2024-11-202024/25:NU8 · p.2NUBusiness & energy

Other proposals

Fire-safety requirements for hotel and boarding-house businesses subject to notification

What's at stake: Ambiguity in the wording risks being read as meaning that only the requirement to mark emergency exits applies to fire safety, even though fires occur at hotels and boarding houses in Sweden around 100 times a year, making clear fire-safety requirements a pressing concern for both guests and operators.

Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.

What the vote decides

The question is whether the new act on hotel and boarding-house businesses should explicitly state that notification-obliged operations must meet the fire-safety requirements in the Planning and Building Act and the Civil Protection Act, or whether it is enough for this to follow from other legislation without an explicit cross-reference.

Yes Yes — the committee proposal

The committee rejects the motions calling for the act to state explicitly that hotel and boarding-house businesses subject to notification must meet the fire-safety requirements in the Planning and Building Act and the Civil Protection Act. The full reasoning for this point is missing from the available material, but the government's position - as described in the reservation - is that it is reasonable to assume that those responsible for hotel and boarding-house businesses already know these requirements, and that supervisory authorities will otherwise draw their attention to them.

No No — the reservations

Reservation 1 (V)

The reservation (V) supports the government's proposal in other respects but believes the government should come back with a proposal to supplement the act on hotel and boarding-house businesses so that it states that notification-obliged operations must meet the fire-safety requirements in the Planning and Building Act and the Civil Protection Act. Without such an addition, there is a risk that marking emergency exits will be seen as the only applicable fire-safety requirement, which the reservation considers insufficient given that fires occur at hotels and boarding houses in Sweden around 100 times a year.

Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.

VSMPCLKDMSD
YesNoAbstainAbsent

What do the votes mean here?

Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).

No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V.

Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.

What each plan points to — and how the party voted

For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.

PlanVoteConfidenceEvidence
Vown reservationNoNo 0/19/0/5follows the planconfidence: lowderived
SNoYes 92/0/0/14departs from the planconfidence: lownot addressed
MPNoYes 13/0/0/5departs from the planconfidence: lownot addressed
CYesYes 19/0/0/5follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
LYesYes 12/0/0/4follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
KDNoYes 15/0/0/4departs from the planconfidence: lownot addressed
MYesYes 59/0/0/9follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
SDYesYes 61/0/0/11follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed

Committee proposal

The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:2927 by Sten Bergheden (M), 2024/25:2969 by Markus Wiechel (SD) and 2024/25:3244 by Lorena Delgado Varas et al. (V).

Original (Swedish)

Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:2927 av Sten Bergheden (M), 2024/25:2969 av Markus Wiechel (SD) och 2024/25:3244 av Lorena Delgado Varas m.fl. (V).

Riksdag decision: It should no longer be required to have a permit to open a hotel or guesthouse. The Riksdag approved the government's proposal. The permit requirement should be replaced with a notification procedure. This means that anyone who will open a hotel or guesthouse that will be able to accommodate at least nine guests at the same time or that has at least five guest rooms must notify the Police Authority. A notification must be written and contain a few details about the notifier and the activity. The purpose of the change is to simplify administration and thereby reduce costs for hotel and guesthouse operators. The legislative change comes into force on January 1, 2025.

Counter-proposals

Plan vs actual vote

Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.

VVänsterpartietNoNofollows the planderived

The plan does not address hotel operations, but its closest commitment is that regulations and structures are needed to ensure serious security and working environment work at all workplaces, including those that prioritize short-term profit.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan does not address hotel operations, but its closest commitment is that regulations and structures are needed to ensure serious security and working environment work at all workplaces, including those that prioritize short-term profit. The plan assumes that profit-driven companies do not by themselves see the larger consequences of their decisions, which speaks against relying on responsible parties already knowing the fire safety requirements. That the requirements are written into law is therefore in line with the plan.

Original (Swedish)

Planen tar inte upp hotellverksamhet, men dess närmast liggande åtagande är att det behövs regelverk och strukturer som säkrar ett seriöst säkerhets- och arbetsmiljöarbete på alla arbetsplatser, också de som prioriterar kortsiktig vinst. Planen utgår från att vinstdrivande företag inte av sig själva ser de större konsekvenserna av sina beslut, vilket talar mot att förlita sig på att ansvariga redan känner till brandsäkerhetskraven. Att kraven skrivs in i lagen är därför i linje med planen.

  • regulations that ensure safety workdecisive»Det behövs regelverk och strukturer som säkrar ett seriöst« (party programme ↗)“Regulations and structures are needed to ensure serious”
  • companies' lack of holistic view»Vinstdrivande företag är inte gjorda för att lyfta blicken och se de« (party programme ↗)“Profit-driven companies are not made to lift their gaze and see the”
  • good conditions for serious businesses»Vi vill se goda villkor för sunda företag« (party programme ↗)“We want to see good conditions for sound businesses”
SSocialdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan does not address fire safety in hotels and guest houses.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan does not address fire safety in hotels and guest houses. The closest principle is that it shall never pay to gain competitive advantages by neglecting safety, and that security for life and health is part of welfare policy. Based on that, an explicit legal requirement is supported, but the conclusion is derived and uncertain.

Original (Swedish)

Planen behandlar inte brandsäkerhet i hotell- och pensionatsrörelser. Närmast liggande princip är att det aldrig ska löna sig att skaffa konkurrensfördelar genom att försumma säkerheten, och att trygghet till liv och hälsa är en del av välfärdspolitiken. Utifrån det stöds ett uttryckligt lagkrav, men slutsatsen är härledd och osäker.

  • safety must not be neglecteddecisive»Det ska aldrig löna sig att begå brott eller skaffa sig konkurrensfördelar genom att försumma de anställdas rätt till en trygg arbetsmiljö.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It shall never pay to commit crime or gain competitive advantages by neglecting employees' right to a safe working environment.”
  • security as a welfare issue»Till välfärdspolitiken hör också tryggheten på gator och torg och i det egna hemmet.« (party programme ↗)“To welfare policy also belongs security on streets and squares and in one's own home.”
  • clear reaction to violations»Samhället måste reagera tydligt mot brott och regelöverträdelser.« (party programme ↗)“Society must react clearly to crime and violations of rules.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

MPMiljöpartietNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The documents do not address fire safety in hotel and guesthouse operations.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The documents do not address fire safety in hotel and guesthouse operations. The nearest principle is that the state through legislation and oversight shall ensure sound conditions prevail in the market and that consumers have strong protection. This argues for fire safety requirements to be written clearly into law rather than assumed to be known.

Original (Swedish)

Dokumenten behandlar inte brandsäkerhet i hotell- och pensionatsrörelser. Närmast liggande princip är att staten genom lagstiftning och övervakning ska se till att sunda villkor råder på marknaden och att konsumenterna ska ha ett starkt skydd. Det talar för att brandsäkerhetskraven skrivs in tydligt i lagen snarare än förutsätts vara kända.

  • legislation for sound conditionsdecisive»Staten ska genom lagstiftning och övervakning se« (party programme ↗)“The state shall through legislation and oversight ensure”
  • strong consumer protection»produkter och tjänster. Vi vill ha ett starkt skydd« (party programme ↗)“products and services. We want strong protection”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

CCenterpartietYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The plan does not address fire safety or hotels' and guesthouses' notification requirement.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan does not address fire safety or hotels' and guesthouses' notification requirement. The nearest principle is that the regulatory maze should be cleared for entrepreneurs, large and small, and that the administrative burden for small businesses should be reduced; a duplicating cross-reference in the law text to requirements that already apply in other legislation adds no protection level but more rule text. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal's addition, but the basis is weak.

Original (Swedish)

Planen behandlar inte brandsäkerhet eller hotell- och pensionatsrörelsers anmälningsplikt. Närmast liggande princip är att regelträsket ska rensas för entreprenörer, stora som små, och att den administrativa bördan för små företag ska minska; en dubblerande hänvisning i lagtexten till krav som redan gäller i annan lagstiftning tillför ingen skyddsnivå men mer regeltext. Planen talar därför mot motförslagets komplettering, men underlaget är svagt.

  • clear out the regulatory mazedecisive»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clear out the regulatory maze for entrepreneurs, large and small.”
  • reduced bureaucracy for small businesses»Små och nystartade företag har svårare att få tillgång till kapital och att bära omfattande byråkrati« (party programme ↗)“Small and newly started businesses find it harder to access capital and bear extensive bureaucracy”
  • growing tourism industry»Besöksnäringen har stor betydelse för hela landets utveckling, och för att den ska kunna fortsätta växa krävs också bättre kommunikationer och infrastruktur.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The tourism industry is of great importance to the development of the entire country, and for it to continue to grow also requires better communications and infrastructure.”
LLiberalernaYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The plan says nothing about fire safety in hotel and guest house operations.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan says nothing about fire safety in hotel and guest house operations. Closest lying principle is that regulatory burden on small businesses shall decrease and that public decisions shall be tested from a small business perspective, which speaks against repeating requirements that already follow from other legislation. The assessment is therefore only derived and uncertain.

Original (Swedish)

Planen säger ingenting om brandsäkerhet i hotell- och pensionatsrörelser. Närmast liggande princip är att regelbördan för små företag ska minska och att offentliga beslut ska prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv, vilket talar mot att upprepa krav som redan följer av annan lagstiftning. Bedömningen är därför enbart härledd och osäker.

  • reduced regulatory burdendecisive»Regelbördan för små företag ska minska« (party programme ↗)“Regulatory burden on small businesses shall decrease”
  • small business perspective in decisions»offentliga beslut analyseras ur småföretagarperspektiv« (party programme ↗)“public decisions analyzed from a small business perspective”
  • simplified rules»Byggnormerna bör förenklas« (party programme ↗)“Building regulations should be simplified”
KDKristdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

According to the plan, the right to life is the fundamental prerequisite for other rights, and the plan requires that the indoor environment in premises where people stay be given special attention.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

According to the plan, the right to life is the fundamental prerequisite for other rights, and the plan requires that the indoor environment in premises where people stay be given special attention. A clarification in the law that hotels and guest houses subject to reporting requirements shall meet fire safety requirements places no new burden on these activities, only a clarification. The requirement that new rules be tested from a small business perspective qualifies but does not speak against such a clarification.

Original (Swedish)

Rätten till liv är enligt planen den grundläggande förutsättningen för övriga rättigheter, och planen kräver att inomhusmiljön i lokaler där människor vistas uppmärksammas särskilt. Ett förtydligande i lagen om att anmälningspliktiga hotell- och pensionatsrörelser ska uppfylla brandsäkerhetskraven lägger ingen ny börda på verksamheterna, bara ett klargörande. Kravet att nya regler prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv kvalificerar men talar inte emot ett sådant klargörande.

  • protection for lifedecisive»Rätten till liv är den grundläggande förutsättningen för« (party programme ↗)“The right to life is the fundamental prerequisite for”
  • safe premises for people»särskilt uppmärksammas i offentliga lokaler som skolor och gruppboenden« (party programme ↗)“given special attention in public places such as schools and group homes”
  • small business perspective on rules»regler ska motverkas. Direkta företagssubventioner avvisas. Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“rules shall be counteracted. Direct business subsidies are rejected. Forthcoming laws should be tested from a small business perspective.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

MModeraternaYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

Fire safety requirements for hotels and guesthouses are not addressed in the plan.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

Fire safety requirements for hotels and guesthouses are not addressed in the plan. The closest principle is that regulatory burden and companies' administrative costs shall be reduced significantly, that it shall be easy to do the right thing, and that legislation as a general rule shall not be placed on more than is necessary. A duplicative reference in the legal text to requirements that already apply in other legislation adds regulatory mass without creating new obligations. Therefore the requirement is rejected, with low certainty.

Original (Swedish)

Brandsäkerhetskrav för hotell och pensionat behandlas inte i planen. Närmast liggande princip är att regelkrånglet och företagens administrativa kostnader ska minska kraftigt, att det ska vara lätt att göra rätt och att lagstiftning som huvudregel inte ska läggas på mer än nödvändigt. En dubblerande hänvisning i lagtexten till krav som redan gäller i annan lagstiftning tillför regelmassa utan ny skyldighet. Därför avvisas kravet, med låg säkerhet.

  • reduce regulatory burdendecisive»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of regulatory burden”
  • easy to do right»Där det är lätt att göra rätt – för att en tredjedel av regelkrånglet tagits bort.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where it is easy to do right – because one-third of regulatory burden has been removed.”
  • no unnecessary burdens»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati, bland annat genom att motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut – som huvudregel ska EU-direktiv genomföras på miniminivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce regulatory burden and unnecessary bureaucracy, among other things by counteracting over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions - as a general rule EU directives shall be implemented at minimum level”

flags: citat_migrerat

SDSverigedemokraternaYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The plan says nothing about fire safety in hotel and guest-house operations.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan says nothing about fire safety in hotel and guest-house operations. The nearest principle is that unnecessary rules where the cost to businesses does not match the societal benefit should be removed and that new rules should be cost-effective, which speaks against repeating in statute what already follows from other legislation. The evidence is weak and the conclusion therefore uncertain.

Original (Swedish)

Planen säger ingenting om brandsäkerhet i hotell- och pensionatsrörelser. Närmast liggande princip är att onödiga regler där kostnaden för företagen inte motsvarar samhällsnyttan ska tas bort och att nya regler ska vara kostnadseffektiva, vilket talar mot att i lagtexten upprepa krav som redan följer av annan lagstiftning. Underlaget är svagt och slutsatsen därför osäker.

  • no unnecessary rulesdecisive»För att få fler och växande företag är det viktigt att ta bort onödiga regler där kostnaderna för företagen inte motsvarar nyttan för samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To get more and growing enterprises, it is important to remove unnecessary rules where the costs to businesses do not match the benefit to society.”
  • cost-effective rules»Nya regler ska vara kostnadseffektiva och befintliga regler behöver ses över.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“New rules shall be cost-effective and existing rules need to be reviewed.”
  • deregulation»Verka för regelförenkling och avlasta småföretagens administrativa börda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for deregulation and relieve small enterprises of administrative burden”

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Sources and documents

Documents under consideration

Source: The Swedish Parliament