Comment by nivenkos
3 years ago
It's the banks, not the state.
But it's partly due to the Bostadsrätt system where you own like the right to an apartment in a co-op rather than the actual physical building.
Renting in Sweden is completely terrible (unless you're lucky enough to get a first hand contract - mandatory rent-controlled rents), so it's nice to have a middle-ground where you don't need a lawyer, etc. and deal with building issues and property tax, at the cost of paying the board maintenance. This has also helped to control prices a little (until COVID) by preventing absentee landlordism being profitable (or even possible in most cases).
The first hand contract system really sucks though, as it means you're always kind of subsidising those lucky enough to get a first hand contract. For example you might be paying 40% income tax (and 25% sales tax, and then your mortgage) which is then used to bring in unskilled, uncooperative criminal "asylum seekers", which the government then provides a subsidised first-hand contract to in your neighbourhood so they can commit crimes in your area - and you've paid for all of it!
> It's the banks, not the state.
Well, presumably they're subject to regulation that comes either directly or indirectly (i.e. quangos given a remit and some framework and direction) from the state? That's all I meant, I know the mortgage itself isn't issued by the state, that's a foreign idea to me too.