# HSB Housing Queue How It Works – Guide to Queue Time and Chances

*Gunvor Nilsson*
*6 september 2026*

> Understand how the HSB housing queue works in Sweden – from queue time and points system to tips for improving your chances of getting an apartment.

Searching for housing through HSB's housing queue is a common way for many people to find a home in Sweden, especially in major cities where demand is high. The question 'HSB bostadskö hur fungerar den' arises frequently when individuals consider applying for an apartment through this cooperative housing organization. Unlike municipal housing queues, HSB's system operates on a points-based queue time system where your queue time accumulates the longer you are a member and active in the queue. This means that the longer you have been in the queue, the higher your points and thus your chances of being offered an apartment when one becomes available. It is important to understand that HSB is not a traditional landlord but a member organization that owns and manages housing through its local associations. When you apply via HSB, you are applying to become a member of a specific housing association, and it is that association that ultimately decides who gets the apartment based on queue time, need, and sometimes even engagement in the association. To get started, you must first become a member of HSB Riksförbund and then place yourself in the queue at the local HSB association where you wish to live. Membership involves an annual fee, and it is only after you have paid this fee that your queue time begins to accrue. Many people mistakenly believe they can queue without being a member, but this is not the case – membership and queuing are two interconnected processes. One of the most common questions regarding 'HSB bostadskö hur fungerar den' concerns how queue time is calculated and what affects your position in the queue. Your queue time begins to count from the date you become a paying member of HSB and join the queue of a specific association. It is crucial to note that queue time is association-specific – if you wish to queue in multiple different HSB associations, you must join the queue separately in each association, and your queue time does not automatically transfer between them. This differs from some municipal queues where you may sometimes have a shared queue time across the entire municipality. HSB's points system is designed to reward long-term engagement, and in addition to basic queue time, some associations may award extra points for things like active participation in association meetings, involvement in board work, or other voluntary efforts. However, these extra points vary between associations and are not standardized across HSB Riksförbund, so it is important to contact the local association for exact information on their rules. Another key aspect is the difference between HSB and municipal housing queues. Municipal queues are managed by the municipality's housing allocation office and are often open to anyone who meets basic requirements such as being registered in the municipality and having a certain income or need. HSB, on the other hand, is a membership organization where you must be a member to queue, and the selection process may place greater emphasis on member engagement and long-term commitment to the association. This means that even if you have a long queue time in a municipal queue, you cannot automatically transfer it to HSB, and vice versa. For those wishing to improve their chances of obtaining an apartment through HSB, there are several practical tips to consider. First, it is important to be an active member – participate in association meetings, engage in working groups, or take on positions of trust if possible. This can not only increase your chances through potential extra points but also demonstrate to the association that you are a responsible and engaged member who will take care of the apartment and contribute to the community. Second, ensure that your membership fee is always paid on time, as a lapse in payment may result in your queue time being paused or even reset, depending on the association's rules. Third, it can be strategic to join the queue in multiple different HSB associations within a geographical area where you are willing to live, although this means you must keep