On Smieøya in Skien, 250 apartments are being built for rental only. The company that builds does not expect to get rich right away. – We are not making money from this in the short term, says Heidi Sjerve, general manager of Steinar Moe Eiendom. Nevertheless, the company, in collaboration with the municipality and Husbanken, has chosen to build what they say is Norway’s first rental district. Tenants experience uncertainty On Wednesday, news told about the mother of two, Maria Jardordottir, who is struggling in the rental market. In just a few years, she has moved several times, and must move again before 1 November. – As a tenant, you don’t know how long you can stay, says Jardordottir. Maria Jardordottir (43) believes she will have to rent a home for the rest of her life. Photo: Peder Bergholt / news The rental market has tightened considerably recently. On Friday at the latest, Local Government Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik had called in a meeting about the situation. – People must have a safe and good place to live. Then we have to make sure that we facilitate more rental housing together with the municipalities and the Housing Bank, said Gjelsvik then. More apartments for families with children The developers from Skien and Husbanken were also present at the meeting with the minister. The new residential area is located on Tømmerkaia. Here you can rent for an indefinite period, and the rent is index-regulated. This means that the price will be slightly higher each year, but the rent only follows general price increases, and not the rental prices in the area. Many of the apartments are already in use. Several are under construction on the plot which is right down by the river. The penthouse on the eighth floor is a four-room 106 square meter apartment with a large private roof terrace. The rent is currently NOK 18,500. In addition, there are expenses for electricity, heating, TV and internet. Garage space must also be rented. Further down the floors, you can rent all the way down to 56 square metres. The cheapest variant costs NOK 8,800. A good number of the apartments are reserved for families with children. – The children must come first. We must ensure that they have a safe place to live, says Trond Ballestad (Sp), deputy mayor of Skien. Heidi Sjerve shows off the penthouse on the 8th floor. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news A good investment Ballestad says the municipality uses the system that Husbanken has. In that way, they get money to build through loans and grants. Husbanken aims to help people in a difficult situation to acquire and keep a suitable home. Heidi Sjerve in Steinar Moe Eiendom says they are also concerned that those who rent have good conditions and that there are safe homes. Although they are not making money from this now, she believes that it is still a good investment, also for them. – As long as you have an eternal perspective on what you do, that’s what we base it on, she says.
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Building an entire district with only rental housing – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
