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A recent opinion piece in the Norwegian newspaper Kronikken highlighted the growing debate over short‑term rental of residential properties, a practice commonly referred to as “Airbnb” after the largest global operator. The article noted that the business news outlets E24 and VG have published several reports, commentaries and interviews on the topic over the past week. The piece quoted economic commentator Ina Vedde‑Fjærestad, who said that new regulations are urgently needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating into what she described as “Spanish conditions,” a reference to the high density of short‑term rentals in cities such as Barcelona. Vedde‑Fjærestad’s remarks were presented as her personal view. According to the article, short‑term rentals are a marginal issue in most parts of Norway and are often seen as a positive supplement to other accommodation options. Homeowners can earn extra income when they are away. Problems arise, however, when many homes are converted from private residences into short‑term rental units. This can reduce the supply of long‑term housing, drive up rental prices, and negatively affect local communities. The author stated, “Boliger skal være for å bo i, ikke skjulte hoteller,” meaning that houses should be used for living, not as hidden hotels. The Norwegian Planning and Building Act (Plan- og bygningsloven) regulates short‑term rentals that are conducted in a professional manner and are considered to be in conflict with the intended residential use of the property. Municipalities are tasked with monitoring illegal changes of use, but some report difficulty distinguishing between occasional rentals and hotel‑like operations. In response, the author’s organization released a guide before Easter titled “Når går boligen fra å være et hjem til å bli næringsvirksomhet?” (“When does a home become a business?”). The guide has been well received, and municipalities have requested additional tools. The organization is working on a legislative proposal that would enable municipalities to investigate suspected illegal short‑term rentals. It has also asked the Norwegian Housing Bank (Husbanken) to examine the feasibility of a registration system for short‑term rentals. The city of Tromsø is cited as a particularly acute example. From 2016 to 2024, the number of short‑term rental properties in Tromsø increased by 1,000 %. The city received a grant of two million kroner from Husbanken to address illegal short‑term rentals. The experiences from Tromsø are expected to inform other municipalities with high levels of short‑term rental activity. The author concludes that the goal is to eliminate problematic short‑term rentals while allowing ordinary homeowners to rent out their homes when they are traveling. Article source: Verdens Gang | Image credit: Verdens Gang
A recent opinion piece in the Norwegian newspaper Kronikken highlighted the growing debate over short‑term rental of residential properties, a practice commonly referred to as “Airbnb” after the largest global operator. The article noted that the business news outlets E24 and VG have published several reports, commentaries and interviews on the topic over the past week. The piece quoted economic commentator Ina Vedde‑Fjærestad, who said that new regulations are urgently needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating into what she described as “Spanish conditions,” a reference to the high density of short‑term rentals in cities such as Barcelona. Vedde‑Fjærestad’s remarks were presented as her personal view. According to the article, short‑term rentals are a marginal issue in most parts of Norway and are often seen as a positive supplement to other accommodation options. Homeowners can earn extra income when they are away. Problems arise, however, when many homes are converted from private residences into short‑term rental units. This can reduce the supply of long‑term housing, drive up rental prices, and negatively affect local communities. The author stated, “Boliger skal være for å bo i, ikke skjulte hoteller,” meaning that houses should be used for living, not as hidden hotels. The Norwegian Planning and Building Act (Plan- og bygningsloven) regulates short‑term rentals that are conducted in a professional manner and are considered to be in conflict with the intended residential use of the property. Municipalities are tasked with monitoring illegal changes of use, but some report difficulty distinguishing between occasional rentals and hotel‑like operations. In response, the author’s organization released a guide before Easter titled “Når går boligen fra å være et hjem til å bli næringsvirksomhet?” (“When does a home become a business?”). The guide has been well received, and municipalities have requested additional tools. The organization is working on a legislative proposal that would enable municipalities to investigate suspected illegal short‑term rentals. It has also asked the Norwegian Housing Bank (Husbanken) to examine the feasibility of a registration system for short‑term rentals. The city of Tromsø is cited as a particularly acute example. From 2016 to 2024, the number of short‑term rental properties in Tromsø increased by 1,000 %. The city received a grant of two million kroner from Husbanken to address illegal short‑term rentals. The experiences from Tromsø are expected to inform other municipalities with high levels of short‑term rental activity. The author concludes that the goal is to eliminate problematic short‑term rentals while allowing ordinary homeowners to rent out their homes when they are traveling.
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