The Consumer Council and the Tenants’ Association are concerned about the development. – If it is the case that people are bidding on ordinary rental properties, it is deeply disturbing, says leader of the Tenants’ Association, Anne-Rita Andal. There are still few landlords who are open about the fact that they run bidding rounds for rent, despite the fact that it is legal. news finds only one advertisement that openly states that the home is rented out at a specific price – or to the highest bidder. However, several confirm to news that such bidding rounds do in fact take place, including the Consumer Council. – We are well aware that this is a reality many tenants face, especially in the Oslo area, says senior advisor Thomas Iversen. Tough market At the beginning of July, 7,521 students queued up to get student housing in Oslo, figures from the Students’ Association in Oslo show. In addition, everyone else who is looking for housing comes. Among those who have recently been apartment hunting is 25-year-old Marius. He tells about many bidding rounds: IIben: Hi Marius! You have been to several viewings recently to rent an apartment in Oslo. How has it gone? MMarius: Hello! When my boyfriend and I were to find our first apartment together, there was a bidding round on practically all the apartments we looked at. IIben: Oh yeah! Did you get hold of any apartments? Marius: There were several apartments we wanted which were simply too expensive for us. MMarius: I have to throw in the fact that these were places that already cost NOK 15-16,000, and people offered up to NOK 17,000 for them!! There was always a long queue out of the building at the screenings. Finally he got the hang of it – and has now found a home. Marius does not want news to use his surname. It is not uncommon for long queues at screenings in Oslo. Here from last summer. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news Often doesn’t get an answer Oline Øie Hovland has been apartment hunting for three weeks. news meets her at a screening at St. Hanshaugen in Oslo. – Often you don’t get a reply when you send a message, and there have been many viewings where things have not been as advertised. She has been to several viewings, but has not experienced a bidding war for the rent. – And I hope to avoid that, says Hovland. She believes the rental market in the capital is difficult enough already. – I have rented in both Bergen and Trondheim, but never experienced as much competition as here. Not least, it is much more expensive. Oline Øie Hovland experiences the rental market in Oslo as expensive and challenging. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen More people are becoming skeptical news has been in contact with a landlord who has bidding rounds for a room he lets out. According to the Norwegian Consumer Council, it is not illegal to conduct a bidding war on rental prices, as long as it is done in an orderly and proper manner. The landlord news has spoken to still does not want us to use his name. He says he wants a bidding round to get the highest possible rental price, so he makes the most money possible. At the same time, the landlord believes that it can be difficult to set a price, and that a bidding round will show what someone is willing to give. He says that there has been a lot of interest in the room he rents out, but that many people are still skeptical about bidding rounds. According to the brokers, there is high pressure on viewings in Oslo during the day. Here from a screening at St. Hanshaugen on Thursday. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen – An uting Leader of the Tenants’ Association, Anne-Rita Andal, says they have caught on to the trend, but that they do not know the extent. TOUGH RENTAL MARKET: Bid rounds on the rental market testify to a poorly regulated market, says the head of the Tenants’ Association, Anne-Rita Andal. Photo: Kirsten Randers-Pehrson She is very skeptical of such bidding rounds, even if it is legal. – It is an extreme outcome that we have such a poorly regulated rental market. I think it’s a shame, and it testifies to a very tough rental market, says Andal and adds: – It’s not a question of a rare stamp or other collectibles, but one of our most basic needs. Have you experienced bidding rounds in the rental market? 🏚️ Yes, experienced it many times Yes, have been a part of it a couple of times No, fortunately not Show result Leads to big differences The Consumer Council’s Thomas Iversen writes to news that they are well aware of the practice of bidding war also on rental properties. – Especially in areas with great pressure, such as in Oslo, he says. Thomas Iversen in the Consumer Council. Photo: Halvor Pritzlaff Njerve / Forbrukerrådet Iversen believes the bidding rounds lead to greater differences in society. – Those who are already having difficulty getting into the housing market are the same ones who will lose out in a bidding round for a rental property, he says. – A student who can get financial support from parents will be stronger than someone who can’t, he follows up. – Strongly against news has been in contact with several of the large rental companies in Oslo. Among other things, Heimstaden and Utleiemegleren. They say they do not have bidding rounds when they rent out apartments, and believe this happens among smaller players and people who rent out privately. Geir Skogheim, Letting agent. Photo: Johnny Vaet Nordskog When asked what Utleiemegleren thinks about bidding rounds on rental prices, sales and marketing director at Utleiemegleren, Geir Skogheim, answers this: – We are strongly against that. It doesn’t solve anything. He goes on to say that this is not a desired development in the rental market, because it is not necessarily the best tenants who get the apartments. Published 07/07/2024, at 09.17
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Several are concerned – Greater Oslo
