Most properties in Norway are posted on Finn.no, a website for all items being sold or rented in Norway. To find properties on Finn, you can select Eiendom > Bolig til Leie or Bolig til Salgs> pick the city you wish to look at. It is possible to find properties that are rented out fully furnished including tv, internet, utilities. Often, paying for electricity comes in addition to your rental payments.

The Norwegian Consumer Council’s Standard Rental Agreement: https://www.forbrukerradet.no/kontrakter/hus/contract-for-rental-of-accommodation-tenancy-agreement/. The rental agreement is quite minimal. We recommend asking for a written list of items included in the rental before signing the contract.

Utilities

Electricity
If electrical utilities are not part of your rental contract, you will have to choose a company yourself. Electricity prices through different companies can be found on https://www.strompris.no/. To find out which companies are most used in Norway you can look at https://www.bi.no/forskning/norsk-kundebarometer/bransjeresultater-2021/. If you want to track your electrical usage, Tibber is a popular app for tracking consumption.

Internet & TV
Internet providers are sometimes slow to complete the installation process, so get started straight after moving in if you want this to be in order quickly. Major internet providers can be found on https://forbrukernet.com/bredband/internettleverandorer/. To find out which companies are most used in Norway you can look at https://www.bi.no/forskning/norsk-kundebarometer/bransjeresultater-2021/.

Starting in 2020, everyone pays their Norwegian TV license through their taxes. Whether or not one pays for the TV license is not dependent on use but is based on income.

Water, Sewer & Rubbish Collection
Many rental properties will include water, sewer and rubbish collection fees in the rental price. This is called Kommunale Avgifter or Kommunale Gebyr, municipal utility fees. Residents in a municipality are billed twice a year for utility fees including rubbish collection, water use, sewer use, chimney sweeping and property taxes. All homes should have a vannmåler that registers how much water is used, the information from this device is used in calculating water utility bills.

Remodelling/Fixing a Home

If you want to make physical changes to your property, remodel or fix something, you should first contact your landlord. Norwegian laws state that many electrical and plumbing changes must be completed by a licensed electrician or plumber. Here is a list of electrical work you are allowed to perform yourself https://www.sikkerhverdag.no/en/electricity/do-it-yourself-diy/electrical-work-what-you-can-do-yourself/. One of Norway’s plumbing companies has written a blog post (it may require Google Translate) about things one can do oneself https://blogg.vb.no/privat/pusse-opp-badet-hva-kan-jeg-gjore-selv, however, a landlord may still want a licensed plumber to do this work.

For more information see:

• General renters info: http://www.nyinorge.no/en/Ny-i-Norge-velg-sprak/New-in-Norway/Residence/Housing/Renting-a-home/

• Types of properties: https://relocation.no/expat-communities/national-information/housing/

• Renting information: https://relocation.no/expat-communities/national-information/housing/renting/

• Buying information: https://relocation.no/expat-communities/national-information/housing/buying/

• Fire regulations: http://www.nyinorge.no/en/Ny-i-Norge-velg-sprak/New-in-Norway/Residence/Housing/Fire-regulations/