Response to interpellation 2023/24:672 on the glazing of balconies
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD argues that the government is working to promote employment through increased ceilings for the rotavdrag 1. KD emphasizes that the government wants to implement regulatory simplifications to reduce the requirements for building permits 1 2 and that Boverket can provide guidance to facilitate matters for property owners 1 2. KD emphasizes that the government is a coalition government 3 and appreciates a good dialogue in the debate 4. KD is working on more efficient processes and wants to keep the dialogue alive regarding management models 4. C argues that the minister is evading a concrete timetable 5. C believes that the government should drive the issue of the rotavdrag collectively 5 and that the cost aspect must be guiding 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Alireza Akhondi has asked me, partly when I and the government intend to return with proposals on regulatory easing for construction, including deregulation of the building permit for glazing a balcony, and partly if I will work to ensure that the government takes measures to expand the tax deduction for renovations to also include glazing of a balcony, with the aim of giving apartment owners the same economic conditions as villa owners and creating more jobs in the construction industry.
In order to create more jobs within the construction industry and promote employment within the construction sector so that competent labor remains within the construction sector when the economic cycle turns, the government has recently submitted a bill to the Riksdag with proposals that the ceiling for the rot deduction should be temporarily raised and that separate ceilings for the rot and rut deductions should be temporarily introduced.
Questions regarding the expansion of the roof deduction beyond the improvements that the government has already proposed in the bill to the Riksdag should primarily be answered by the Minister for Finance. I would, however, like to emphasize that the government is working to promote activity and employment within the construction sector now that many companies in the industry experience that they are having a difficult time financially.
The Government has taken further measures to provide incentives for increased construction. The Government has appointed an inquiry which shall, among other things, review the rules on changing presumption rents in order to ensure a well-functioning presumption rent system that provides good conditions for new production of rental housing. Stimulus measures to the municipalities to increase the supply of planned land for small houses and conversion from premises to housing have been decided, and recently a letter-of-the-law investigator has been tasked to work towards achieving housing construction on state properties through the sale of state land to the country's municipalities.
The Building Permit Investigation, in the report A New Regulatory Framework for Building Permits (SOU 2021:47), has submitted proposals aimed at creating a simpler, more efficient, and more purposeful regulatory framework for building permits etc., which simultaneously ensures pressing public and private interests and a long-term sustainable construction of, among other things, housing.
As Alireza Akhondi notes, the investigation does not make any specific proposals or make any specific considerations regarding specifically the glazing of balconies, but the proposals in the report may nevertheless include the glazing of balconies. The changes that are proposed would collectively mean that fewer measures require a building permit and provide increased freedom for the property owner to choose in what way, for example, an extension shall be carried out.
The report has been referred, and the government is now considering the proposals based on the views submitted by the referral bodies. The government's intention is that a bill shall be submitted to the Riksdag during 2025.
Alireza Akhondi (C)
Madam Speaker! Since I received some side-glances regarding the title of the interpellation in the Altinget yesterday, I intend to start by stating that I love balconies.
Jokes aside - I believe this is a everyday issue that affects more people than one might think. This with balconies is actually underestimated, especially in large cities. I believe that quite a few people would like to be able to extend the summer and enjoy a dinner with those they care about and so on.
From the Minister's answer, I can state that the Minister is once again dodging when it comes to providing a timeframe for handling the issue. I see that the Minister refers to a bill that is intended to be presented during 2025. I will start by asking a concrete question: When during 2025? Are we talking about the spring or autumn term? I would actually like to have that clarified.
Furthermore, the Minister argues that my question regarding the roof deduction should be addressed to the Minister for Finance. However, I believe that a government makes decisions collectively and that the Minister can actually pursue this issue. It is not a very difficult question to pursue and gain support for. It does not cost more money in the state budget; rather, this is a question of a technical nature.
We look forward to receiving the entire Building Permit Investigation. These are issues that I believe will be able to have a good effect for increased housing construction. At the same time, we can observe that the entire financing issue, which in many ways is what determines whether a housing project happens or not, is not addressed anywhere, neither in the budget nor in the investigations that the government says it is carrying out – other than in the investigation that concerns the tightened amortization requirement. I can concede that one looks at just that small part. Otherwise, the financing issues seem to be completely absent from the agenda.
In conclusion, I would like to highlight the crisis in the housing sector. We have discussed these issues a number of times, and I have all respect for the work the Minister is doing in the Government Offices. But my frustration is not lessened. It feels as though we colleagues in the Committee on Civil Affairs are quite often shouting. The Minister is here quite often to answer questions, but every time one can observe that the question regarding the timeline is left unanswered. I would like to take the opportunity to ask once more: When does one believe we will see these propositions on the floor of the Riksdag?
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I thank you for the commitment to this issue. The heading is: Glazing of balconies. But this encompasses a broader perspective than that, even though I agree with the member that one should not underestimate people's desire to have a balcony. Complicated regulations hinder the housing market. The Government therefore wants to carry out extensive regulatory simplifications. The requirements for building permits should be able to be reduced, and in a broader perspective, permit processes need to be shortened and become more efficient and more predictable.
Regarding the report, it has been referred. It is currently being prepared within the Government Offices. I hear, understand, and have great respect for the fact that the member wants a more specific timetable for when the bill is expected to be submitted to the Riksdag. I do not have any more specific information to give today other than that we intend to submit it during 2025.
It is a comprehensive report. It requires many considerations. After the commission submitted its report, the Riksdag has announced to the government that the government should not proceed with certain of the commission's proposals, including those concerning the building permit requirement for building permit-exempt supplementary housing.
A memorandum with supplementary preparatory documents, in which it is proposed that the requirement for notification for, among other things, supplementary housing shall be removed, has been prepared and referred. It has been a process. It is of course important that this proceeds as quickly as possible, but also that it becomes a good basis from which the Riksdag can eventually make a decision. The Government intends to submit the bill to the Riksdag in 2025.
The building permit investigation makes no proposals and also makes no specific considerations regarding the specified measure: glazing of balconies. But as I said, there are proposals that may cover such a measure in terms of requirements for building permits and in terms of the possibility of deviation from a detailed plan provision. Among other things, it is proposed that the requirement for a building permit for facade changes should be limited. It is also proposed that larger extensions should be allowed to be carried out without a requirement for a building permit. Such extensions are proposed, unlike today, also in some cases to be constructed on multi-family houses.
The proposals mean that, taken together, a smaller number of measures will be covered by requirements for building permits. They also provide increased freedom for property owners to choose in what way, for example, an extension should be carried out.
When it comes to the meaning of the proposals for specific measures - glazing of a balcony, glazing of a veranda, an extension in the form of a sunroom and so on - guidance may need to be provided by Boverket to make it easier for individual property owners to understand.
Madam Speaker! I look forward to returning to this. I can also comment on what the member is asking regarding the financing problems. This is the large part in the matter of the dramatic decline in housing construction. It is about the uncertainty that exists and about the increased production and financing costs as a result of inflation. Therefore, it is still the cornerstone in getting a better functioning housing market to bring down inflation and keep it at a low level. It will mean that interest rates can be lowered. We see signs of improvement now. Hopefully, it will hold, but we cannot shout: The danger is over. But then the work shifts to more cyclical measures so that better functioning can be achieved in construction.
The macroprudential measures, which the member mentions, with amortization requirements and also mortgage caps, are such things that the government has already commissioned an inquiry into. The government looks forward to receiving this later and thus being able to act.
Alireza Akhondi (C)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! I have three things that I would like to raise.
The first thing is that I want to give the Minister a clear example of what the oddities regarding the glazing of balconies can lead to. We have two exactly identical apartments in Nacka. One neighbor is given the opportunity to glaze in. The other neighbor is not, because the regulations have been interpreted by Nacka Municipality in such a way that one looks at the property's total, so to speak, claim on the detailed development plan. This means that two neighbors in the same property can receive two different decisions when it comes to glazing. It cannot be reasonable on any level.
One can also observe that the application of the regulatory framework differs between different municipalities. Stockholm Municipality makes its assessment. Nacka Municipality makes a different assessment. Danderyd Municipality may make a third assessment. We cannot have legislation that becomes subject to different types of assessments in this way.
The second point concerns the cost aspect. Even if we reduce the red tape surrounding certain matters, there is a cost aspect that drives this and which increases or decreases the incentives to take these types of measures.
I myself recently noticed that the cost for a building notification and the cost for a building permit do not differ in Danderyd Municipality. Okay, one avoids applying for a building permit, but the cost is exactly the same. And according to the case officer, there was no time difference, to be honest.
The cost aspect regarding the things we do must also be guiding, so that one moves away from the situation where very many actors want to take a piece of the cake. If we are to get more housing, the cost mass must be reduced in every way possible.
Madam Speaker! The third point concerns the tax deduction, which I mentioned. I would still like to appeal to Andreas Carlson to speak with Elisabeth Svantesson. I understand and know from experience that finance ministers are stingy, and so they should be. But this does not cost more money; rather, it concerns a technicality that should be able to be addressed quite quickly. I would like to hear if the Minister accepts the humble appeal that he should speak with his colleague in the government.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I already spoke earlier about complicated regulations that cause problems. There are, as in the case the member highlighted, examples of differences in terms of application. In a way, it is nothing new. Despite the fact that there is a prohibition against special requirements according to law, there are what one could call different special requirements in different municipalities.
One must have respect for the municipal planning monopoly, but I also believe it is important that it is transparent, that there is equal treatment, and that different municipalities can have roughly the same application. That was why I said what I said regarding the meaning of the proposals for specific measures – we are talking here about balconies but also about verandas and extensions. I see that a guideline may need to be developed by Boverket to make it easier for individual property owners to understand this. It should, of course, also be a support to the municipalities in this regard.
I thank the member for the clear example they raised here in the debate. I see no reason to comment on it in detail, but I thank them for it.
The cost aspect is, of course, always an important aspect to include. It is important to facilitate, to simplify rules, and to see how one can achieve a better and simpler procedure for the individual. This also means, of course, that one includes the cost component.
I always welcome a humble plea. No one can be against such a thing; I thank you for this.
I speak quite often with the Minister for Finance. Exactly what we talk about, perhaps we should not go into all the details here, but we have a good and close cooperation. We are a coalition government. We also have, as I have told in the Riksdag previously, a group of secretaries of state with different secretaries of state for different ministers, and I also, of course, meet my ministerial colleagues. Housing policy does not only exist within the housing minister's area of responsibility but also within other ministers' areas of preparation, which gives even greater reason to have good cooperation and a good collaborative climate so that one has a common situational awareness, not least in the tough situation that currently prevails on the housing market.
I receive the message. I make no promises regarding what I raise with different ministers; that is not how I usually work here in the chamber. But I appreciate the input and the tone.
Alireza Akhondi (C)
Madam Speaker! Warm thanks, Andreas Carlson! I do not think either that one will get further by using insults or pointing fingers. I believe there are quite a few issues that could be resolved with humility from both parties, not primarily for the benefit of those of us standing here and debating, but for the people who are actually sitting and wondering whether they should take a certain action on their property and wondering what it costs, how long it takes, and so on.
I also believe in many small streams, Andreas Carlson. Just as we noted in our previous debate, certain things are time-consuming. We have a constitutional order where one can question whether Axel Oxenstierna's designs from the 1600s are adequate for today's Sweden. That can be a separate discussion and debate.
It is as it is now. But I hope, and I hear, that the minister is willing to take on both slightly larger and smaller issues and do his best to ensure that we resolve these societal issues, however small they may seem.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Member Alireza Akhondi for this debate, for the contribution and for the humble approach that the Member expresses but also the concrete. It is not defensive just because one has a good tone in a debate. On the contrary, it is constructive and something that is understood to be worthy of reflection for everyone who engages in politics and also in other contexts.
Let us continue to keep the dialogue alive regarding Axel Oxenstierna, administrative models and other matters. It is certainly possible to speed up in several parts. Achieving more efficient processes is something we are working on now, and what we have discussed today, Madam Speaker, regarding building permits and simplifications is something I look forward to returning to. A good dialogue is something I appreciate.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.