When the contractor has not finished on time
När hantverkaren inte är klar i tid - Engelska
Does the contractor's work take more time than can be considered reasonable? Or has the contractor not completed the work within the agreed time? Read about your rights when the contractor has not finished on time.
Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.
When is the work considered delayed?
According to the Consumer Services Act, the work is considered delayed if:
the service has not been completed within the time that was promised or the time you agreed on
there is no promised time for when the service shall be completed, but the service has not been completed within a reasonable time, taking into account the scope and nature of the service.
How to complain about the delay
The information is based on your rights under the Consumer Services Act.
In the event of a delay, you can primarily require the contractor to complete the work.
In some situations, you may also have the right to terminate the contract. This requires that the work is not completed within the agreed time or within a reasonable time, and that the delay is of significant importance to you. For example, if the delay has a major impact on your daily life and means that you cannot use your home as intended. You need to be able to show or explain why the delay is of significant importance to you.
Sometimes only part of the contract is terminated
In some situations, only part of the contract is terminated. For example, if you benefit from work that has already been carried out. In such cases, you may need to pay for the part of the work that has been completed.
When the contractor is not required to complete the work
There are exceptions where you cannot require the company to complete the work. This applies, for example, when obstacles beyond the company’s control make it impossible for the company to carry out the work.
The contractor shall cover any costs you incur because the work is delayed.
Examples of costs include:
- loss of income if you need to stay at home from work in order to receive the contractor
- payments to other companies that are forced to wait with their work because the work is delayed (this may be relevant in larger projects where several companies are involved)
You can claim compensation for the actual costs, not for the inconvenience or the time you spend. You need to be able to show documentation, such as receipts and invoices. The costs must be reasonable and directly linked to the delay.
You have the right to withhold as much of the payment for the work as corresponds to your claim for compensation.
A pre-agreed delay fee
A pre-agreed delay fee means that the contractor must pay a certain amount in compensation if the work is delayed. It is not something you are entitled to according to law. In order for you to claim a delay fee, you and the contractor must have agreed on it, for example in your written contract.
When the contractor has not started or completed the work within the correct time, you have the right to withhold payment as security. This acts as a way to apply pressure on the contractor and provides protection for you.
You may also have the right to withhold payment for costs you have incurred because of the delay.
The amount of payment you can withhold
Sometimes it is difficult to know how much you should withhold. The basic rule is that you should withhold as much of the payment as corresponds to your claim.
When the contractor has not started or completed the work
If the work is not finished, you can withhold payment that corresponds to the work that remains to be done. In principle, this means that you may withhold an amount large enough to cover the cost of hiring another contractor to complete the work.
You do not need to know the exact amount and may include a certain margin. This ensures that you will not need to pay anything extra if the contractor does not complete the work and you need to hire someone else. In some cases, it may also help to contact other contractors to obtain a price estimate for completing the work.
When you have a claim for compensation
If you have incurred costs because of the delay, you have the right to withhold as much of the payment as corresponds to your claim for compensation.
You have the right to cancel the work as long as it has not been completed. This can be an option if the delay is not of significant importance but you still want to withdraw from the contract.
When you cancel the work, you must pay for the work that has already been carried out and for work that must be carried out even though you have cancelled. The contractor may also have the right to compensation for lost profit (because the contractor has not been able to take on other jobs).
Even if the contractor has set a cancellation fee in advance, it must not be higher than what is reasonable.
Contact the contractor in writing, for example by email or text message. This allows you to show what you have communicated and when.
Require that the work is completed
Include the date by which the work should have been completed (if this is not already shown in a written quote or similar document). Also explain why it is important that the work is completed as soon as possible. You may also ask for a date by which the work will be completed at the latest.
If you choose to make a phone call, you can summarise what you discussed and send the summary in an email to the contractor after the conversation. This gives you documentation that shows what you have agreed on. You may also record the call. This is permitted as long as you take part in the conversation.
If you want to request termination
Inform the contractor if you want to terminate the contract. You can only request termination if the delay is of significant importance to you.
If you want to request compensation
Write which costs you want the contractor to compensate and why. You need to be able to support the costs with documentation.
Always inform the contractor if you withhold payment
Inform the contractor that you are withholding payment, how much, and why. If you have received an invoice, you need to dispute it. This means that you explain that you will not pay and why. Be clear that this is because the work has not been completed within the correct time and that this is the reason you are withholding payment.
If you have already paid
If the entire contract or parts of it are terminated, you may demand repayment of what you have paid.
If the problem is not resolved
If the contractor does not complete the work despite your demands, you may inform the contractor that you instead want to terminate the contract. If you cannot reach an agreement, you can dispute the invoice or proceed to have the matter assessed.
- If the contractor does not agree that you have the right to terminate all or parts of the contract, you can turn to the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN) or a court to have the matter assessed.
- If the contractor refuses to give you compensation, you can turn to ARN or a court to have the matter assessed.
- If you cancel the work and you believe that the contractor is demanding too much payment, you may dispute the claim or pay under protest. To have your case assessed, you can turn to ARN.
- If you receive an invoice that you consider wholly or partly incorrect, it is important that you object to it in writing. You may also choose to pay under protest. To have your case assessed, you can turn to ARN.
If you want to dispute an invoice or pay under protest
When you dispute an invoice, you inform the company that you are objecting to the invoice and therefore will not pay. Explain why you consider the invoice to be incorrect.
When you pay under protest, you pay the invoice but at the same time inform the company that you do not agree. This can be a good option if you feel uncertain about disputing the claim. However, you will then need to pursue the matter yourself in order to get your money back. You can, for example, have the matter assessed by ARN.
Do you need help figuring out your rights or want to discuss how to proceed with your case? Then you can contact your municipality's consumer guidance or the Swedish Consumer Agency.
Municipal consumer guidance
Many municipalities offer consumer guidance. You can turn to them for free information and support. The assistance offered varies from municipality to municipality.
Guidance from the Swedish Consumer Agency
The Swedish Consumer Agency provides free guidance. With us, you get information about your rights and the options you have to move forward. We cannot assess your individual case, resolve disputes, or contact companies on your behalf.
If you and the company cannot reach an agreement, you can file a complaint to the public authority The National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN).
ARN will assess your case and make a recommendation on how to resolve the dispute. Most companies follow ARN’s recommendations.
A normal processing time is approximately six months.
What does it cost to file a complaint with ARN?
It costs SEK 150 to file a complaint with ARN. When you submit your complaint, you can request that the company compensates you for the cost if ARN makes a recommendation in your favour.
Requirements for ARN to consider your case
- The company has either rejected your claims or has not responded within a reasonable time.
- The amount you and the company disagree on exceeds the value limit set by ARN. You cannot include the application fee to ARN.
- You file the complaint within one year from the first time you complained to the company.
Submit a complaint on ARN's website
If you need help with your complaint
Sometimes, the municipal consumer advisors can assist you in making a complaint to ARN.
Have you followed all the steps in this process? Do you still have a dispute with the company? Then you can take the dispute to court. Contact the district court (tingsrätten).
It costs money to submit an application to the court.
If you are unsure whether you should take the matter to court or need assistance with your case, you can seek help from a lawyer.
Before you hire legal assistance, you can contact your insurance company. Many home insurance policies include legal protection. It can cover certain costs related to legal proceedings.
How much does it cost?
A dispute about a claim under SEK 29,600 (half a price base amount in 2026), is known as a simplified litigation or small claim. The application fee is then SEK 900.
If the claim exceeds SEK 29,600, or if the dispute does not concern a specific amount, the application fee is SEK 2,800.
If you lose the case, you may be required to pay both your and the company's legal costs. However, in small claims, the costs you may have to pay are limited.
How a lawsuit is handled in the district court on the website of the Swedish Courts
Granskad: 18 november 2025