Housing Guide
Renting
Where to Find Rentals
- Finn.no – Norway's largest marketplace for rentals
- Hybel.no – Popular for smaller apartments and rooms
- Facebook Marketplace – Many private landlords advertise here
- University housing – If you are a student, check your university
Average Monthly Rent (SSB, 2025)
- Oslo: 15 260 kr for a 2-bedroom apartment
- Bergen: 11 870 kr for a 2-bedroom apartment
- Trondheim: 11 850 kr for a 2-bedroom apartment
- Stavanger: 11 400 kr for a 2-bedroom apartment
- Note: Prices vary greatly by neighbourhood
- Remember to budget for deposit and shared costs (fellesutgifter)
Rental Contract
- Always get a written contract
- Standard contract available at huseierne.no
- Minimum rental period is usually 1 year
Deposit (Depositum)
- Usually 3 months rent
- Must be kept in a separate deposit account
- Cannot be used by the landlord during the tenancy
Tenant Checklist (Flytteprotokoll)
When moving in, always:
- Document all existing damage with photos and timestamps
- Sign a move-in report (innflyttingsrapport) with your landlord
- Keep a copy of everything
- This protects you when you move out
Your Rights as a Tenant
- Landlord usually cannot enter before 1-weeks notice
- Rent can only be increased once per year
- You have the right to sublet (unless contract says otherwise)
- Contact Husleietvistutvalget if you have a dispute with your landlord
Buying
Requirements
- Minimum 10% equity (egenkapital) of the purchase price (reduced from 15% from 1 January 2025)
- Banks will lend a maximum of 5x your annual income
- You need BankID and personnummer
Average Detached House Prices (SSB, 2025)
- Oslo: 73,000 kr per square metre
- Bergen: 40,000 kr per square metre
- Trondheim: 41,000 kr per square metre
- Stavanger: 39,000 kr per square metre
The Buying Process
- Get pre-approval (finansieringsbevis) from your bank
- Find a property on Finn.no
- Attend viewings (visning)
- Submit a bid (bud) via the bidding system
- Sign the contract
- Move in on the agreed date
Seasonal Tips
- Winter is generally cheaper and less competitive
- Summer is nice for viewing, but is highly competitive
Costs When Buying
- Document tax (dokumentavgift): 2.5% of purchase price
- Legal fees: Usually included in estate agent fee
- Estate agent (eiendomsmegler): Paid by the seller