and state the reason. Service of notice matters. An email in a subordinate clause is not always a valid termination – but treat it as if it were until you know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to move when I receive the termination notice?
No. Tenancy rights are often reviewed first. In the case of forfeiture due to rent arrears, recovery can save the contract. The Enforcement Authority comes after the title, not after the landlord's email.
Can the landlord combine several grounds?
Yes. It is common. Respond point by point. A weak disturbance act does not become stronger just because it also states "debt" if the debt is paid.
What happens if I just leave the keys?
You may lose objections and still owe rent. Talk to the Tenants' Association before giving up the apartment.
Sources
Checked: September 14, 2026.
- Land Code Chapter 12, Section 42 (forfeiture)
- Land Code Chapter 12, Section 44 (recovery)
- Land Code Chapter 12, Section 46 (tenancy rights)
- Enforcement Authority: eviction
For those reading under stress
The guide is intended as support when you already have a lot on your mind. You do not need to read everything at once: start with the section that matches where you are today and return when the next step becomes relevant.
Cases with authorities rarely improve by handling everything alone. Ask for help from a support person, lawyer, or relative if you can – especially before decisions with long-term effects.
Common mistakes that make the case more difficult
- Relying solely on verbal promises without brief written confirmation or follow-up email.
- Waiting to request documents until the conflict is already locked – then it becomes harder to show what was said.
- Writing so long and emotionally that the authority stops responding to the substantive issue.
- Missing deadlines for reconsideration or appeal because the decision was not read verbatim.
Mini-checklist before leaving the guide
- Do I have the date, diary/case number, and name of the person handling the case (if you know)?
- Do I know what the next step is: respond, request, remind, appeal, or report?
- Have I saved emails and attachments in a place where I can find them in a week?
