Rikshem is established in Östersund since February 1. The company now purchases another 1,698 apartments in 28 properties, a total of 124,000 sqm from Östersundshem.
 
Rikshem already has an office in town and will work with own management and social housing initiatives, just like in the other 20 or so towns the company is active in.
 
Included in the deal is that Rikshem will construct 300 apartments in Östersund. Beyond these apartments Rikshem and Östersundshem will through a jointly owned company build 300 more apartments together.
 
– Östersund has a positive development and I’m happy to be able to increase Rikshem’s portfolio in the town significantly. Rikshem’s mission is to be the national public housing company and we actively work with taking responsibility in the local community through social work and by construction to develop the local housing market. We will do this in Östersund as well. This way we contribute to developing the region’s competitiveness, says Jan-Erik Höjvall, CEO at Rikshem.
 
– We have researched in what way we can finance the doubled construction of apartments in Östersundshem. I think it is good that Rikshem shows that they believe in us and want to be a part of Östersund’s growth through this deal. Having multiple property owners constructing rental units in Östersund is a positive thing, says AnnSofie Andersson, Councilor (S) in Östersund municipality.
 
Final and formal decisions regarding the divestment will be made in Östersund’s city council on March 17th. It is estimated that Rikshem will take possession of the properties on July 1.
 
The company will then have accessed approximately 5,000 apartments in Northern Sweden in six months.