Housing costs for Swedish households are at “dramatically high levels,” according to a new report from the Nils Holgersson Group, an association of housing organisations.
The costs of district heating, electricity, water, sewage and waste have risen by 6.9 percent this year.
They have risen more than ten times as much as the general price level, says Björn Berggren, pointing out that inflation, the general rise in prices in society, was 0.6 percent over the same period.
Electricity, including electricity trading, electricity networks and electricity tax, has risen the most - by 12.4 percent in one year. The cost of waste is almost unchanged compared with last year, while water and sewage fees have risen by just over 7 percent during the year.
Still large differences
However, district heating is the biggest expense when it comes to housing costs, and a “worrying price trend” is being seen.
“Costs are increasing a lot. The rise has slowed down a bit, and it is mainly district heating that has actually slowed down,” he says, continuing:
But we are already at very high levels, says Berggren.
In the last five years, the total cost of district heating, electricity, water, sewage and waste has increased by over 40 percent, according to the report. Where you live in the country also determines how much your bills come to.
There are very large geographical differences. We are getting close to the point where it is almost twice as expensive to live in the most expensive place compared with the cheapest.
The annual cost for a household is lowest in Piteå, at SEK 25,800. It is highest in Gnesta, where it amounts to SEK 45,800 per year.
May increase further
According to Berggren of the Nils Holgersson Group, politicians in particular need to consider how to prevent housing costs for Swedish households from skyrocketing.
Long-term investments and plans must be in place so that we do not see such extreme increases as we have now.
The upper limit has not yet been reached, he believes.
If you have to make a cautious guess, I think water and electricity networks can continue to run smoothly, says Björn Berggren.
