The Hultenheim-Wernstedtska foundation is to be subject to an investigation by the Stockholm county administrative board, to examine if the foundation’s by-laws have been broken.

“We are going to have a look at their assignment regulations,” said lawyer Jenny Stenhammar at the board to tenants association magazine Hem & Hyra.

The foundation was formed in the will of Anna Florence Emilia von Wernstedt in 1954. Von Wernstedt donated all her worldly goods to a foundation with the purpose of providing home and sustenance to “needy, educated, mature women”.

But a country administrative board inspection of housing foundations has revealed that the board for the Hultenheim-Wernstedtska foundation has removed the word “needy” from its by-laws in apparent direct contravention of von Wernstedt’s dying wish.

The magazine furthermore reveals that several of the foundations apartments have been let to a number of women with considerable incomes and wealth, including several Moderate Party politicians.

The county administrative board has the overall responsibility for foundations based in the capital and to see that regulations and by-laws are adhered to. If a foundation is found to be operating in contravention of its original purpose, there is scope to instruct changes and to impose fines.

The foundation’s board consists of representatives from the Assembly of Nobles (Riddarhuset), the Fredrika Bremer Foundation and Ersta Diakoni. The magazine reported that the apartments have in effect been divided between the three organizations.

The chairperson of the Hultenheim-Wernstedtska foundation board, Carl Henric Kuylenstierna, expressed surprise at the county board’s criticism.

“If these organizations take on that responsibility, it is quite reasonable to find candidates who belong to these organizations. I can’t think why people would otherwise get involved,” he said.