Why more people choose to live permanently in their holiday home

More and more Swedes are choosing to move out to their holiday home full time. Remote work, rising housing costs in the cities and a changed way of thinking about where one wants to live are some of the reasons. Here we go through what drives the trend and what you need to be aware of if you are considering doing the same.

Why are more people choosing to move to a holiday home?

The ability to work remotely is the single clearest explanation. When commuting to the office is no longer a daily requirement, the need to live in or near a big city decreases. For those who already own a holiday home a natural question arises: why pay for two residences?

Economics also play a part. Selling an expensive city apartment and settling in the holiday home can free up capital and noticeably lower ongoing costs. Combined with an attractive location and a home you actually enjoy living in, it is a choice that more and more people are taking seriously.

Is it allowed to live permanently in a holiday home?

Yes. There is no law preventing you from using a holiday home as your main residence. The Swedish Tax Agency assesses population registration based on where you actually live, regardless of what the house is called. If you live in the holiday home for more than half the year you should file a change of address and register at the address.

What is sometimes required are technical adaptations. Holiday homes built for temporary occupancy may have lower requirements for insulation, ventilation and accessibility than permanent homes. The municipality may in some cases require these requirements to be met before the house is approved for year-round residence. A modern and well-built house meets this in most cases without major measures.

Things you need to consider

Technical standard – Check that the house copes with Swedish winters with functioning heating, ventilation and water and sewage systems that hold up year-round.

Population registration – If you reside permanently in the holiday home you should file a change of address with the Swedish Tax Agency, which is done at skatteverket.se. A holiday home insurance does not cover the same things as a home insurance for permanent residence. Update the insurance before you move in full time.

Municipal services – In some holiday home areas waste collection and similar services may be limited during the winter. Check what applies in your municipality.

Detailed development plan – In some areas with older detailed plans there may be local restrictions against permanent residence. Verify what applies to your property before you decide.

Sommarnöjens holiday homes – built to last

If you are going to buy and move to a new holiday home with the intention of living there permanently, at least in the long term, it pays to aim for year-round standard from the start. It is almost always easier and cheaper to build it right from the beginning than to adapt later.

All our holiday homes are constructed to withstand the Swedish climate, with insulation, ventilation and material choices adapted for year-round use.

Explore our holiday homes or contact us if you want to talk about what suits your situation.