Renting
So you've deicided to rent? What's next?
Step 1
We recommend that you start your search at least 2-3 months before the start date of your rental. Our rental checklist can help check off what you may want or need when you start with your search.
You may have to rent a month earlier than your intended arrival to get the right accommodation, or you may have to stay in a different accommodation for a month or so before your selected accommodation is available.
Additionally, when moving to a new country, there is much to learn and find out about the area and amenities; people often learn what they need and want after they have lived in a new town for a few months.
Step 2
Check out Finn.no and other useful online property listings sites on our website where you can find properties listed for rent and for sale, and save your searches.
Things to note
- Properties and descriptions on Finn.no and other online sites are in Norwegian. Online translation tools are useful but can sometimes give interesting translations that do not make sense.
- In Norway the “living room” is considered a room, so a 2-room apartment does not have 2 bedrooms, but 1 bedroom and 1 living room. If the description says “2 soverom”, then there are actually 2 bedrooms.
Step 3
Once you’ve found a property that you are interested in, you may contact the landlord. When getting in touch with an owner of a house or an apartment, it is important to explain in the first instance, why you are looking to rent. This helps owners to sift out serious enquiries from the insincere ones and increases your chance of getting a response.
We would recommend something along the lines of (replace the parts in italics to suit your situation):
“Hi. My name is John and I’ve recently been offered a job at Perfect Company AS in Arendal. I plan to move from Germany with my wife and three children in March and I’m looking to rent a …”
You may also forward the property to us if you would like us to follow-up with the landlord on an issue. We can help you to determine if the selected property is a good fit for you, in terms of proximity to your work place, city centre, public transport or other preferred amenities.
Step 4
It is important that you get answers to any questions that you may have from the landlord before signing a tenancy agreement to avoid any unnecessary disappointments later. You may request for a tenancy agreement that is written in English.
Tenancy Act
Let’s not forget that as a tenant, you have obligations and rights.
The Tenancy Act stipulates what rights that you as a tenant is entitled to.
Some note-worthy stipulations:
- The tenant is not obliged to pay rent for more than one month in advance.
- The rent must be a fixed amount, unless otherwise agreed to by both the tenant and the landlord in the tenancy agreement. Both parties can agree, for example, that electricity, heating, water andor sewage charges will be paid separately on the basis of consumption in addition to the agreed upon rent. Other additions are not permitted.
- The tenant has a right to let his/her immediate family move into the dwelling.
- The landlord cannot enter the dwelling without the tenant's consent.
- Run-down properties can be rented out but they must be approved for human habitation and cannot be considered a health hazard.
- the landlord is obliged to repair any defects to ensure that the condition of the dwelling is in accordance with the tenancy agreement. This does not, however, include defects that the tenant knew about before signing the tenancy agreement.
- The tenant can demand a reduction in rent or withhold the rent if the landlord refuses to repair the defects. It is also within the tenant's rights to terminate the tenancy agreement if the defects are substantial.
- The period of notice of termination is effective from the first day of the next calendar month.
Quick tips
Renting a house or an apartment in Norway?
A checklist can help with your wants and needs.
Last modified 27 September 2023
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