The importance of a well-functioning housing market has been proposed for long within economics, economic geography and urban planning.  A high mobility on the housing market most likely positively affects the dynamics of the labor market, a dynamic important for economic growth. Mobility defined as the link between the worker and the workplace in terms of transportation and housing are most likely essential components of a dynamic and well-functioning labor market. The Oswald hypothesis states that positive relationship between homeownership and unemployment exists, the lower mobility in the homeownership housing stock compared to the rental housing stock affects labor market mobility in a negative way which can be noted if European countries are compared. My thesis explores this relationship in a Swedish context by mobilizing a quantitative approach with aggregate data on municipal level ranging from 1998 to 2013. The Swedish housing market is in a deregulation process since 1992, a conversion process from public rental housing to homeownership co-op apartments has taken place and public policies now favor homeownership over renting. Municipal data on unemployment, homeownership of apartment, rental tenant and control variables for economy and personal characteristics are applied in Pooled OLS, random effects and fixed effects regression models. The results from the Pooled OLS and the Random effects model confirms the positive relationship proposed by Oswald for homeownership of apartment but not for homeownership of detached housing. Also rental tenant show a positive relationship. The results from the fixed effect estimation rejects the hypothesis altogether and show a negative relationship.

This thesis discusses the real price development on the Swedish housing market and the effects by qualitative variables. The housing market shows signs of being overpriced and this paper investigates if these qualitative values significantly effect the real price development. Valueguard Corporation has supplied Price development data. Focus magazine has supplied data regarding a large dataset for Swedish municipalizes which measures which state of quality of living prevailing in the investigated area. Empirical results show that qualitative variables and increased population have a positive effect on the real price development. Increased cost of interest rates has a significant negative effect on the price development. Increased amortizing rates and interest rates are assumed to slow down an unsustainable price development.

The focus of this dissertation is on existing housing areas: in industrialised western countries, in 2005, the number of existing buildings that are taken care of, maintained, repaired, renovated or restructured for other functions is higher than the number of buildings that are (new) built. This is a review dissertation, based on empirical material and further reflections from previous research projects dealing with Swedish housing renovation: private-owned old single-family housing areas and large housing areas from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, mainly owned by housing companies. The concepts of careful renovation, environmentally-friendly renovation and sustainable renovation are analysed as different approaches to housing renovation. The aim is to present an interpretation of sustainable renovation that includes the goals both of careful renovation and of environmentally-friendly renovation as necessary components of sustainable development. This dissertation identifies and analyses the main issues that may be faced during renovation and that have a relevant impact on the environment, the architecture or the inhabitants, and describes the renovation actions that have been used in the studied projects. It concludes with reflections about positive results, incongruities and challenges that may be found in projects of sustainable renovation. / QC 20100928

The indebtedness of Swedish households has more than doubled in the last ten decades despite the implementation of a mortgage ceiling and stricter amortization requirements. This study takes form to investigate how it is possible that debt related to housing is rising while new regulations against it has been set and how housing prices continues to increase when lending is supposed to be harder.This analysis estimates whether there are indications of an existing price bubble in the housing market of Stockholm. It is done by testing fundamental economic factors to the price index of housing in Stockholm, to see if they support the price development. If the analysis shows that housing prices cannot be predicted by the fundamental economic factors, it is possible that the price is a self-running series1 which could be an indicator of a price bubble. If fundamental factors that are being used as control variables seem to follow the same trend as the price development of the housing market, the speculation of price bubble will be rejected.

The Swedish housing market have long been debated for its flaws, inefficiencies and regulations which makes construction expensive and complicated. This have created long queue times for rentals and an ever increasing price level for condominiums, especially in the cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Boverket suggest 558,000 new housing units  eeds to be constructed by 2025 to meet the increasing demand. In this thesis I have applied the standard theory of demand and supply on the Swedish housing market using a standard simultaneous equation model with panel data covering the years 1994 to 2012 over Swedish municipalities. The result shows construction costs have a negative effect on supply while population growth and housing prices have a positive effect. Demand is driven by disposable income and population growth whereas a price of housing has a negative effect. With lower future construction costs housing supply would increase more than if it were to be hold constant. Rising construction cost the coming years would have a negative effect on housing supply.

Bakgrund: Den senaste tiden har en debatt blossat upp i media om huruvida det är rimligt att bostadsrättsföreningar får tillämpa progressiva avskrivningar och om raka avskrivningar är ett bättre alternativ. Bokföringsnämnden beslöt under våren år 2014 att progressiva avskrivningar inte är en tillämplig avskrivningsmetod för byggnader. I media har många uttalat sig om vad detta kommer få för effekt på marknaden för bostadsrätter, men det har ännu inte utretts ur ett vetenskapligt perspektiv. Syfte: Uppsatsen syftar till att bidra med detta vetenskapliga perspektiv genom att analysera huruvida progressiva avskrivningar är en förutsättning för nyproduktion. I uppsatsen ämnas även undersöka om detta skiljer mellan olika regioner i Sverige. Metod: För att besvara de i syftet ställda problemformuleringarna har en teoretisk modell utvecklats med grundantagandet att köpare av bostadsrätter ska vara indifferenta till vilken avskrivningsmetod som används. Regler och praxis kring avskrivningar i bostadsrättsföreningar har kartlagts för att kunna ge modellen adekvat utformning. Modellens slutresultat visar hur en övergång från progressiva till raka avskrivningar påverkar lönsamheten i nyproduktion av bostadsrätter. En diskussion har förts kring rimligheten i de antaganden som gjorts i modellen och det framtagna resultatet, med utgångspunkt i mikroekonomisk teori och en generell analys av bostadsmarknaden. Slutsats: Enligt de antaganden som gjorts i denna studie och den modell som tagits fram har slutsatsen dragits att de progressiva avskrivningarna på kort sikt är en förutsättning för nyproduktion. Det finns dock ett antal omständigheter som tyder på att reaktionen i verkligheten blir något mildare än vad resultatet från modellen visar. Vidare tycks effektens storlek minska ju högre marknadspriset för bostadsrätter var innan övergången till raka avskrivningar. På lång sikt är inte progressiva avskrivningar en förutsättning för nyproduktion av bostadsrätter. / Background: In Sweden, there has been a recent debate about the reasonability of the use of progressive depreciations by housing cooperatives and if straight line depreciations is a better alternative. The Swedish Accounting Standards Board decided during the spring of 2014 that progressive depreciation is not an applicable depreciation method for buildings. In media, many have discussed the effect on the market for housing cooperative shares but it has not yet been investigated with a scientific perspective. Purpose: The aim of the thesis is to contribute with this scientific perspective by analyzing if progressive depreciations is a prerequisite for production of new dwellings. The thesis is also meant to look into regional differences of this matter. Method: To answer the two problem formulations above, a theoretical model has been developed with the basic assumption that buyers of housing cooperative shares should be indifferent to which depreciation method is applied. Rules and practices of housing cooperative depreciations have been charted in order to make the model adequate. The end result of the model shows how a transition from progressive to straight line depreciation affects the profitability of production of new dwellings. With respect to microeconomic theory and a general analysis of the housing market, a discussion has been carried out about the model assumptions and the model results. Conclusions: According to the used model and its assumptions, the conclusion has been made that progressive depreciations is a short term prerequisite for production of new dwellings. Although, there are circumstances that indicate that the market reaction would be milder than what the model results show. Furthermore, the effect of the depreciation method transition seems to decrease with higher market prices for the housing cooperative shares. In the long term, progressive depreciations is not a prerequisite for production of new dwellings.

The purpose of this thesis was to study the requirement profile for obtaining a newly produced rental apartment via the municipal housing queue in Stockholm and what perceptions and differences about the geographical areas of the housing are conveyed in the process. This has been researched in relation to the new housing policy regarding the political incitement of market rents in Sweden. This study was conducted with a focus on vulnerable groups in society. In this study, a qualitative content analysis was used as the research method and the empirical data consists of rental advertisements from the statistical service of The Stockholm Housing Agency. The selected theories that have been applied in the analysis are Goffman's theory of stigma and the theory of social constructivism. The results of the study show that there is a lack of suitable and available forms of housing for low-income households in the municipal housing market as the majority of landlords do not accept unemployment insurance, social welfare or sickness benefit as a source of income. As an outcome, it is not possible to obtain a rental apartment via the municipal queue if you belong to that category of income. The results also show segregating patterns in the landlords' qualification requirements, as they demand a significantly higher gross income for housing in residential areas with a high socio-economic status, while requirements are more relaxed in areas with lower incomes. The results also show that the marketing of the housing is clearly aimed at a specific target group through language use. In summary, the results show that segregating practices take place in the municipal housing market as low-income households are not given access to resource-rich areas due to high income requirements and a strategic marketing that communicates what type of people are ideal for living in the area.

As the City of Stockholm continues to grow, there is a looming fear that there will not be enough housing for a growing population. Municipalities within Stockholm County are building up their housing stock to contribute solutions to the infamous housing crisis that is on the rise. With this increase of built development, there is also a faint shadow of the Million Homes Project problems that daunts new projects. The last time the city of Stockholm had built up so much new development, some of the Million Homes Project neighborhoods descended into segregated and vulnerable areas. This project looks at how Riksbyggen, a housing developer, can build housing developments that align with social sustainability practices for integrated neighborhoods, in order to avoid the process of segregation. The research focuses on the study area of Ursvik, a residential neighborhood that has plans to grow by 15,000 new residents in the next 10-15 years. This new neighborhood development will border more vulnerable neighborhoods, Rissne, Hallonbergen, and Rinkeby, which have reputations for being high in crime, immigrant dense, and segregated from neighboring areas. Riksbyggen has two existing housing developments in the area and has plans to build one more. Their recently established indicators for social sustainability can help make a long lasting impact on the social sustainability in the neighborhood. Through this project I hope to contribute knowledge on how social sustainability indicators can be used for planning for more integrated and open neighborhoods. The methods used were observations of Riksbyggen’s sustainability department, meetings with city planners from Stockholms and Sundbybergs stad, a survey of current Riksbyggen residents in Ursvik, talking with members of the housing boards, an analysis of indicators, and testing planning solutions. I found that the sustainability indicators are well focused on the needs of residents but could be improved through better communication of social sustainability goals throughout Riksbyggen and through a better follow-up measuring of indicators over time. More concrete measures, like including a diversity of services as well as tracking neighborhood progress over time can help ease residents’ biggest fear of integration: higher crime and lowered security. / Allt eftersom Stockholm stad fortsätter att växa finns det en hotande rädsla för att det inte kommer att finnas tillräckligt med bostäder för en växande befolkning. Kommuner runt om i Stockholms län försöker bidra till bostadskrisen genom att öka sitt bostadsbestånd. Men problemen från miljonprogrammets byggande, där en del stadsdelar över tiden blivit alltmer utsatta och segregerade, kastar en skugga och skapar rädsla bland beslutsfattare och planerare för att göra om samma misstag. Den här studien tittar på hur Riksbyggen, som är en stor byggaktör, kan bygga bostäder som ligger i linje med socialhållbarhetspraxis för integrerade grannskap och kan motverka segregation. Studien fokuserar på området Ursvik, ett bostadsområde som har planer på att växa med 15 000 nya invånare under de kommande 10-15 åren. Detta nya område kommer att angränsa mot mer utsatta områden som Rissne, Hallonbergen och Rinkeby, som har ryktet om sig att ha hög brottslighet, vara invandrartäta samt segregerade från omkringliggande områden. Riksbyggen har två befintliga bostadrättsföreningar i Ursvik och har planer att bygga en till. Deras nyligen etablerade indikatorer för social hållbarhet kan bidra till att långsiktigt påverkar den sociala hållbarheten i grannskapet. Genom det här projektet hoppas jag kunna bidra med ytterligare kunskap om hur sociala hållbarhetsindikatorer kan användas för planering för bättre integrerade och öppna grannskap. Metoderna som används är egna observationer av hur Riksbyggens enhet för hållbarhetsfrågor arbetar, möten med stadsplanerare från Stockholms stad och Sundbybergs stad, en enkät bland nuvarande boende i Riksbyggens bostadsrättföreningar i Ursvik, samtal med styrelsemedlemmar, en analys av indikatorer, samt tester av planeringslösningar. Resultatet visar att hållbarhetsindikatorerna är väl fokuserade på behoven hos men de sociala hållbarhetsmålen kan förbättras om de tydligare kommuniceras och implementeras i hela organisationen samt om Riksbyggen gör bättre uppföljningsstudier av indikatorerna över tid. Mer konkreta åtgärder såsom att Riksbyggen tillsammans med andra aktörer ser till att det blir ett större utbud och mångfaldav tjänster samtidigt som uppföljning av grannskapens framsteg över tid kan hjälpa lindra boendes rädsla inför att Ursviks integration med omgivande stadsdelar skall leda till högre brottslighet och försämrad trygghet.

The purpose of this examination is to see how energy efficiency measures affect peak loads in multifamily buildings. In addition, how much of an energy share warm water has in peak loads. The Swedish building sector represents 40 % of all energy used. The thesis was restricted to multifamily buildings, which is dominated by district heating. The most common energy measures to save peak cost and reduce peak loads that are focus in this thesis work, e.g. changing windows, isolate walls and attics but also lowering indoor temperature. It was assumed in the thesis that the cost of peak loads will increase in the future and therefore the choice of energy efficiency measures is important. The calculations to determine the effectiveness of the energy measures where done by using hourly temperature data from the year 2014 in combination with, known investment costs for each energy measure. The only measures that went with profit over a 40-year period was the attics isolation and lower indoor temperature. The highest peak load savings in heating was the change of windows and wall isolation, but the investment cost was too high to gain a profit. The conclusion is that the best energy efficiency measures are attic isolation and lower indoor temperature because of its low investment cost and quick payback time, but also effective at lowering peak load by reducing the temperature difference between outdoor and indoor temperature in multifamily buildings. The analysis of warm water energy's share of the peak loads varied much between the 15 given multifamily buildings, where a base load and a peak load where compared. The result was between 10-50 % were the difference between the buildings warm water energy share off the peak loads. It where concluded that a standard value of 20 % would give much inaccuracy in determining the warm water share. It is therefore, suggested to use this method to determine the warm water share of the hourly peak load. / I detta arbete har syftet varit att hitta de vanligaste energieffektiviseringsåtgärderna som görs idag i det svenska bostadsbeståndet. Energieffektiviseringsåtgärderna påverkar effekttoppar i flerbostadshus och har undersökts. Om det antas att energiprisstrukturen går mot en mer effektbaserad taxa kan åtgärderna få större påverkan på energipriset i framtiden. I arbetet har varmvattnets andel av timeffekttoppar undersökts, med stöd av energianvändningsdata från 15 anonymiserade flerbostadshus med fjärrvärme. Energianvändningen i bostadsbeståndet står för ca 40 % av Sveriges energianvändning. Det ställs då krav på de lågenergihus som byggs idag och vid renovering av hus att möta Sveriges som såväl EU 2020 målet att minska energianvändningen i bostäder genom att implementera energieffektiviseringsåtgärder. De vanligaste energieffektiviseringsåtgärderna i flerbostadshus har varit isolering av väggar och vind, installation av energiglas och frånluftssystem med värmeåtervinning. En sänkt inomhus temperatur har även medtagits. För fastighetsägare av flerbostadshus, där energianvändning för uppvärmning och varmvatten domineras av fjärrvärme är prisutvecklingen viktig. Om i framtiden ett antagande görs att el och fjärrvärmepriset övergår från en energibaserad taxa kr/kWh till en mer effektbaserad taxa kr/kW där kunden betalar för de högsta effekttopparna under ett år. I denna studie redovisas det när effekttoppar uppstår och vilka energieffektiviseringsåtgärder som påverkar effekttopparna i flerbostadshus. De högsta effekttopparna uppstår oftast under vinterårstiden då uppvärmningsbehovet är störst. I ett framtaget typbostadshus där de valda energiåtgärderna beräknades, det visade sig att energiglas minskar effektbehovet och effektpriset mest, därefter väggisolering med mineralull. Emellertid ger energiglas och väggisolerings åtgärderna ger förluster i lönsamhetsberäkningen. Det skiljer sig från tilläggsisolering med mineralull av vinden och sänkt inomhus temperatur som har en investerings vinst över en 40 års period. I beräkningarna användes temperaturdata från år 2012 både på typhuset innan och efter implementerad åtgärd.En viktig parameter vid minskning av uppvärmningsbehovet är U-värdet. Tilläggsisolering av vind samt sänkt temperatur är de åtgärder som rekommenderas då båda påverkar effektbehovet och ger en lönsam investering. Åtgärd vid fönster och väggar minskar dock uppvärmningsbehovet mest men ger en olönsam ekonomisk investering. Varmvattenandelen av den högsta timeffekttoppen över året togs fram genom att jämföra baslasten och effekttoppen under dagen då effektbehovet är som högst. Resultatet visade att varmvattenandelen av effekttoppen tycks variera mellan ca 10- 50 %. Varmvattenandelen av effekttoppen varierar stort och därför föreslås användningen av metoden i detta examensarbete istället för ett schablonvärde på 20 % vid undersökning av varmvattenandelen av timeffekttoppen.

This master thesis analyses the housing cooperative´s capability to manageknowledge in order to improve its performances and create innovation. It is based on the analysis of elite interviews concerning the latest ten years of two Swedish housing cooperatives (bostadsrättsförenigar), which are Brf Grantorpand Brf Kullen that, because of their almost identical properties, made acomparison possible. Absorptive Capacity, which refers to the organization´s ability to identify, assimilate and apply knowledge in its specific context and Knowledge Management, which refers to the organization´s knowledge management activities, provided the basis for the theoretical framework. The empirical data show that, within the organizations, the main sources of knowledge are the Board members: when internal expertise knowledge is present then innovation takes place. Lack of policies in recruiting Board members means that innovation coming from within the organizations is always fortuitous, and depends on the individuals´ previous expertise knowledge. Even if the two years mandate constitutes a constrain in investing in knowledge development, it has been revealed that providing the Board members with a general knowledge in the housing cooperatives´ all-day activities constitutes a solid precondition to capture new opportunities: Brf Kullen acts in a more proactive way and actively identifies opportunities in the environment. Whilst Brf Grantorp does suffer the lack of basic knowledge and acts in a more passive way, waiting for someone else bringing in from the outside. However, both the organizations suffer the lack of explicit knowledge management policies. This is very noticeable when it comes to codification and storage: what is provided is essentially of tacit nature, and blanks out over and over again because it still remains in the members´ heads and it leaves when they leave the Board. Hence, both the organizations´ ability to exploit and transfer knowledge suffers lack of efficiency. Furthermore, even if they offer both formal and informal manners in order to share ideas between Board members, the activities are subject to each Board member´s commitment and time.