Accommodation in Uppsala

Uppsala, Sweden's fourth biggest city, is famous for being a University city ' after all, its university has been around since 1477. However, this will complicate your apartment search if you are not a student: housing shortage in Uppsala is not as much of an issue as it is the allocation of the existing apartments between students and non-students. You are advised to do a thorough search and, if your budget allows it, look at bigger apartments, or even properties to buy.

The housing market in Uppsala

The local rental market in Uppsula is particularly specialised in student housing, due to the city's international University which has been attracting students from all over the world. You will realise, during your housing hunt, that most of the housing units available in Uppsala are indeed dedicated to students. There are also dedicated services to students who are looking for an apartment in Uppsala.

Finding first-hand rental will be quite hard, as there is a housing queue you will need to register to and the waiting period can take up from several months to even years before you are placed in an apartment. As a result of that, people in Uppsala rent second-hand, i.e. renting the accommodation from the current tenant, with the owner's consent. Since even renting second-hand will take some time, good alternatives in the meantime include renting short-term, flat-sharing or co-living. If you are able to buy, buying properties (whether tenant-owned apartments or houses) are actually easier to find in Uppsala than rentals. You are advised to consult with a private estate agent.

Good to know: In contrast to some other Swedish cities, In Uppsala, there is an annual fee of 290 SEK (29 euros) in order to be able to join the queueing system. Once you sign a lease, you also have to pay a brokerage fee of 625 SEK (62,5 euros).

Rent prices in Uppsala are considerably lower than in its neighbouring Stockholm. For instance, you will need an average of 8,300 SEK (830 euros) for a two-bedroom apartment and around 10,400 SEK (1,040 euros) for a three-bedroom apartment in a popular neighbourhood. These prices usually include hot water and electricity.

Good to know: It is difficult to find one-bedroom apartments in Uppsala as most of them are allocated to students. That being said, for a non-student one-bedroom apartment you will need around 7,300 SEK (730 euros).

Districts & neighbourhoods in Uppsala

Uppsala is much more than a modern student city. Its history dates back to the Vikings era. Indeed, you will find a sacred place dedicated to the Aesir, the chief gods who are related or often associated with Odin, as well as the living in the city of Asgard. Uppsala is also one of the few cities in the world to have preserved a virgin forest.

Fålhagen, just a few minutes from the centre of Uppsala, is quite a popular place to live, as is Svartbäcken, a previously poor neighbourhood that's now considered quite upscale. Luthagen offers a variety of parks. Most of the other Uppsala neighbourhoods, like Kapellgärdet and Flogsta, are for the most part known as 'student neighbourhoods' so it may be difficult to find housing there if you are not a student.

How to find accommodation in Uppsala

If you are planning to settle in Uppsala you will have to be very patient and plan your move well in advance. Word of mouth is no doubt a useful tool when it comes to housing search, so feel free to ask your friends and contacts on the spot regarding any vacant housing units. There is also a relevant Facebook group you can join so that you get notifications once something is available.

You may also check out classified ads on housing websites and in local newspapers. Some housing websites actually do a lot more than just featuring ads and can actively assist you in things such as building an online profile that will help set you apart as a good candidate, managing rental agreements, signing the lease etc. Some of these services, like Bostad Direkt, require a fee. Consider also registering with a real estate agency which can find you help the ideal accommodation according to your needs and budget.

Useful links:

Uppsala Kommun
Lâgenhetsbyte
Regional rent and tenancies tribunals
Blocket
Bostaddirekt
Andrahand
Hyalya
Hyra bostad