A small number of houses have already been refurbished, but just over 300,000 apartments in the SABO Companies stock still require work. The current rate of refurbishment is around 11,000 apartments per year. At this rate, it would take almost 30 years to work through all of the houses from the record years. A radical increase in the rate of refurbishment is required, which in its turn increases the requirement for these projects to be conducted in a way that is financially justifiable. The most essential refurbishment measures would involve total expenditure of at least SEK 50 billion. Expanding this refurbishment would significantly raise this expenditure. The amount of the final bill is entirely dependent on the scope of the refurbishment work that can be implemented.
A first report has been produced by SABO to explain the scope of the refurbishment needs, how refurbishment work is currently being financed and the economic preconditions that apply for conducting refurbishment work in the future. The ideas presented in the report should be viewed as a basis for future discussion, and they may result in:
· lower refurbishment costs; for example, by facilitating the application of the Public Procurement Act (LOU) and increasing competition within the construction sector.
improved fiscal conditions; for example, by facilitating a reduction of the VAT on building work to improve the conditions for investment in housing.
· more balanced conditions; for example, by extending the tax subsidies for ROT (maintenance, repair and renovation) work to include tenanted apartment blocks.
· increased social benefits; for example by supporting measures to create accessibility as well as energy-saving initiatives that are of social benefit though not commercially profitable.

On the basis of this report, SABO is arranging hearings and meetings to discuss the preconditions for the refurbishment of homes from the record years. Successfully refurbishing properties constructed during the record years will require a broad and sustainable agreement, where the Government, together with representatives of the municipal housing companies, private landlords, tenants and the construction industry, agree on the rules of play and each individually assume their part of this responsibility.

> For more information, contact: Johanna Ode, Head of the Internet Affairs (SABO) at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it