Just a few years ago, finding a place to rent in Oslo wasn’t exactly easy, but it was possible. You could scroll through Finn.no, find a decent one- or two-bedroom flat, send a message, and maybe even get a reply. There were enough listings to choose from, and prices, while not low, were relatively stable. Fast forward to today, and everything has changed. Now, it feels like finding a flat to rent is a full-time job, or a competitive sport.

Many people complain that they send message after message through Finn.no, only for their inquiries to be completely ignored. Others attend flat viewings only to be told that the rent will be “auctioned” off, with the place going to the highest bidder. Some landlords even ask tenants to leave as soon as the legal minimum rental period is over, so they can bring in new renters and raise the price. A lot of flats are also in a very poor state, and are still rented out to high prices.

So what exactly happened? Why has renting in Oslo become so difficult, and why are prices soaring?

Here are five key reasons:

1. There Are Simply Fewer Apartments to Rent

Over the past five years, more than 10,000 rental units have disappeared from the Oslo market. It’s a 17% decrease. Most of these were sold.

One major reason is that owning multiple flats has become more expensive. In the early 2000s, it was relatively easy and cheap to buy a second or even third property. Investors would rent these out and use the rental income to pay off the mortgage. But with interest rates increasing sharply in recent years, the math no longer adds up. For many landlords, renting out a flat is no longer profitable, or even financially viable. So they sell and invest their money elsewhere.

Of course, it’s hard to feel too sorry for someone who owns multiple properties when you’re trying to survive on take-away knekkebrød in a shared studio. But this reality has led to many landlords either raising rents to cover costs or exiting the rental market entirely. Either way, renters are left to face higher prices and less availability.

2. Buying is more Expensive, so the Pressure on the rental market is huge

Norwegians love to own their home, and this was seen as a basic human right for a 20-year old when I moved here. They used to ask me “Ha? You don’t own your flat? I guess you’ll sell your flat in Paris and buy in Oslo, they’d add”. They weren’t much aware of the system in France, where a 25 year old doesn’t own a flat in Paris, unless from the absolute richest of richest families.

Today, with a steep increase in real estate prices in Oslo, many Norwegians end up renting much longer. More and more, Norwegians need financial help from their parents to buy their first flat, which was less the case before. Also, people on a normal salary (they use the nurses’ salary as an index) can buy   2% of the flats in Oslo, and that was in 2023 so it might be even less today. How long does it take you to save 400.000 kr while renting an expensive flat on a regular salary? Probably a long time.

3. If You Don’t Have BankID, You’re Not Even in the Race

For newcomers to Norway, especially international students, expats, or recently arrived workers, the process of renting a flat has become even more complicated. Without a Norwegian personal number and BankID, most landlords won’t even consider your message on finn.no because you aren’t “verified user”. Even with good income and references, it’s often “takk, men nei takk.” (thanks but no thanks).

This is one of the reasons why some international renters get trapped in expensive or insecure sublets, with little protection or predictability. It’s not always about money, sometimes it’s just about not having the right paperwork.

4. More Flats Are Going to Tourists, Not Tenants

One growing problem is the rise of short-term rentals. As tourism in Oslo increases and platforms like Airbnb remain popular, more and more flats are being taken off the long-term rental market and offered to tourists instead. Currently, there are 6,042 Airbnb listings in Oslo, with 39% of entire houses earning up to €2,328.0 a month. This shift reduces the availability of long-term rentals for residents and contributes to higher rental prices.

From a landlord’s perspective, this makes sense: short-term rentals often bring in higher income with fewer legal obligations. But for residents, it means fewer homes are available for people who actually live and work in the city. This is especially noticeable in central neighborhoods, where entire buildings now function more like unofficial hotels than places for local residents.

The result? More competition for fewer flats, and higher prices, even far outside the city center.

5. Too Few New Flats are Built

Much less flats are being built, leading to more pressure on existing properties. There has not been so few new flats being built since 1946, mainly due to high prices for new materials. At the same time most people want to live centrally, and there just aren’t enough rentals available. 

So… What Can You Do?

Unfortunately, there’s no magic solution right now. Oslo desperately needs more affordable housing, stronger renter protections, and a more transparent rental process. But until policies catch up, renters are left to navigate a difficult and unpredictable market.

Here are a few things that might help:

• Put your own ad on Finn.no to attract more landlords

• Join a renter’s association, like Leieboerforeningen, for legal advice and support.

• Expand your search area if possible, even if it means a longer commute.

• And most importantly, talk about it. The more people raise awareness, the harder it becomes to ignore the issue. You can follow the instagram account @min_drittleilighet (my shitty flat) which is very vocal on getting a new rental law, and lower rents in Oslo.