The right to housing is guaranteed in both the Swedish Constitution and by law. The Constitution ensures that it shall be incumbent upon the public administration to secure, inter alia, the right to housing.
Sweden ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 29/05/1998, accepting 83 of the Revised Charter’s 98 paragraphs, including the Article 31 on the right to housing. It ratified the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 29/05/1998. It has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit complaints.
More Information:
Moreover, under Chapter 4, Article 1 (paragraph 1) of the Social Services Act (2001:453), any individual who is unable to provide for his needs or to obtain provision form them in any other way, he is entitled to assistance from the social welfare committee (which is part of the municipal administration) towards his livelihood and for his living in general. Moreover, according to Chapter 4, Article 1 of the same Act, individuals who have objections to a decision made by the social services concerning the Article, they can appeal the decision to the administrative courts (i.e. in case of a rejection to an application for rent support). This procedure is considered to be rather effective.
Additional Documents:
- National report on Art. 31 (Page 44 to 53)
- Conclusions from the Committee on Social Rights (Page 27 to 32)
