Riksbyggen's idea

Riksbyggen's form of association (A “co-operative economic association” according to Swedish legislation) is compatible with internationally-accepted definitions for co-operative associations. Riksbyggen can be described in simple terms as a company owned by the building unions, housing associations (local housing associations) and partly by other national co-operative associations, aiming at establishing housing associations and contributing to the fulfilment of other aims formulated by the owners related to housing and co-operation.

Trade union and popular organisations and housing associations linked to Riksbyggen's activities can become members of Riksbyggen by acquiring shares in Riksbyggen. Riksbyggen is independent of the state and organisations other than member organisations.

By taking the initiative to establish independent housing associations, Riksbyggen creates a basis for its own commercial activities. Riksbyggen builds and manages housing on behalf of these associations.

In this way Riksbyggen creates attractive tenant-owned housing on the basis of its principles and on a financially sound and competitive basis.

Riksbyggen aims to promote co-operative ideas through its own activities and by working together in Sweden and internationally with organisations supporting co-operative developments.

Unlike many other countries, there is no overall co-ordination of the co-operative movement in Sweden. Collaboration takes place at many levels, however, between Riksbyggen and the other co-operative organisations, in promoting and developing the co-operative idea as well as in purely commercial relations between organisations.

Riksbyggen works together with the international co-operative movement through its membership of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and through membership and support of the Swedish co-operative movement's development assistance organisation, the Swedish Co-operative Centre (SCC).

Riksbyggen has no commercial activities outside Sweden, however.