Renovictions in Sweden: investigating residential relocations due to renovations

This paper examines the impact of renovations in the rental sector on tenants’ relocation patterns in Sweden between 1995 and 2019. The study’s aim is to explore and analyse individuals’ likelihood of relocation surrounding the years of renovation. We use register data to address the two questions: Are low-income households more prone to relocate when their building undergoes renovation? Are tenants in the private rental sector more likely to relocate during renovations? The findings indicate that tenants tend to relocate around the time of a renovation. However, it is not low-income individuals who tend to relocate; rather, they remain in place, which may indicate displacement lock-in, in which disadvantaged households are unable to relocate due to housing shortages and limited opportunities. The study also reveals that tenants in the private rental sector are more likely to relocate than those in the public rental sector, possibly reflecting different renovation strategies employed by these actors. Overall, the study contributes to the discussion on whether renovations lead to renoviction and displacement within a Swedish context.