Have you acquired a property or a site leasehold through purchase, gift, inheritance, marital property division, or estate? In that case, you need to apply for registration of ownership. You must make the application within three months of the acquisition.
Use our services
Application
Here you get help with how to make your application, and you can read more about what applies in different situations.
Apply via our registration forms or via our e-service.
Read more about how to supplement a previously submitted application.
How our e-service works
Login and electronic signature in Lantmäteriet's e-service require secure identification. Therefore you need a BankID or e-identification to be able to use the service. This means that the information from your e-identification is saved when you log in and when you sign the application.
Content of the application registration of ownership – property and site leasehold:
- Information from your e-identification for you who log in and will sign.
- How the property or site leasehold has been acquired: for example, purchase, gift, inheritance or by division of property or estate.
- Contact information for you who submitting the application: name, address, e-mail address and telephone number.
- Invoice recipient, if someone other than you, who is submitting the application is to be the invoice recipient, enter the invoice recipient's name, address and any personal identity number/corporate identity number.
- The full property unit designation of the property or site leasehold to which the application relates.
- Information about the applicant, i.e. the person(s) who is to be registered as the new owner and the person(s) who transfer the property: name, address, personal identity number/corporate registration number if available, or date of birth and country if it is a foreign person/organization.
- Shares of applicants and transferors.
- Acquisition document, for example bill of sale, deed of gift or estate inventory and other documents that may be needed for the application to be complete. The acquisition document and any consents in paper form as well as powers of attorney must be electronic copies of the original document.
- Information about you who log in, reviews the application and sign in the e-service. At the same time, you also do solemnly swear that your attached electronic copies conform to the originals, when that is required.
You will receive a confirmation by e-mail that we have received your application with the application case number.
Content of supplementing the application:
- Information from e-identification for you who log in and will sign.
- Contact information for the person submitting the supplement: name, address, e-mail address and telephone number.
- Case number of the application to be supplemented.
- Property unit designation from the original application.
- Documents needed to supplement the previous application. Any consents in paper form and powers of attorney shall be electronic copies of the original document.
- You who log in, will sign in the e-service and you do solemnly swear that that these are electronic copies of the original document.
The information in an application that has been initiated is stored in the service for 5 days, or until the application has been submitted, and is then deleted. You can choose to cancel an application that has already been started and delete the data. Should your login method be altered, for instance due to a new personal identification number, a new e-ID or a change to your existing e-ID, it is not certain that you will be able to access a previously stored application, instead a new application will be started.
If you do not want to provide the information required to use the e-service, you can submit your application in paper form.
Important to keep in mind when applying
- For each individual purchase, an application must be sent in even if the property is transferred on within three months at unmodified terms.
- If a purchase of real property is transferred without any other addition or other change in the terms of purchase than the date of possession and payment and the manner of payment called for by changed mortgage conditions, the stamp duty only needs to be paid for the latest purchase. If the tax for the previous purchase has already been paid, that amount is deducted from the tax on the latest purchase (Section 7 of the Stamp Tax Act).
- When you apply for a registration of ownership for property or site leasehold, you must enclose an original copy of the acquisition document together with the application. Such a document may, for example, be a letter of purchase, deed of gift, distribution of inheritance, will or agreement of marital property division.
- If you have acquired a building on non-freehold property, you should not apply for registration of ownership. Instead, you must as soon as possible register the acquisition with one of the Swedish Tax Agency’s offices that has real property tax assessment and notify them that you have become the owner of the property. You need to enclose a copy of the acquisition document, such as a letter of purchase, deed of gift or estate inventory.
- Keep in mind when applying if you inherited a property or site leasehold: The only exception is if you are the sole beneficiary of the estate and will apply for registration of ownership with the support of an estate inventory. Then, you only need to send in a certified copy of the estate inventory together with the application. The estate inventory must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, if swedish law is applicable.
- Do you or does somebody close to you have protected personal information? Read more on the Swedish Tax Agency website before you apply for registration of title.
Read more about what applies to you if you are a foreign citizen or Swedish citizen who has emigrated.
Read more about what applies to you as a representative for a company, association or foundation.
What the application must include upon the purchase of a property or site leasehold
When you have purchased a property or a site leasehold, you need to apply for registration of ownership. This must to be done within three months from the acquisition date.
The application must include:
- Application for registration of ownership for those who have purchased the property or the site leasehold. The application must include the official designation of the property (e.g., Gävle Torp 1:1).
- Original copy of a purchase document. A purchase document may, for example, be a bill of sale or purchase contract.
Keep in mind that:
- If the bill of sale refers to a condition in the contract of sale, the contract of sale also needs to be submitted in the original or as a certified copy.
- If the contract of sale includes a condition that a bill of sale must be issued, the bill of sale must also be submitted in the original or as a certified copy.
What must the document of sale contain?
- The following must be included in the document of sale:
- The complete property designation, such as the full property identifier (e.g., Gävle Torp 1:1).
- It need to be clearly stated that the seller is transferring the property. Additionally, it needs to be clear whether it is the entire property or only a share that is being transferred (e.g., ½ if it's half).
- The purchase price must be specified.
- The document of sale must be signed by both the seller and the buyer.
- The seller's signature must be witnessed by two individuals.
Lantmäteriet is a supervisory authority and therefore cannot provide advice when drafting documents of sale.
A written consent may be required:
- If the seller is married, a written consent from the seller's spouse must be included. The consent can be provided either within the document of sale or as a separate document. If the property is considered separate property during the marriage, obtained through, for example, gift, will, or a prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
- If the seller is divorced but has been married during the period of ownership of the property, consent may still be required from the seller's former spouse. If the property has undergone division of property due to divorce, a copy of the property division document can be submitted instead. If the property was considered separate property during the marriage, obtained through, for example, gift, will, or a prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
Note that if the property is the last shared residence for the seller and the seller’s spouse or ex-spouse, a prenuptial agreement is not sufficient. In this case, a consent is still required. The most recent shared residence is the address where they were last registered as residing together.
If the property lacks an assessed value:
If the property or the site leasehold does not have an assessed value from the year before you apply for registration of ownership, you need to include a value certificate. This is necessary in order to determine the stamp duty, which is established by comparing the purchase price with the assessed value from the year before the application is approved.
Even if the property has been assigned an assessed value during the current year, it cannot be the used as a basis for calculating the stamp duty.
The value certificate must be issued by an expert, such as an authorized real estate appraiser, qualified property appraiser, or real estate agent who performs valuation assessments. The value certificate needs to include information about the estimated assessed value of the property or leasehold when the document of sale was signed.
There may be situations where you need to include a value certificate, even if there is an assessed value for the previous year. This may be due to:
- The property you are purchasing is jointly assessed with several other properties.
- The property you are purchasing is a subdivision from another property, and the registered assessed value also applies to the other property.
If the property is taxed with industrial accessories:
When applying for registration of ownership for a property that is taxed with industrial accessories, you need to include a value certificate showing the value of the industrial accessories.
If there are no industrial accessories on the property, the seller and buyer must instead certify that in writing.
If you have bought an area that is to be subdivided from someone else's property, the following documents need to be submitted:
- Application for registration of owership for the person who has purchased a part of the property. The official designation of the main property must be included in the application (for example, Gävle Torp 1:1).
- Original document of sale.
If the application has been submitted before the new property is formed:
Since the property is not formed at the time of processing the application, it cannot be granted. If there are no other deficiencies in the case, Lantmäteriet will issue a dormancy decision, to tempory hold up registration. A dormant registration means that you secure your ownership rights to the area during the subdivision process (you are protected against the seller selling the area again). When the subdivision is complete and a new property is formed, the case is reopened, and full registration is granted for the new property.
Please note that this involves double registration fees of SEK 825 each, including a registration fee for the dormancy decision and a registration fee for the decision of registration. There may also be an additional stamp duty.
If the application is submitted after the property is formed:
If the application is received after the new property has been formed, it is sufficient to provide the new property designation in the application. Registration of ownership will be granted if the formal requirements and other conditions are met.
If the application for registration occurs after the new property has been formed, it means that only one registration fee of SEK 825 is charged, plus any additional stamp duty. In these cases, it is sufficient for the new property designation to be stated in the purchase agreement.
A written consent may be required:
If the seller is married, a written consent from the seller's spouse must be included. The consent can be provided either within the document of sale or in a separate document. If the property is considered separate property, for example, through gift, will, or prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
If the seller is divorced but has been married during the period of ownership of the property, consent may still be required from the former spouse. If the property has been divided due to divorce, a copy of the property division document can be submitted instead. If the property is considered separate property, for example, through gift, will, or prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
If the property is the most recent shared residence for the seller's spouse or former spouse, a prenuptial agreement is not sufficient. In such cases, consent is still required. The most recent shared residence is the address where they were last registered.
If the property lacks an assessed value:
If the property or site leasehold does not have any assessed value from the year before you apply for registration of ownership, you need to include a value certificate. This is necessary for us to determine the stamp duty, which is established by comparing the purchase price with the assessed value from the year before the application is approved. Even if the property has been assigned an assessed value during the current year, it cannot be the basis for calculating the stamp duty.
The value certificate must be issued by an expert, such as a bank official, real estate agent, or other qualified appraiser. The certificate need to include information about the estimated assessed value of the property or leasehold when the purchase agreement was signed.
There may be situations when you need to include a value certificate, even if there is an assessed value for the previous year. This may be due to:
- The property you are purchasing is jointly assessed with several other properties.
- The property you are purchasing is a subdivision from another property, and the registered assessed value also applies to the other property.
Apply for cadastral procedures:
You must apply for subdivision or other cadastral services within six months from the date the document of sale was drawn up; otherwise, the purchase becomes void. If the cadastral proceedings are already completed, you need to specify the new property designation in the application and in the document of sale.
If you acquired the property from an external party, a relative or a sibling, you need to apply for a land acquisition permit. Legal entities, in most cases, need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit when it comes to agricultural properties located in sparsely populated areas.
However, if you inherited the property and are applying for registration of ownership based on a estate inventory, estate distribution, or will, no agricultural land acquisition permit is required. This also applies if it is a purchase or gift in a direct line of descent, such as from a parent/grandparent to a child, or a purchase or gift between spouses.
If you have been registered in a sparsely populated area in the municipality where the property is located for at least one year, you also do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit.
Example 1:
You and your live in partner receive a property, which is assessed as an agricultural property unit, as a gift from your parents. You are both registered in another municipality. In this case, you do not need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit since it is a gift from your parents, but your live-in partner needs to apply.
Example 2:
You inherit a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit from your aunt and apply for registration of ownership based on the will. You do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since it is an inheritance. After you have been granted registration of title, you want to give a part of the property as a gift to your wife. She also does not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you are married.
Example 3:
You purchase a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit and is adjacent to a property that you already own. Since you are not registered at either of the properties, you need to apply for a land acquisition permit even though you already own the adjacent property.
Example 4:
You purchase a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit and move to the property in connection with the purchase. Even though you already live on the property when you apply for registration of title, you nonetheless need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you have not been registered at that address for at least one year.
Example 5:
You are a co-owner of a property assessed as an agricultural property unit, and you and your brother buy the shares of the other co-owners. In this case, you do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you already own a share of the property, but your brother needs to apply.
The following documents must be sent in:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person who bought, received, or inherited the property. The application must include the property's official designation (for example, Gävle Torp 1:1).
- Document of acquisition in its original form, such as a contract of sale, gift deed, estate distribution, will, or marital property agreement. Please specify in the application, for example, if it is a gift from parents to children.
- Agricultural land acquisition permit from the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) or any other document indicating that a permit is not required.
Keep in mind that:
- You must apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit within three months from the date that the document of acquisition was signed, otherwise, the purchase or gift becomes invalid. This means that you can no longer apply for registration of ownership or agricultural land acquisition permit based on the acquisition document.
- You need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit at the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) in the county where the property is located.
The Land Acquisition Act is a law that concerns the acquisition of properties that have a assessed value as agricultural units and are located in a sparsely populated area /reparcelling areas. If a legal entity acquires an agricultural property from a natural person or an estate, the law applies even if the property is not located in a sparsely populated area /reparcelling area.
The purpose of the law is to benefit employment and housing in sparsely populated areas, but also to maintain the balance between natural persons and legal entities in terms of ownership of agricultural properties. So that legal entities will not be able to out compete natural persons in the market, the Land Acquisition Act limits their possibility of acquiring certain agricultural and forest properties from natural persons.
The application must include:
- The application for legal registration for your spouse.
- Purchase document in original. A purchase document can, for example, be a letter of purchase or a purchase contract.
Requirements for the purchase document:
- The property's complete property designation must be included (for example Gävle Torp 1: 1).
- It must be clear that the seller is transferring the property. In addition, it must be stated whether it is the entire property or only a share that is transferred (for example ½ if it is half).
- The purchase price must be included.
- The purchase document must be signed by both seller and buyer.
- The seller's signature must be witnessed by two people.
If you are separating from your live-in partner and want to change the ownership conditions for the property or site leasehold in connection with the separation, you need to apply for a registration of ownership or registration of site leasehold again.
If the property is joint property, meaning the property or site leasehold was acquired together with the aim of it being a shared residence, one can do a division of cohabitee property.
The application must include:
- The application for registration of ownership or application for registration of site leasehold for anyone who has been allotted the property or site leasehold.
- An original copy of the joint property distribution document. Keep in mind that it must be indicated by the joint property distribution document that the cohabitee relationship has ended. If there are conditions in the joint property distribution document that one, for example, receives the property against the assumption of loans, a certificate must also be enclosed that shows that one has assumed the loans. It is enough if a bank officer or both parties write such a certificate.
Note that if the property or site leasehold was owned by one of the cohabitees during an earlier marriage, for example, a division of cohabitee property can not be done. This is because the property was not acquired together and it therefore is not counted as cohabitee property under the Cohabitees Act. The property can then instead be transferred as a purchase or gift.
The same thing applies if one owns several properties, in which case a joint property division can only be applied to the property that was the shared residence. The other properties can instead be transferred as a purchase or gift.
What the application must include if you received a property or site leasehold as a gift
When you have received a property or site leasehold, you must apply for registration of ownership or registration of site leasehold in order to register that you are the owner. This must be done within three months of when you received the property or site leasehold.
The application must include:
- The application for registration of ownership or application for registration of site leasehold for anyone who received the property or site leasehold. In the application, the property’s official designation must be included (for example Gävle Torp 1:1).
- An original copy of the deed of gift. If it is a gift between spouses, the deed of gift must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, the Marriage Register, before submitting it to us.
- If there are conditions in the deed of gift, such as the assumption of loans, you must also include a document that shows that the condition has been fulfilled.
Requirements on the deed of gift: - The property’s complete property designation must be included (for example Gävle Torp 1:1).
- It must be clearly stated that the donor is transferring the property. It must also be indicated whether it is the entire property or just a share that is being transferred (for example ½ if it is half).
- The deed of gift must be signed by both the donor and recipient.
- The donor’s signature must be witnessed by two individuals.
Keep in mind that:
- If the donor is divorced but was married during the time of owning the property, consent may still be required from the former spouse.
- If the property has been divided due to divorce, a copy of the property division agreement can be submitted instead.
- If the property is separate property, acquired through gift, will, or prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
Note that if the property is the most recent shared residence for the donor's spouse or former spouse, a prenuptial agreement is not sufficient. A consent is still required. The most recent shared residence is the address where they were last registered together.
Conditions in the deed of gift:
If there is a condition in the deed of gift to assume a loan or pay compensation for the gift, a document must be enclosed that shows that one assumed the loan or that the donor received the compensation. If the payment is made through a promissory note, a copy of the promissory note must be enclosed. If the loan or the compensation is 85 per cent or more of the previous year's assessed value, the gift is subject to stamp duty, which means that stamp duty must be paid.
If the property or site leasehold has no assessed value:
If the property or site leasehold has no assessed value for the previous year, you need to include a valuation certificate. Even if the property or site leasehold has been assigned an assessed value during the current year, it cannot be used as the basis for calculating stamp duty.
A valuation certificate must be issued by an expert, such as an authorized real estate appraiser, qualified property appraiser, or real estate agent who conducts valuation assessments. The certificate needs to contain information about the estimated assessed value of the property or leasehold at the time the deed of gift was signed.
If the property's type code or assessed value has changed:
Normally, a tax certificate does not need to be submitted with the application. It is only if the assessed value or type code has changed (for the year prior to the year in which registration of ownership is sought) that you need to include a tax certificate showing the updated information.
The type of code indicates the type of property, such as a year-round residence or agricultural property.
If you have received a part a property that is to be divided from someone else's property, the following documents need to be submitted:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person who has received a portion of the property. The application should include the official designation of the parent property (e.g., Gävle Torp 1:1).
- Original deed of gift. If it is a gift between spouses, the deed of gift must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, the Marriage Registry, before submitting it to us.
- If there are conditions in the deed of gift, such as taking over loans, you should also include a document showing that the condition has been fulfilled.
Application submitted before the property is formed:
Since the property is not formed in the processing of the title registration application, it cannot be granted. If there are no other shortcomings in the matter, Lantmäteriet will notify a decision on a dormant ownership registration. A dormant registration decision means that you secure your ownership rights to the area while the partition is ongoing (protecting you against the seller selling the area again).
When the partition is complete and the new property is formed, the case will be reconsidered, and full registration will be granted for the new property.
Note that this involves double expedition fees of SEK 825 each, both a fee for the decision on dormant registration and a fee for the decision on full registration. Additionally, there may be an applicable stamp duty fee.
Application submitted after the property is formed:
If the application is received after the new property is formed, it is sufficient to provide the designation of the new property in the application. Registration of ownership will be granted if the formal requirements and other conditions are met.
If the application for registration of ownership is made after the new property is formed, only one expedition fee of SEK 825 is charged, plus any applicable stamp duty fee. In these cases, it is sufficient for the new property designation to be stated indeed of gift.
Requirements on the deed of gift:
- The original property’s complete property designation must be included (for example Gävle Torp 1:1).
- It must be clearly stated that the donor is transferring a part of the property or what will remain of the property after the cadastral procedure (exemption of area). The area must also be described carefully, preferably on a map.
- The deed of gift must be signed by both the donor and recipient.
- The donor’s signature must be witnessed by two individuals.
Keep in mind that:
- If the donor is married, a written consent from the donor’s spouse must be included. The consent can be provided either within the deed of gift or in a separate document.If the property is separate property, acquired through gift, will, or prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
- If the donor is divorced but was married during the time of owning the property, consent may still be required from the former spouse. If the property has been divided due to divorce, a copy of the property division agreement can be submitted instead. If the property is separate property, acquired through gift, will, or prenuptial agreement, a copy of that document can be submitted instead.
Note that if the property is the last shared residence for the donor’s spouse or the donor’s ex-spouse, a prenuptial agreement is not sufficient. A consent is still required. The last joint residence is the address where they were last registered together.
If the property lacks assessed value:
If neither the property nor the site leasehold has any assessed value from the year before you apply for registration of ownership, you need to include a value certificate. This is necessary for us to determine the stamp duty, which is established by comparing the compensation for the gift with the assessed value from the year before the application is approved.
Even if the property has received an assessed value during the current year, it cannot be the basis for calculating stamp duty.
A value certificate must be issued by an expert, such as a bank official, real estate agent, or another authorized appraiser. The certificate should contain information about the estimated assessed value of the property or site leasehold at the time of the deed of gift.
There may be situations where you need to include a value certificate, even if there is an assessed value from the previous year.
Situations when you may need to include a value certificate:
- The property that you receive as a gift is jointly assessed with several other properties.
- The property that you receive as a gift is a subdivision from another property, and the assessed value registered also applies to the other property.
Apply for a cadastral procedure:
You must apply for subdivision or other cadastral procedures within six months from the date the deed of gift was prepared, otherwise, the gift becomes invalid.
If the cadastral procedures are already completed, you should specify the new property designation in the application and in the deed of gift.
Apply and learn more about cadastral procedure. (LÄNK TILL Applying for a cadastral procedure)
If you want your spouse to become a partner, the application must include:
- Application for legal registration for your spouse.
- Purchase document in original. A purchase document can, for example, be a letter of purchase or a purchase contract.
Requirements for the purchase document:
- The property's complete property designation must be included (for example Gävle Torp 1: 1).
- It must be clear that the seller is transferring the property. In addition, it must be stated whether it is the entire property or only a share that is transferred (for example ½ if it is half).
- The purchase price must be included.
- The purchase document must be signed by both seller and buyer.
- The seller's signature must be witnessed by two people.
If you are separating from your live-in partner and want to change the ownership conditions for the property or site leasehold in connection with the separation, you need to apply for a registration of ownership or registration of site leasehold again.
If the property is joint property, meaning the property or site leasehold was acquired together with the aim of it being a shared residence, one can do a division of cohabitee property.
The application must include:
- The application for registration of ownership or application for registration of site leasehold for anyone who has been allotted the property or site leasehold.
- An original copy of the joint property distribution document. Keep in mind that it must be indicated by the joint property distribution document that the cohabitee relationship has ended. If there are conditions in the joint property distribution document that one, for example, receives the property against the assumption of loans, a certificate must also be enclosed that shows that one has assumed the loans. It is enough if a bank officer or both parties write such a certificate.
Note that if the property or site leasehold was owned by one of the cohabitees during an earlier marriage, for example, a division of cohabitee property can not be done. This is because the property was not acquired together and it therefore is not counted as cohabitee property under the Cohabitees Act. The property can then instead be transferred as a purchase or gift.
The same thing applies if one owns several properties, in which case a joint property division can only be applied to the property that was the shared residence. The other properties can instead be transferred as a purchase or gift.
If you acquired the property from an external party, a relative or a sibling, you need to apply for a land acquisition permit. Legal entities, in most cases, need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit when it comes to agricultural properties located in sparsely populated areas.
However, if you inherited the property and are applying for registration of ownership based on a estate inventory, estate distribution, or will, no agricultural land acquisition permit is required. This also applies if it is a purchase or gift in a direct line of descent, such as from a parent/grandparent to a child, or a purchase or gift between spouses.
If you have been registered in a sparsely populated area in the municipality where the property is located for at least one year, you also do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit.
Example 1:
You and your live in partner receive a property, which is assessed as an agricultural property unit, as a gift from your parents. You are both registered in another municipality. In this case, you do not need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit since it is a gift from your parents, but your live-in partner needs to apply.
Example 2:
You inherit a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit from your aunt and apply for registration of ownership based on the will. You do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since it is an inheritance. After you have been granted registration of title, you want to give a part of the property as a gift to your wife. She also does not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you are married.
Example 3:
You purchase a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit and is adjacent to a property that you already own. Since you are not registered at either of the properties, you need to apply for a land acquisition permit even though you already own the adjacent property.
Example 4:
You purchase a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit and move to the property in connection with the purchase. Even though you already live on the property when you apply for registration of title, you nonetheless need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you have not been registered at that address for at least one year.
Example 5:
You are a co-owner of a property assessed as an agricultural property unit, and you and your brother buy the shares of the other co-owners. In this case, you do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you already own a share of the property, but your brother needs to apply.
The following documents must be sent in:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person who bought, received, or inherited the property. The application must include the property's official designation (for example, Gävle Torp 1:1).
- Document of acquisition in its original form, such as a contract of sale, gift deed, estate distribution, will, or marital property agreement. Please specify in the application, for example, if it is a gift from parents to children.
- Agricultural land acquisition permit from the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) or any other document indicating that a permit is not required.
Keep in mind that:
- You must apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit within three months from the date that the document of acquisition was signed, otherwise, the purchase or gift becomes invalid. This means that you can no longer apply for registration of ownership or agricultural land acquisition permit based on the acquisition document.
- You need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit at the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) in the county where the property is located.
The Land Acquisition Act is a law that concerns the acquisition of properties that have a assessed value as agricultural units and are located in a sparsely populated area /reparcelling areas. If a legal entity acquires an agricultural property from a natural person or an estate, the law applies even if the property is not located in a sparsely populated area /reparcelling area.
The purpose of the law is to benefit employment and housing in sparsely populated areas, but also to maintain the balance between natural persons and legal entities in terms of ownership of agricultural properties. So that legal entities will not be able to out compete natural persons in the market, the Land Acquisition Act limits their possibility of acquiring certain agricultural and forest properties from natural persons.
What the application must include if you inherited a property or site leasehold
When you have inherited a property or site leasehold, you must apply for registration of ownership or registration of site leasehold in order to register that you are the owner. This must be done within three months after the acquisition.
If you are the sole estate beneficiary:
The application must include:
- The application for registration of ownership or application for registration of site leasehold for you who have inherited the property or site leasehold.
- A certified copy of the estate inventory.
- The estate inventory must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency.
Keep in mind that:
- The property must be listed in the estate inventory.
If there are multiple heirs, the application must include: - Application for registration of ownership for those who have inherited the property or the site leasehold.
- Original inheritance division document.
- A certified copy of the estate inventory.
The estate inventory must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency.
Keep in mind that:
- The property must be listed in the estate inventory.
- The inheritance division document must be witnessed by two individuals if it was drawn up after a person who died before 1988.
- Permission from the chief guardian is required if any of the heirs are underage or have a guardian.
If you received the property or site leasehold through a will. If swedish law is applicable.
The application must include:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person who has inherited the property.
- Original will. A certified copy of the estate inventory.
- The estate inventory must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency.
- Documents showing that the will has become legally binding e.g., gained legal force (when it can no longer be appealed).
A will becomes legally binding for example, gains legal force, through:
- being approved by all heirs
- or not being contested within six months from notification
- or none of the statutory heirs have requested the adjustment of the will to claim their statutory share within six months from notification
- or the will is valid through a court decision that it has gained legal force (when it can no longer be appealed).
Have you received the property as a bequest? If swedish law is applicable.
A bequest is when somebody has left a particular piece of property, such as a property, to a person. If you received the property as a bequest, in addition to the documents above, you also need to show that the bequest has been given out. This is done by the party or parties that are competent to represent the estate; so as a legatee, you cannot certify this yourself.
You must also send in:
- A document signed by all heirs confirming that the property has been given to the beneficiary.
- Alternatively, it is acceptable if the submitter of the application (the petitioner) or any of the heirs issues the document, but it must be stated in the document that the property has been transferred with the consent of all heirs, or
- An inheritance division document where the property has been given to the beneficiary, or
- A document from the estate administrator or the testamentary executor confirming that the property has been given to the beneficiary.
If you acquired the property from an external party, a relative or a sibling, you need to apply for a land acquisition permit. Legal entities, in most cases, need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit when it comes to agricultural properties located in sparsely populated areas.
However, if you inherited the property and are applying for registration of ownership based on a estate inventory, estate distribution, or will, no agricultural land acquisition permit is required. This also applies if it is a purchase or gift in a direct line of descent, such as from a parent/grandparent to a child, or a purchase or gift between spouses.
If you have been registered in a sparsely populated area in the municipality where the property is located for at least one year, you also do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit.
Example 1:
You and your live in partner receive a property, which is assessed as an agricultural property unit, as a gift from your parents. You are both registered in another municipality. In this case, you do not need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit since it is a gift from your parents, but your live-in partner needs to apply.
Example 2:
You inherit a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit from your aunt and apply for registration of ownership based on the will. You do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since it is an inheritance. After you have been granted registration of title, you want to give a part of the property as a gift to your wife. She also does not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you are married.
Example 3:
You purchase a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit and is adjacent to a property that you already own. Since you are not registered at either of the properties, you need to apply for a land acquisition permit even though you already own the adjacent property.
Example 4:
You purchase a property that is tax assessed as an agricultural unit and move to the property in connection with the purchase. Even though you already live on the property when you apply for registration of title, you nonetheless need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you have not been registered at that address for at least one year.
Example 5:
You are a co-owner of a property assessed as an agricultural property unit, and you and your brother buy the shares of the other co-owners. In this case, you do not need to apply for a land acquisition permit since you already own a share of the property, but your brother needs to apply
The following documents must be sent in:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person who bought, received, or inherited the property. The application must include the property's official designation (for example, Gävle Torp 1:1).
- Document of acquisition in its original form, such as a contract of sale, gift deed, estate distribution, will, or marital property agreement. Please specify in the application, for example, if it is a gift from parents to children.
- Agricultural land acquisition permit from the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) or any other document indicating that a permit is not required
Keep in mind that:
- You must apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit within three months from the date that the document of acquisition was signed, otherwise, the purchase or gift becomes invalid. This means that you can no longer apply for registration of ownership or agricultural land acquisition permit based on the acquisition document.
- You need to apply for an agricultural land acquisition permit at the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) in the county where the property is located.
The Land Acquisition Act is a law that concerns the acquisition of properties that have a assessed value as agricultural units and are located in a sparsely populated area /reparcelling areas. If a legal entity acquires an agricultural property from a natural person or an estate, the law applies even if the property is not located in a sparsely populated area /reparcelling area.
The purpose of the law is to benefit employment and housing in sparsely populated areas, but also to maintain the balance between natural persons and legal entities in terms of ownership of agricultural properties. So that legal entities will not be able to out compete natural persons in the market, the Land Acquisition Act limits their possibility of acquiring certain agricultural and forest properties from natural persons.
What the application must include if you are involved in a division of joint property
The application must include:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person acquiring the property.
- Notification of marital property division during ongoing marriage registered with the Swedish Tax Agency, Marriage Register.
- Original marital property division agreement.
Requirements for the marital property division agreement:
- The complete property designation must be provided (for example, Gävle Torp 1:1).
- It must specify the percentage of the property to be divided between the spouses (for example, ½ if it's half).
- The marital property division agreement must be signed by both spouses.
- The marital property division agreement must be dated after the Swedish Tax Agency has received the notification of marital property division.
If you are getting divorced and want to change the ownership of the property or site leasehold in connection with the divorce, you need to apply for registration of ownership.
It is common to conduct a property division in connection with divorce, and you can be allocated the property or site leasehold both if one of you has been the sole owner before or if, for example, you have each owned half.
The application must include:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person acquiring the property or site leasehold.
- Original property division agreement. Note that the property division agreement must be dated no earlier than the same day or after the day the application for divorce was submitted to the district court. It is also good if it is stated in the property division agreement that you are dividing the property due to divorce.
Please note that if you do not divide the property but instead buy or receive your spouse's share as a gift, the marital property right remains in the share of the property that you owned previously.
The same applies if you only divide half of the property; the marital property right remains in the share you owned previously.
This means that your former spouse will always need to give consent to actions concerning the property, even if you are the sole owner.
If you are going to separate from your partner (cohabitant) and want to change the ownership of the property or site leasehold in connection with the separation, you need to reapply for registration of ownership.
If the property is considered joint property, meaning that it has been acquired together with the intention of it being a shared residence, you can conduct a separation settlement.
The application must include:
- Application for registration of ownership for the person acquiring the property or the site leasehold.
- Original property division agreement, based on the separation settlement. Note that the property division agreement must clearly state that the cohabitation has ceased. If there are conditions in the property division agreement, such as receiving the property in exchange for taking over loans, an additional certificate must be provided to show that the loans have been assumed. This certificate can be written by a bank official or by both parties.
Please note that if the property or the site leasehold has been owned by one of the partners, for example, during a previous marriage, a separation settlement cannot be conducted. This is because the property has not been acquired jointly and therefore does not qualify as joint property according to cohabitation law. In that case, the property can instead be transferred through purchase or gift.
The same applies if you own multiple properties; you can only conduct a property settlement for the property that has been the shared residence. The other properties can be transferred through purchase or gift instead.
What the application must include if you are a beneficiary of an estate
If an estate is to sell or give away a property, the estate must first apply for and be granted title registration.
The application must include:
- The application for title registration for the estate.
- A certified copy of the estate inventory. Keep in mind that the estate inventory must first be registered with the Swedish Tax Agency and the property must be included in the estate inventory.
When the estate then sells or gives away the property, it is important that the estate is indicated as the transferring party (for example the estate of Märta Karlsson). Then, all estate beneficiaries must sign the purchase document or deed of gift on behalf of the estate. The estate beneficiaries’ spouses do not, however, need to approve the transfer.
Keep in mind that when an estate is the transferring party, a copy of the will needs to be sent with the application for registration of title for the buyers/recipients if there is such taken up in the estate inventory. If any of the estate beneficiaries signs under an authorisation, an original copy of the authorisation must be enclosed.