Frequently asked questions

How will I find housing?

The easiest and best places to start looking are websites like hybel.no, finn.no, ibolig.no and zett.no. Some landlords, especially the elderly, announce in the "rentals" section in the city newspapers Bergens Tidende and Bergensavisen. If you cannot buy the paper-edition of the newspapers where you live, it is often possible to pay to download them in PDFs.

Some landlords prefer to choose who they get in contact with. Advertising under "housing wanted/ønskes leid" in the mentioned sites or newspapers may result in offers on apartments that you would not otherwise have found.

 

Where is the best place to live in Bergen? Are there any places I should avoid?

The answer really depends on where you are going to study, and how you would like to live. None of the areas we refer to on our website can be regarded as "bad" places to live. There are no ghetto areas in Bergen, but there are less bike thefts up in Fjellsiden than on Nygårdshøyden.

Many of the students in Bergen live in the city center, with a short distance to everything. Others prefer to live a little outside the city centre, near the nature and mountains. If you do not want to live in shared apartments, you should also be prepared to live a little outside the city center, or pay a solid rent.

We recommend having a look at our housing guide, where you get a brief intro to all the city districts, as well as where they are located compared to the various schools and faculties.

 

What should I look for at house viewings?

First and foremost it is important that you like the place. Being a student can be challenging, with balancing your studies, work, leisure and organization work. You need a place where you can enjoy sleeping, eating and relaxing.

Other and more specific issues:

- Are there escape routes? You don't want to live in the back of a shared apartment on the 4th floor if there are no back stairs or a fire ladder.

- Are the rooms large enough? A bedroom should be at least 15 cubic meters (6-7 square meters); otherwise the space will be tight and with bad air circulation. In some larger shared apartments, two bathrooms/toilets can also be a necessity.

- Check for moisture and mold on the window frames, around the shower, in the bathroom and the kitchen. Dents on the walls, or newly applied paint on floor/wall covering and black spots in the corners and along the lists, are not good. Many students take this lightly, but fungus can make you seriously ill on a long-term basis, so take a good look.

What is important in a tenancy contract?

The main points are:

- that you have a written contract, which you have read carefully. Check especially that the rent is specified and that it is clear if the electricity, cable TV, broadband etc. are included.
- that you have seen the apartment before signing the contract.
- that you have checked whether the contract is time limited or not. Time-limited contracts may be difficult if you later wish to move out before the contract time period has ended. Be sure to check the regulations about notice.

 

When is the normal time for ending the contract?

Standard time for ending a housing contract is three months, according to the Norwegian house rent law – but only if the parties have not agreed on something else. In time-limited contracts, the rent has to be paid until the contract period time has ended, and you can not end the contract earlier unless the contract contains a clause about notice. For this reason, be sure to read the contract carefully!

What is the difference between a prepayment and a deposit?

Prepayment means that you pay the rent one month in advance. If you pay one month in advance, you have to pay rent for two months when you move in, and then you don’t have to pay rent for the last month before you move out. According to the law, prepayment is only allowed for one month rent or less.

Deposit is an amount of money that the landlords often require as insurance for damages on the apartment, missing payment etc. According to the law, the money is to be kept in a separate deposit account during the whole rental period, and neither you nor the landlord can withdraw the money on your own. When the contract is ended you will get the whole amount in return, plus interest, unless the landlord can prove missing rent or damages on the apartment.

Creating these deposit accounts often cost a couple of hundred Norwegian kroner. According to the law, the landlord has to pay for this. Never ever transfer the deposit into the landlord’s private account. If you do so, you stand the risk of losing the money, for example if the landlord uses the deposit for other purposes before you move out.

The landlord doesn't want to pay for creating a deposit account. What can I do?

It is possible that the landlord refuses to pay for creating the deposit account. We still recommend you to create such an account, because then your money will be much safer.

What kind of expenses should I expect in addition to the rent?

The landlord can only charge extra for the electricity and only if this is agreed on in advance. Everything else; such as insurance, cable TV, broadband, etc., should be included in your rent. However, cable TV and broadband is often charged in addition to the rent. Be sure to ask about these expenses before you sign the contract.