European Foundation
for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions

The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist
in the development of better social, employment and
work-related policies

EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure SE-2020-14/567 Updated – measures in Sweden

Rent support for companies in vulnerable sectors

Tillfällig rabatt för fasta hyreskostnader i utsatta branscher

Country Sweden , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 April 2020 – 30 September 2021
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation
Author Anna-Karin Gustafsson (Oxford Research) and Eurofound
Measure added 13 April 2020 (updated 20 July 2021)

Background information

To support tenants operating in certain vulnerable sectors, the Swedish government has introduced a rent rebate scheme. The measure is regulated in the Ordinance (2020:237) on state support when certain tenants receive rent rebates (Förordning om statligt stöd när vissa lokalhyresgäster fått rabatt på hyran (2020:237)).

This measure was approved by the EU Commission on April 15, 2020. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020, as amended on 3 April 2020.

Content of measure

The scheme is designed for tenants in the hotel, restaurants, retail and several other sectors that saw their revenues heavily decreasing or even disappearing due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The measure covers up to 50% of rent reductions negotiated between tenants and landlords (but no more than 25% of the initial fixed rent costs) for the period between 1 April and 30 June 2020.

The rent compensation is applied for by the landlord retroactively through a digital application system administered by the County Administrative Boards.

The government has allocated SEK 5 billion (approximately €453 million) for this support measure.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

01 April 2021

In January 2021, the Government announced plans to reintroduce rent support for the first quarter of 2021. This was approved by the EU Commission on March 31. Approval of the proposal to extend the measure to also cover the second quarter is pending.

17 February 2021

The measure was extended to cover the second and third quarter of 2021 (April 2021 - September 2021). The eligibility criteria remains the same.

12 July 2020

In June 2020, the list of sectors covered by this measure was extended. The following sectors were added: consumer laundry, car repair shops, car rental, household goods rental, traffic schools, sports and leisure education and portrait photography.

Use of measure

Data on the uptake of this measure is not yet available.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Sector specific set of companies
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
EU (Council, EC, EP)
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Informed Informed
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      G - Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles G45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
      G47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles
      I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities I55 Accommodation
      I56 Food and beverage service activities
      J - Information And Communication J59 Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities
      M - Professional, Scientific And Technical Activities M74 Other professional, scientific and technical activities
      N - Administrative And Support Service Activities N77 Rental and leasing activities
      N79 Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities
      N82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities
      P - Education P85 Education
      Q - Human Health And Social Work Activities Q86 Human health activities
      R - Arts, Entertainment And Recreation R90 Creative, arts and entertainment activities
      R91 Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities
      R93 Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities
      S - Other Service Activities S95 Repair of computers and personal and household goods
      S96 Other personal service activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

  • 09 April 2020: Temporary discount on fixed rental costs in vulnerable sectors (www.regeringen.se)
  • 15 April 2020: State aid: Commission approves €453 million Swedish rent rebate scheme to support sectors affected by coronavirus outbreak (ec.europa.eu)
  • 16 April 2020: Regeringen har beslutat om tillfällig rabatt för fasta hyreskostnader i utsatta branscher (www.regeringen.se)
  • 17 February 2021: Hyresstöd [Rent support] (www.regeringen.se)
  • 29 March 2021: Reintroduced rent support is extended (www.regeringen.se)

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Rent support for companies in vulnerable sectors, measure SE-2020-14/567 (measures in Sweden), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/SE-2020-14_567.html

Share

Eurofound publications based on EU PolicyWatch

30 January 2023

 

Measures to lessen the impact of the inflation and energy crisis on citizens

Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.

Article

12 September 2022

 

First responses to cushion the impact of inflation on citizens

Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Article

12 September 2022

 

Policies to support EU companies affected by the war in Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.

Article

5 July 2022

 

Policies to support refugees from Ukraine

This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Article

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.