Tenant in Malmö paid 25,000 SEK for not cleaning the Fridge properly!
Malmö, Sweden — A forgotten fridge maintenance task turned into an expensive lesson for a tenant in Malmö, who ended up with a 25,000 kronor bill after water damage in his apartment led to a legal dispute with his landlord.
The issue began in the summer of 2022, when the tenant noticed water leaking from his refrigerator and reported it to his landlord, the municipal housing company MKB. Upon inspection, the landlord found that the fridge’s drain hole — a small opening meant to carry away condensation — was clogged with dirt. Additionally, the refrigerator was reportedly overfilled.
The tenant was instructed to clean the drain hole and better maintain the fridge. He agreed and assured improvements would be made. However, the problem persisted for over a year.
By the time of a follow-up inspection a year and a half later, the damage had worsened. Moisture had seeped into the parquet flooring beneath the refrigerator, and damage was also found on the kitchen doors. MKB determined the damage was so severe that the entire floor and affected cabinetry had to be replaced. The total cost? A staggering 36,000 kronor — a bill they expected the tenant to cover.
But the tenant didn’t agree with the blame — nor did his legal representative. According to the defense, the fridge had a broken sealing strip and lacked floor protection, factors that may have contributed to the damage. The tenant maintained he had followed all instructions provided by MKB after his initial report.
“The landlord could have handled and followed up on this more clearly from the beginning, especially since it was the tenant himself who first reported the issue,” said a representative from the Tenants’ Association. “It would have been in everyone’s interest to prevent any water damage.”
The dispute was set to go before the district court, but both parties reached a settlement before a hearing could take place. Under the agreement, the tenant will pay 25,000 kronor — less than the original claim but still a significant expense.
“In general, it’s incredibly stressful for a tenant to be involved in a legal dispute. That’s why we’re relieved to have reached an agreement,” the representative added.
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