Against the backdrop of a declining population, more and more Swedish municipalities are facing the problem of vacant housing.
According to a survey conducted by "Dagens Nyheter", approximately 40 percent of 177 municipalities and their associated housing companies are already struggling to rent out apartments, with more than 7,000 apartments remaining vacant. Since houses used by private homeowners and property owners are not included in the calculation, the actual number may be considerably higher.
The main reasons cited include a decrease in birth rates following the 2015 migrant crisis, urbanization, and a decline in immigration. Experts warn that the number of municipalities with shrinking populations may increase further in the coming years.
In some regions, the situation has already led to decisions to demolish apartments. For example, in the city of Kramfors, more than 100 apartments, constituting about 5 percent of the housing stock, are planned to be demolished. According to the company management, about 10 percent of the apartments remain vacant, causing serious financial problems.
The survey indicates that approximately 13 percent of municipalities consider the demolition of some residential buildings necessary. About a quarter of respondents also fear that further population decline could jeopardize the economic future of municipalities due to reduced tax revenues and increased costs for the aging population.
However, the situation varies within the country. Housing shortages persist in major urban areas, and some difficulties have arisen in the construction of expensive new buildings./AZERTAC