2025-02-192024/25:CU8 · p.2CUCivil law & housing
Review of the Land Registration Act
Reviewing the Land Formation Act to free up houses on agricultural and forestry properties
What's at stake: In many rural areas, houses stand empty and fall into disrepair when the owner bought the property for the land or forest without any interest in the buildings. A review could make it easier to subdivide and sell such houses, but it also touches on how the Land Formation Act's suitability requirements should apply to agricultural and forestry properties.
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 government should set up an inquiry to review the Land Formation Act's rules for combined agricultural and forestry properties, to make it easier to subdivide off houses for sale, or whether the current rules should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee points to the existing provisions of the Land Formation Act requiring properties to be suited to their purpose, including for agriculture and forestry, and sees no reason to set up a new inquiry into the design of the act. The Riksdag therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (MP)
The reservation (MP) calls for the government to set up an inquiry to review the Land Formation Act's rules on the design of combined agricultural and forestry properties, in order to create more opportunities to free up smaller properties with houses for sale. The reasoning is that houses on such properties often stand empty and fall into disrepair because the owner is interested in the land or forest but not in the buildings.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 4 by MP.
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.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/19/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 90/0/0/16 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/13/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 57/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:1753 by Katarina Luhr et al. (MP) point 11 and 2024/25:1927 by Kajsa Fredholm et al. (V) point 9 in this section.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1753 av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP) yrkande 11 och 2024/25:1927 av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V) yrkande 9 i denna del.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 40 proposals in motions concerning land law. The proposals were submitted during the ordinary motion period 2024 and concerned, among other things, ground lease rights, expropriation compensation, right of first refusal, and land acquisition legislation. The Riksdag refers primarily to the fact that work is already underway in many of the issues to which the proposals pertain.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants an investigation of property formation law to enable sale of smaller residential properties. (MP) — Reservation 4
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.
The plan does not address the land division law.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address the land division law. The closest commitment is that housing construction must also increase in the countryside, with rental apartments and detached houses, and that the countryside must not be drained. Making it possible to free smaller residential properties instead of letting houses stand empty lies in line with that, while the plan's care for agriculture's long-term sustainability counsels caution. The conclusion is derived with low certainty.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte fastighetsbildningslagen. Närmast liggande åtagande är att bostadsbyggandet också måste öka på landsbygden, med hyresrätter och småhus, och att landsbygden inte får utarmas. Att göra det möjligt att frigöra mindre bostadsfastigheter i stället för att låta husen stå öde ligger i linje med det, samtidigt som planens omsorg om jordbrukets långsiktiga hållbarhet manar till försiktighet. Slutsatsen är härledd med låg säkerhet.
- housing in the countrysidedecisive»Ett ökat bostadsbyggande måste också ske på landsbygden, med hyresrätter med rimliga hyror och småhus.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increased housing construction must also take place in the countryside, with rental apartments with reasonable rents and detached houses.”
- vibrant countryside»Oavsett var i landet vi bor så har vi ett gemensamt intresse av att landsbygden inte utarmas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regardless of where in the country we live, we have a common interest that the countryside is not drained.”
- sustainable agriculture»Jordbrukets långsiktiga hållbarhet är viktig för både ekosystemen och« (party programme ↗)“Agriculture's long-term sustainability is important for both ecosystems and”
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.
The plan establishes that the whole country must be able to live and develop, that housing is a social right and that the state must be present throughout the country.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the whole country must be able to live and develop, that housing is a social right and that the state must be present throughout the country. Examining the property formation rules so that residential buildings on agricultural and forestry properties can be subdivided and sold instead of falling into disrepair is in line with this. The Property Formation Act is not addressed in the plan, so the position is inferred and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att hela landet ska kunna leva och utvecklas, att bostaden är en social rättighet och att staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet. Att utreda fastighetsbildningsreglerna så att bostadshus på jord- och skogsbruksfastigheter kan avstyckas och säljas i stället för att förfalla ligger i linje med det. Fastighetsbildningslagen behandlas inte i planen, så ställningstagandet är härlett och osäkert.
- the whole country must livedecisive»Alla har ett gemensamt intresse av att hela landet kan leva och utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has a common interest in the whole country being able to live and develop.”
- housing as a social right»ser bostaden som en social rättighet« (party programme ↗)“sees housing as a social right”
- state presence throughout the country»Staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state must be present throughout the country.”
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.
The plan does not address the property formation act, but establishes that everyone has the right to housing and that the existing housing stock can be utilised much more efficiently, and that new construction should first take place on already developed land.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address the property formation act, but establishes that everyone has the right to housing and that the existing housing stock can be utilised much more efficiently, and that new construction should first take place on already developed land. Making it possible to subdivide and sell existing residential houses instead of leaving them empty is in line with this. The plan's requirement to preserve agricultural land simultaneously pulls in the opposite direction, so uncertainty is considerable.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte fastighetsbildningslagen, men slår fast att alla har rätt till en bostad och att det befintliga beståndet av bostäder kan utnyttjas mycket mer effektivt, samt att ny bebyggelse i första hand ska ske på redan exploaterad mark. Att göra det möjligt att avstycka och sälja befintliga bostadshus i stället för att låta dem stå öde ligger i linje med detta. Planens krav på att jordbruksmarken bevaras drar samtidigt i motsatt riktning, varför osäkerheten är stor.
- utilise existing housing stockdecisive»Det befintliga beståndet av bostäder kan utnyttjas« (party programme ↗)“The existing housing stock can be utilised”
- build on already developed land»Planering av nya områden ska i första hand ske på« (party programme ↗)“Planning of new areas should first take place on”
- right to housing»Alla har rätt till en bostad.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to housing.”
- preserve agricultural land»att bevara jordbruksmarken och dess bördighet.« (party programme ↗)“to preserve agricultural land and its fertility.”
The election manifesto wants to give rural residents more self-determination over their own land and clear out rules that lie like a wet blanket over the countryside, and the party programme makes sufficient housing throughout the country a condition for development.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to give rural residents more self-determination over their own land and clear out rules that lie like a wet blanket over the countryside, and the party programme makes sufficient housing throughout the country a condition for development. A review of the land division act that makes it possible to subdivide and sell smaller residential properties instead of letting houses deteriorate is in line with this. However, the plan does not mention land division.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill ge landsbygdsborna mer självbestämmande över sin egen mark och rensa upp bland regler som lägger sig som en våt filt över landsbygden, och partiprogrammet gör tillräckligt med bostäder i hela landet till en förutsättning för utveckling. En översyn av fastighetsbildningslagen som gör det möjligt att avstycka och sälja mindre bostadsfastigheter i stället för att låta husen förfalla ligger i linje med detta. Planen nämner dock inte fastighetsbildning.
- easier to build and live in the countrysidedecisive»Det är dags att ge landsbygdsborna mer självbestämmande över sin egen mark, och genom regelförenklingar göra det enklare att bygga och bo på landsbygden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is time to give rural residents more self-determination over their own land, and through regulatory simplifications make it easier to build and live in the countryside.”
- clear out regulatory tangles»Dyra, krångliga och innovationshämmande regelverk ligger som en våt filt över delar av landsbygden. Vi ska rensa upp bland överflödiga regler och byråkrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expensive, complicated and innovation-hampering regulations lie like a wet blanket over parts of the countryside. We shall clear out redundant regulations and bureaucracy.”
- housing throughout the country»En förutsättning för utveckling är att det finns tillräckligt med bostäder i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“A condition for development is that there is sufficient housing throughout the country.”
- property rights»Äganderätten är central för ett samhälle där människor kan förverkliga sig själva och sina drömmar.« (party programme ↗)“Property rights are central to a society where people can realise themselves and their dreams.”
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.
The plan notes that too few dwellings are being built and wants to simplify building standards and rules around construction as well as shorten appeals processes, and it is based on property rights and the right to sell property.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan notes that too few dwellings are being built and wants to simplify building standards and rules around construction as well as shorten appeals processes, and it is based on property rights and the right to sell property. Reviewing the land division law so smaller residential houses can be subdivided and sold instead of standing empty is in line with both these commitments. However, the plan does not specifically address land division rules, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen konstaterar att det byggs för få bostäder och vill förenkla byggnormer och regler kring byggande samt korta överklagandeprocesserna, och den utgår från äganderätten och rätten att sälja egendom. Att se över fastighetsbildningslagen så att mindre bostadshus kan avstyckas och säljas i stället för att stå öde ligger i linje med båda dessa åtaganden. Planen behandlar dock inte fastighetsbildningsreglerna särskilt, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- more dwellings through simpler rulesdecisive»Det byggs för få bostäder. För att öka byggandet i Sverige bör konkurrensen öka och reglerna« (party programme ↗)“Too few dwellings are being built. To increase building in Sweden competition should increase and the rules”
- simplified building standards»Byggnormerna bör förenklas« (party programme ↗)“Building standards should be simplified”
- faster processes»korta överklagandeprocesserna och fortsätta förenkla byggreglerna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“shorten appeals processes and continue to simplify building regulations”
- the right to sell property»Äganderätten, rätten att köpa, sälja och ge bort« (party programme ↗)“Property rights, the right to buy, sell and give away”
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.
The election manifesto commits the party to making all of Sweden function and to making it possible to live and work outside the major cities, and the party programme states that red tape and unnecessary rules must not hinder individuals' opportunities to develop their housing.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits the party to making all of Sweden function and to making it possible to live and work outside the major cities, and the party programme states that red tape and unnecessary rules must not hinder individuals' opportunities to develop their housing. A review of the land division law that makes it possible to release and sell residential houses instead of letting them stand empty serves both property rights and a living countryside. The counter-proposal's demand thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet binder partiet vid att hela Sverige ska fungera och att det ska gå att bo och verka utanför storstäderna, och partiprogrammet slår fast att krångel och onödiga regler inte får hindra enskildas möjligheter att utveckla sitt boende. En översyn av fastighetsbildningslagen som gör det möjligt att frigöra och sälja bostadshus i stället för att låta dem stå öde tjänar både äganderätten och en levande landsbygd. Motförslagets krav ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- living countrysidedecisive»Hela Sverige ska fungera och det ska gå att bo och verka även utanför de stora städerna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All of Sweden shall function and it shall be possible to live and work even outside the major cities.”
- rules must not hinder housing»att leva upp till sitt ansvar eller för enskildas möjligheter att utveckla sitt boende.« (party programme ↗)“to live up to their responsibility or for individuals' opportunities to develop their housing.”
- property rights as a right»Rätten till egendom är en mänsklig rättighet« (party programme ↗)“The right to property is a human right”
- differentiated rural entrepreneurship»Även differentierat landsbygdsföretagande ska underlättas.« (party programme ↗)“Differentiated rural entrepreneurship shall also be facilitated.”
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.
The plan wants to strengthen property and use rights in agriculture and forestry, reduce the number of regulations for agriculture and spread ownership in rural areas, among other things by selling state forest land to people with regional ties.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen property and use rights in agriculture and forestry, reduce the number of regulations for agriculture and spread ownership in rural areas, among other things by selling state forest land to people with regional ties. A review of the property formation law that makes it easier to subdivide and sell smaller properties with houses follows from that line and prevents houses from standing empty. The plan does not mention the law as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka ägande- och brukanderätten i jord- och skogsbruket, minska antalet regler för jordbruket och sprida ägandet på landsbygden, bland annat genom att sälja statlig skogsmark till personer med regional anknytning. En översyn av fastighetsbildningslagen som gör det lättare att avstycka och sälja mindre fastigheter med bostadshus följer av den linjen och motverkar att hus står öde. Planen nämner inte lagen som sådan.
- strengthened property rights in agriculturedecisive»Stärka ägande- och brukanderätten för jordbrukare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen property and use rights for farmers”
- spread ownership in rural areas»Sälja av en större andel av statliga Sveaskogs innehav till personer med regional anknytning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sell a larger share of the state Sveaskog holdings to people with regional ties”
- fewer regulations for agriculture»Minska antalet regler för jordbruket och korta handläggningstider för miljötillstånd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the number of regulations for agriculture and shorten processing times for environmental permits”
- living countryside through ownership»egenansvar skapar de bästa förutsättningarna för en levande landsbygd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“personal responsibility creates the best conditions for a living countryside”
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.
The plan establishes that rigid rules for construction and business development lie like a wet blanket over rural areas and requires simplified frameworks for land and forestry as well as simplified processes for planning and construction.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that rigid rules for construction and business development lie like a wet blanket over rural areas and requires simplified frameworks for land and forestry as well as simplified processes for planning and construction. It also wants to strengthen property rights and have authorities support landowners. A review that makes it easier to subdivide and sell smaller residential properties is therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att stelbenta regler för byggande och företagsutveckling ligger som en blöt filt över landsbygden och kräver förenklade regelverk inom jord och skog samt förenklade processer för planering och byggnation. Den vill också stärka äganderätten och att myndigheterna verkar stödjande mot markägare. En översyn som gör det lättare att avstycka och sälja mindre bostadsfastigheter ligger därför i planens linje.
- away with rigid rulesdecisive»Utmaningarna är idag många där stelbenta regler för byggande och företagsutveckling ligger som en blöt filt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today the challenges are many where rigid rules for construction and business development lie like a wet blanket.”
- simplified rules in land and forestry»Förenkla regelverken och förbättra rättssäkerheten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Simplify frameworks and improve legal certainty.”
- simplified building process»Anpassa och förenkla regler och processer för planering och byggnation« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Adapt and simplify rules and processes for planning and construction.”
- strengthened property rights»Stärka äganderätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen property rights.”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:CU8)
- Committee report full text (HC01CU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1000 — Införande av bindande bud i bostads- och fastighetsaffärer av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1370 — Skog, skogsbruk och ekonomi av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1371 — Politik för stärkt äganderätt av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1388 — Fastighetsrätt av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1588 — Införande av en moderniserad förköpslag för kommuner vad gäller samhällsviktig och strategisk mark av Lawen Redar (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1608 — Lantmäteriets kostnader på landsbygden av Anne-Li Sjölund och Helena Lindahl (båda C)
- Motion 2024/25:1753 — Rivning och återbruk inom byggsektorn av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1864 — Årlig indexuppräkning av tomträttsavgälder för bostadshus av Kristina Axén Olin m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1927 — Ökad nationell självförsörjning med hållbart jordbruk av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1992 — Bostadspolitik, planering och byggande av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:2370 — Lantmäteriets handläggningstider av Malin Höglund m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2431 — Lantmäteriets handläggningstider av Saila Quicklund (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2514 — Stockholm som hållbar tillväxtmotor av Mathias Tegnér m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:2588 — Stärkt äganderätt vid utvecklingen av el- och kommunikationsnät av Adam Reuterskiöld m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2647 — Bättre villkor för svenska bönder och bygder av Aron Emilsson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2815 — Ersättningsnivåer vid markintrång av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2823 — Effektivisering av Lantmäteriet av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2947 — En infrastruktur som fungerar i hela landet av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2950 — Bostäder och samhällsbyggnad av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2953 — Jord, skog och jakt av Helena Lindahl m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament