In October 2019, the so-called rent law was tightened.
Nowadays, anyone who sublets their tenancy without a permit, at a cost that is more than 15 percent higher than the basic rent, can be sentenced to prison for up to two years.
The change in the law led to Uppsala municipality, as SVT Nyheter previously reported on, ceasing to pay financial assistance for housing costs to needy people who did not have an approved sublease contract - on the grounds that tax money should not go to the criminal landlords.
The result was that over 70 households - of which about 20 of them were families with children - were denied financial support for their housing costs.
SVT has been in contact with several of those who testified that the life situation after the rejection was further complicated.
Many of them were forced to move in connection with the refusal as they simply had difficulty paying the rent.
The municipal company does not report criminal landlords
In the last three years, the municipal housing company Uppsalahem has torn just over 200 contracts for people who are suspected of renting out black - but never reported anyone to the police, despite the fact that the evicted people may have committed a crime.
- We have not made an active decision not to make a police report.
During the pandemic, we have had to prioritize other things due to sick leave, says Mattias Tegefjord, CEO of Uppsalahem.
Right now they are waiting for a verdict in Stockholm and hope that it will be a signpost.
- The ambition is that we will report to the police in the future, but we need a court to help us interpret the legislation.
We think this is really bad, he says.
Politician: "Do not know why"
Mohamad Hassan (L), chairman of the Labor Market Board, admits that the municipality's attitude to undeclared contracts is lame when vulnerable people are denied support by the social services at the same time as suspected criminals are not reported.
- Uppsalahem should report these people to the police, I do not know why they do not do it, he says.