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STUDYING IN NORWAY

Norway has a shortage of 15,000 student homes

Norwegian students are facing a significant housing shortage, with there being a shortfall of around 15,000 student accommodation places, the Norwegian Student Organisation has warned.

Published: 27 July 2023 16:17 CEST

Pictured is a block of student apartments in Oslo.

Norway is lacking around 15,000 student accommodation places, according to the NSO. Pictured is a block of student apartments in Oslo. Photo by Thomas Marthinsen on Unsplash

In order for the goal of one in five students living in student accommodation, around 15,000 homes are required, the Norwegian Student Organisation (NSO) has said.

“The student housing shortage robs 15,000 students of the chance of a safe and affordable home to live in,” Oline Sæther, leader of the NSO, said.

She has called on the government and local authorities to work together on providing more student accommodation places rather than bottlenecking students into an already tight rental market.

“We have to step harder on the gas. 85 percent of Norwegian students are forced out (financially) of an increasingly tough private rental market. We now expect the state, the municipality and the student associations to work together to get the shovels in the ground,” Sæther said.

She also called on the government to increase student support, as it wasn’t keeping up with rising rent prices.

A number of student housing providers have reported record-long queues this year. Providers have said rising rents and dwindling supply in the rental market were behind the increased queues.

Long queues have been reported in Oslo, Bergen Gjøvik and Ålesund. Providers in Trondheim and northern Norway have said they don’t envisage any major issues with students securing a place there.

READ MORE: The areas in Norway with record-long queues for student accommodation

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Home repairs in Norway: When are you legally required to call out a professional?

If you have friends or acquaintances in Norway who are homeowners, it probably won’t take long before you start hearing (horror) stories about the astronomical costs of hiring professionals to carry out any sort of repair work.

READ MORE: Why the cost of home renovations in Norway is rising

Replacing a fence on your family home property with a garden? Upwards of 200,000 kroner.

a Small bathroom upgrade? Around 300,000 kroner.

Replacing the wooden façade and isolation for a house? Up to 1,000,000 kroner.

All of the prices quoted above are real-life 2023 examples shared by a family living in a terraced house in the Laksevåg borough in Bergen, western Norway.

So, with the potential to save substantial sums by sidestepping high professional fees, is it any wonder that people in Norway are attracted to DIY repairs?

Key considerations before taking up a renovation by yourself

Yes, the prospect of overhauling your home without breaking the bank holds significant appeal in a country as expensive as Norway.

However, you must be aware of a wide range of regulations, safety considerations, and legal requirements before you start a renovation project.

The first reason why you should engage tradespeople in more ambitious fix-up projects is safety.

READ MORE: How does home buyer and seller insurance in Norway work?

A faulty bathroom or electrical installation can cause costly damages or even pose safety risks, such as leaks or fires.

Always remember that the stakes are also high when it comes to a home’s structural integrity, and that’s why complex projects should be left to professionals.

The second is compliance. Norwegian regulations mandate the construction and adaptation of certain rooms, such as bathrooms, which must adhere to strict standards (for example, they need special waterproof membranes).

You can find more information on the relevant building laws and regulations in Norway on the Building Authority’s (Direktoratet for byggkvalitet) webpage.

Last but not least, know that having work done on your property by yourself or an unlicensed worker can negatively affect the sale price of the home down the line – and even shield you from lawsuits.

There are multiple court cases each year where the buyers of a property sue the old owners over unqualified work that has been done on a property that wasn’t reported as such (in 2023, there was a case in Bergen where a homeowner made changes to a load-bearing wall by himself but claimed that professionals did the work… In the end, an inspection revealed that the job wasn’t done properly and negatively affected the house’s structural integrity; the old owner didn’t have documentation to prove that a licensed operator did the work, and he ended up being sued for millions of kroner).

That’s why most homeowners in Norway insist on having professional documentation of the work performed – the sales benefits are apparent, but it can also be very useful in the event of any unforeseen issues.

When to opt for professional services

From complicated plumbing installations and full-on construction to demanding electrical work, the stakes are high when it comes to home safety.

Therefore, it’s recommended to call upon the expertise of licensed tradespeople, particularly plumbers and electricians, when you need to opt for home maintenance and renovations that involve bathroom construction, electrical work, and construction that might affect the structural integrity of your home.

Bathrooms in particular can be quite tricky, as they need to have waterproof membranes and are often equipped with underfloor heating.

When it comes to electrical work, basic tasks like installing plug-in appliances and switching cover plates are permitted. Still, anything involving wiring, such as installing electric heaters or changing light fixtures, requires the expertise of a licensed electrician.

If you’re residing in cooperatively-owned apartment buildings (borettslag in Norwegian), the cooperative must approve any renovations or maintenance that may impact neighbouring units. This includes work affecting shared walls, floors, or ceilings.

READ MORE: The hidden extra costs when buying property in Norway

So, ultimately, while there may be some tasks homeowners can tackle themselves, such as minor electrical adjustments or cosmetic updates, complex projects involving construction, plumbing, or electrical systems require the expertise of trained professionals.

While expensive, their services will bring you peace of mind, and you won’t need to concern yourself with the “what ifs” associated with DIY solutions that might not stand the test of time – or professional scrutiny.

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