How do I apply for membership in a housing association and can I be denied?

After your bid is accepted, you apply for membership – the agent ("mäklare") usually helps. The board ("styrelsen") can only deny on objective grounds according to the Housing Cooperative Act ("bostadsrättslagen"), for example if you can't demonstrate you can pay the fee ("avgift"). They cannot deny on discriminatory grounds. If denied, you can appeal to the Rent Tribunal ("hyresnämnden") within one month. Denials are uncommon but can happen if your finances are weak. The purchase ("köp") usually has a clause handling this scenario.