---
title: "When can your rent be increased after renovation?"
author: "William Wiklund"
authorUrl: "https://bofrid.com/en/articles/authors/william-wiklund"
datePublished: "2026-10-23T07:15:02.828Z"
dateModified: "2026-10-23T07:15:02.861Z"
description: "When can a landlord increase the rent after renovation? Learn about use value, negotiations, improvements and challenging an incorrect increase."
keywords: ["when can a landlord increase rent after renovation", "rent increase after renovation", "rent increase for improvements", "use value of a rental flat", "renovation of a rental flat"]
categories: ["Landlord", "Guides"]
canonical: "https://bofrid.com/en/articles/when-can-your-rent-be-increased-after-renovation"
language: "en"
image: "https://bofrid.media/cms/8baf6ec76fe92872dcfc5f4594309e49c78064f6.webp"
---

# When can your rent be increased after renovation?

As a tenant, you do not normally have to pay a higher rent simply because your landlord carries out renovations. The rent can generally be increased only after negotiation or a formal assessment, and the level must reflect the flat’s use value. A landlord cannot therefore unilaterally add the full renovation cost during an ongoing tenancy.

## When can a landlord increase the rent after renovation?

The answer mainly depends on the type of renovation, how much the flat’s standard has actually improved and which agreement or negotiation system applies. For an ordinary rental flat, the construction cost does not automatically determine the rent. The key question is instead the flat’s use value compared with similar flats.

A rent increase after renovation normally needs to be negotiated with the tenant or the tenants’ organisation. If the parties cannot agree, the matter may in some cases be considered by the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden). The landlord must be able to show why the new rent is reasonable.

### During an ongoing tenancy

An existing tenancy agreement continues to apply. The landlord cannot simply send a rent bill showing a large increase and refer to the fact that the bathroom, kitchen or surfaces have been renovated. Any change to the rent must comply with the agreement and the rules governing rent negotiations and formal assessments.

Read more about the underlying issue in the article [Can a landlord increase the rent during the term of the agreement?](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/can-the-landlord-raise-the-rent-mid-contract).

### After an improvement in standard

A renovation that clearly improves the flat’s standard may affect its use value. Examples include a completely new kitchen, a renovated bathroom or installations that provide significantly better functionality. However, not every measure counts as an improvement in standard.

Ordinary maintenance, such as repainting, replacing worn wallpaper or repairing things that have broken, does not automatically justify a higher rent. Maintenance normally restores the flat to an acceptable condition. An improvement in standard, by contrast, means that the flat has greater usability or quality than before.

## What determines whether the rent may be increased after renovation?

Use value is assessed by comparing the flat with similar flats. Factors may include size, layout, location, standard, services, shared facilities and the quality of management. The landlord’s actual renovation cost is therefore not decisive on its own.

An expensive renovation does not automatically justify an equally large rent increase. If, for example, the cost is due to luxury materials that tenants did not request, the cost may be higher than the improvement that affects the use value.

At the same time, a substantial improvement in standard may justify a clear rent adjustment. The assessment must be objective and comparable, rather than a free price based on the investment.

| Scenarios | What applies | Legal provision/Source |
|---|---|---|
| Painting and ordinary wear-and-tear maintenance | Does not normally, by itself, justify a separate surcharge | The use-value assessment and the agreement |
| New kitchen or bathroom with a clearly higher standard | May justify a higher use value and rent | Rent negotiation or the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) |
| Landlord sends a unilateral rent-increase bill | The increase should not be accepted without checking its basis | The tenancy agreement and the negotiation procedure |
| Tenant agrees to a new rent amount | The written agreement or arrangement becomes central | The agreement |
| The parties disagree about a reasonable level | The matter may need to be considered by the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) | The Rent Tribunal’s assessment and case law |

## Does the tenant have to approve the renovation?

A landlord may carry out necessary maintenance, but more intrusive measures or improvements in standard may require the tenant’s approval or permission under the rules that apply to rental flats. You should therefore read the project information carefully and distinguish between maintenance, improvements and rebuilding.

If you receive a consent form, it should state which measures will be carried out and whether the landlord is also proposing a new rent. Do not sign an unclear document. Ask for a specification of the works, the new rent and the date from which the change is meant to apply.

Refusing an improvement in standard does not automatically mean that all renovation work will stop. Necessary maintenance may still have to be carried out. However, refusing the work must not be interpreted as approval of a particular rent.

## What you can do as a tenant

1. **Save all documents.** Keep letters, emails, consent forms, rent bills and information about the renovation.
2. **Separate the measures.** Mark what is repair or maintenance and what genuinely improves the standard.
3. **Request the calculation in writing.** Ask how the new rent was calculated, which comparable flats were used and which start date applies.
4. **Check the negotiation.** Ask the landlord or tenants’ organisation whether the increase was negotiated and whether there is a written agreement.
5. **Challenge inaccuracies without stopping payment.** If you believe a bill is incorrect, object in writing and pay the rent that you know with certainty is due. Get help promptly if you risk a claim or notice to quit.

If the landlord demands a separate charge for furniture or equipment, the assessment is different from that for renovation. See Can a landlord increase the rent for furnishing?.

## What can the landlord do?

The landlord should provide information early, describe the works clearly and state whether the proposal concerns maintenance or an improvement in standard. A clear comparison with similar flats makes it easier to assess whether the proposed rent is reasonable.

If the landlord and tenant do not agree, the landlord cannot assume that the highest proposed rent automatically applies. The dispute must be handled through the correct negotiation or formal assessment process. The Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden) may be relevant when the parties cannot reach an agreement, but the tribunal is not a substitute for first documenting the proposal and attempting to negotiate.

For the landlord, it is sensible to document the flat’s standard before the renovation, document the result afterwards and collect information about comparable rents. Photographs and invoices show what was done, but the invoices alone do not prove what rent is reasonable.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can the landlord increase the rent immediately after a major pipe replacement?**
Not simply because the work cost money. If the project also involves an improvement in standard, the rent may be affected, but the change must be handled through the correct negotiation or formal assessment process.

**Can I refuse a rent increase after the renovation?**
You can challenge an increase that you believe has no proper basis or has been calculated unreasonably. Do not stop paying without first obtaining individual advice, as unpaid rent can create a separate dispute.

**How large a rent increase can the landlord charge?**
There is no general percentage that applies to every renovation. The level depends on use value, comparable flats, the agreement and the outcome of the negotiation or formal assessment.

**Can the rent be reduced if the renovation makes the accommodation worse?**
Yes, a defect or reduced usability may affect your right to a reduction. Document disturbances, defects and how long they last. Also read [Can you get your rent reduced if you live in a basement?](https://bofrid.com/en/articles/can-you-get-your-rent-reduced-if-you-live-in-a-basement-flat) for a related question about rent reductions.

The key point is to distinguish between the cost of the work and the rent justified by the flat’s use value. Request the supporting documents in writing, check whether the increase was negotiated and act before the new rent starts being charged.

*This text provides general information and is not legal advice.*