I often complain about how I hate living in a small town but never talk about what’s good about. Because believe it or not, it’s not all bad.
In Sweden housing shortage is a big problem. At least when it comes to affordable apartments. Young people with low incomes need patience, luck or connections to find a place to live with a decent rent. Many live with their parents, with friends or rent an apartment “second hand”. I don’t know how to translate it properly but I’ll try to explain. Person X’s name is on the lease but person X won’t be able to live in his/her apartment for a while, because he/she is travelling the world for a year or whatever. So while person X is away you rent the place – from person X, not the landlord. Since you have to move out whenever person X wants the apartment back this obviously isn’t the best way to live. Still it’s the way many young Swede’s live since it’s very hard to get your hands on a affordable apartment with a “first hand lease”.
It’s a lot easier in a small town though. For me it was ridiculously easy. The first apartment I was offered to have a look at is the apartment I live in today. In one day I found out there was a vacant apartment with a low rent, got the keys to have a look at it, saw and loved it and finally signed the lease. I realize I’ve been very lucky because this is not the way it usually goes.
Right now I’m looking for an apartment in Gothenburg, the second biggest city in Sweden. They e-mail me whenever there’s an apartment available that suits me. So I get an e-mail once in a while and always let them know I’m interested in whichever apartment’s available. About 3000 others do the same. Yep, that’s the usual number of people interested in each apartment available. No wonder I’m not having any luck because there’s no real queue system in Gothenburg. They just choose whoever “suits the apartment best”. Whoever has the highest income I bet. Because really, when you have 3000 people to choose from obviously you prefer a tenant with a good income rather than some poor student living off a student loan.
At least I have a home of my own. In the wrong place but it’s still a home, which I love. My apartment may be small but it was renovated in 2004 so everything is new and looks good. Not to mention that three out of four rooms are blue! My favourite colour when it comes to home decoration! The only things I’d like to change is the colour of the kitchen cupboards, the kitchen floor and the hallway floor. Other than that everything is perfect. It’s my home sweet home.
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