Having a roof over your head is one of the most important things in Norway. Before you come to Norway to study, research, find a job or for whatever reason, you will buy a house or secure an apartment.
Anyone who has lived abroad will tell you that the safest place people retreat to after long days of hustle and bustle is home. So you will never make a mistake if you refrain from buying an apartment or a house from which you can draw peace and satisfaction every evening.
Norway is not an ordinary place where you can imagine being homeless and survive. The weather there is cool, and no one leaves their heated rooms unless absolutely necessary. So imagine what life can be like for a homeless person.
If you are an employee moving to Norway and have a contract in your pocket, employers in Norway will offer accommodation as part of the information package. No one wants to downplay the need for a proper house in Norway, because without one, life is simply unbearable. A beautiful neighborhood with classic houses to buy
If you are planning to move to Norway with no housing planned and just want to kill time by running endless errands at night, this is very unfortunate for you. Norway is not a country you want to be out in if nothing important is keeping you there.
Most people will tell you that they rarely spend time outdoors unless they are wearing very heavy clothing for a short period of time. Otherwise, people just drive up in their air-conditioned cars, get out and go indoors or into their homes.
Tactics for getting an apartment in Norway
Now that you know how important a house is in Norway, you should think about how to find a suitable house for yourself. The good news is that you won't be the first expatriate in Norway, and the Norwegian housing sector is always forward-thinking, offering a variety of housing options to suit the specific needs of newcomers and their financial situation.
Housing associations
You always have the option to contact a housing company and arrange with them in time for you to move in. As mentioned above, there may be some inconvenience if you did not have prior planning or reservation of accommodation.
If you have failed to plan ahead, you will be forced to look elsewhere for temporary accommodation while the housing association tries to find one that meets your requirements.
In Norway, there are various housing associations with lucrative offers for new tenants. The best way to do this is to contact a real estate agent (eiendomsmegler).
Housing websites
The Norwegian housing industry has also harnessed the power of the Internet to connect new home seekers with available homes. Therefore, you can be proactive enough to always look for ads on the Internet.
On the Internet you can find all kinds of real estate for rent and for sale. There are also ads in newspapers, but they can be a repeat of what is already in the newspapers, as some of these ads are accessed via crowdsourcing.
To make your housing search in Norway as easy as possible, we recommend that Finn.NO TO VISIT. Finn.no is a popular channel for buyers and sellers of real estate to meet in Norway. On this channel you are likely to find a property that meets or exceeds your expectations. Also on Finn.no and Hybel.no are rent offers to be found.
Communal living
Another option for you is to apply for a municipal property rental clause. Even if it doesn't have to come to the point where you can't get housing any other way, you can rent a municipal property in the worst case scenario.
If you are a student moving to Norway, it is advisable that you proactively contact the student organization (studentsamskipnaden) at the institution where you are admitted. The student organization will make arrangements for student housing.
Types of property for sale or rent in Norway
The range of housing in Norway is so varied that it meets the different needs of potential customers. So before you decide on a particular form of living, you should be aware of the associated costs. In fact, your ability to pay rent and other utilities should be an important consideration so that you do not end up accepting an offer that will be very costly.
- own assets
- Rental object
- Rented apartment in a house owned by a housing association
Owner-occupied property in Norway
The world has become a global village, which means that anyone with the right documents can buy residential property in Norway. Nordic citizens or people from the European Economic Area (EEA) can easily buy real estate in Norway due to the strong ties in the region.
Buying your own property in Norway is a good way to avoid monthly rent payments, but it also involves some costs. You must regularly pay the municipal fees for water and sewage, garbage collection and chimney sweeps. These costs can vary depending on the location of your home in Norway and municipal requirements.
Cost of rent in Norway
Housing is relatively expensive in Norway, so you need to be very careful to only choose an option that is within your financial means. In big cities like Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim and Bergen the costs are even higher.
If you have a private car, you should choose accommodation outside the big cities, even if you work there. It would be cheaper and more convenient to drive to your workplace than to rent in big cities.
In Norway, a single room costs 3000 NOK per month in most cities. The cost of a residential home ranges from 4500 to 6500 NOK. Costs increase depending on the location, size and amenities of the house.
Some apartment complexes in Norway include the cost of utilities, but most have separate bills for water, electricity, and heat.
Buying a home in Norway
As much as most, if not all, want to own a home in Norway, the financial requirements to achieve this goal can be daunting.
To fully finance a housing development in Norway will cost you several dollars. Due to the high financial implications, it would be appropriate for you to be aware of possible options for paying for your home.
We recommend that you take out a mortgage or other loan to buy a home rather than relying solely on your savings.
In order to buy a home in Norway, you must provide the housing association with a loan confirmation issued by the bank. The bank's mortgage commitment is a good option because it spreads the cost over a long period of time, sometimes as long as 20-30 years. A rented apartment with sufficient parking space
If you work in Norway and have a bank account, you should contact your bank for advice on how much credit they can give you. They will always be kind enough to give you insightful information about mortgages and home financing.
Banks usually decide whether you qualify for a mortgage after a thorough tax assessment and a thorough review of your pay stubs.
Normally, banks require you to pay part of the costs from your own capital before they can accept a loan commitment. You will be asked to pay up to 15% of the cost from your own savings.
Renting a house in Norway
While everyone wants their own home where they don't have to deal with rental costs every month, that's just not possible. Thus, many people in Norway still rely on renting properties in different cities and suburbs of the country.
Renting is probably the most common form of housing in Norway. Today in Norway, you have access to various rental options, including renting a house, apartment or studio/room from another private individual.
In populous cities with extreme housing demand, such as Oslo, the sublease (framleiekontrakt) is a common practice. In subletting, someone who has rented a larger apartment lets you use part of the apartment for a fee. So you pay to the other main owner of the house. Although it is illegal for another tenant to sublet a home without the owner's full permission, this occurs throughout Norway.
To rent in Norway, the homeowner or housing association usually requires you to pay a security deposit in addition to the first month's rent. However, the specific requirements may differ from one landlord to another. As a tenant, you are required to pay the rent and utilities on time, while the owner must ensure that the house remains fully habitable and can be heated, and that all other requirements are met.
To cement your relationship with the homeowner, you must insist on a rental agreement. It is the rental agreement that will get you ahead in the event of disagreements during the term of a rental agreement.
Committed to ensuring the best human welfare for all, Norway sometimes provides housing subsidies for people whose incomes are low and who cannot afford the rental costs. However, you must express the need to be eligible for housing assistance.
Rules for renting in Norway
Like any form of contract or agreement, renting in Norway is not an open-ended affair. Certain conditions must be met in order to rent the property. You need to know about your obligations and rights as a tenant in Norwegian tenancy law.