The Swedish mortgage instrument — a registered lien on a property that enables the owner to use the property as security for a loan. New pantbrev cost 2% stamp duty of the face value. Existing ones on the property can be reused.
A pantbrev (literally "pledge letter") is a registered mortgage document tied to a specific property in Sweden. It represents a fixed sum for which the property can stand as security. When a Swedish homeowner takes out a mortgage, the bank holds the pantbrev as security for the loan. Pantbrev are registered with Lantmateriet in the fastighetsregistret alongside the lagfart (ownership registration).
Pantbrev can be physical (paper pantbrev) or electronic (datapantbrev). Since 2008, new pantbrev are always issued as datapantbrev, stored electronically in Lantmateriet systems. When you obtain a mortgage, your bank applies for a datapantbrev in the required amount. Stamp duty (stampelskatt) of 2% of the pantbrev face value is payable at the time of registration.
An important feature of pantbrev is that they remain attached to the property, not to the loan. If a property already has existing pantbrev registered, the new buyer can often reuse these as mortgage security without paying new stamp duty — provided the existing pantbrev sum is sufficient for the new loan. Buyers should ask for a list of registered pantbrev as part of purchase due diligence.
If you need a pantbrev larger than what is already registered, you can apply for a supplementary pantbrev for the additional amount — paying 2% stamp duty only on the new amount. Swedish banks typically require pantbrev equivalent to 85% of the purchase price as security, with the buyer contributing a minimum 15% deposit.
When a Swedish mortgage is repaid and the bank releases the pantbrev, you can either cancel it (dodning) or retain it for future use. Retaining the pantbrev avoids paying new stamp duty if you refinance or take a new loan against the same property later.
A pantbrev is the registered security instrument — a fixed lien on the property in a specific amount. The mortgage (bolan) is the loan agreement between you and the bank. The bank holds the pantbrev as collateral for the loan.
Yes. Existing pantbrev registered on a property can be reused by the new owner's bank, avoiding the 2% stamp duty on new registration. The pantbrev stays with the property, not the seller.
Your bank applies for the pantbrev on your behalf through Lantmateriet's e-pantbrev system using their BankID credentials. You authorise the bank to act as pledgeholder. Lantmateriet registers the pantbrev and notifies the bank electronically.
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