Important concepts

A co-operative economic association

A co-operative economic association is the concept in Swedish law defining and regulating business activities carried out in co-operative or closely related forms. The Economic Associations Act may be regarded as the Swedish equivalent of the various forms of legislation regulating co-operative activities in many other countries.
Tenant-owned housing/Housing Associations

A housing association is a co-operative association normally consisting of between 20 and 100 or so apartments (tenant-owner apartments) built together or as detached units in a defined geographical area.

The members (the residents in the tenant-owned housing) own a share of the housing association which in turn owns the housing. The members are free to sell their share and thus their tenantship rights on the open market. When Riksbyggen builds and establishes a housing association, the shares are first offered to the members of Riksbyggen's home saving scheme, who can in that way find a place to live. When all the shares have been taken up, the association becomes fully independent, but usually retains its link with Riksbyggen by acquiring one or more shares in Riksbyggen, entrusting Riksbyggen with responsibility for the management of the association and its resources.

Housing associations in Sweden are subject to special legislation, the Housing Association Act, which may be regarded as being a special further development of the Co-operative Economic Associations Act for this purpose.
Builder

Companies or organisations (sometimes Riksbyggen) which are responsible for planning, administration and finance during the period of construction. The builder may in turn appoint sub-contractors to carry out building work. Riksbyggen usually appoints contractors for all its building work and consequently does not have its own production apparatus.