🏠✈️ Oslo for 1–3 months: how to find accommodation without agents

A guide for nomads, expats, interns and families arriving in the capital region for a month or a quarter. We will explain where to find listings without agencies, what filters to use, how to evaluate an area for your community, what to check in the contract and deposit, and how to communicate with the landlord — briefly and to the point.

🔍 Where and how to search — websites and channels

• Board No. 1: FINN Eiendom — filter for ‘Korttidsleie’ (short-term) and “Møblert” (furnished). There are many private ads here, often marked ‘all inclusive’.
• Board No. 2: Hybel.no — rooms/studios/shared flats (joint rental), also marked ‘korttidsleie’. Convenient for flexible terms and quick communication with private individuals.
• Municipal memo (required reading): the Oslo kommune page on finding accommodation, deposits and guarantees (what is safe and what is not).
• Through the community: ask directly at the MESH and Rebel co-working spaces, or in the Oslo Science Park/Startuplab ecosystem — they have active communities and notice boards.

🎯 Filters and keywords

In your search/correspondence, use: “short-term”, “korttidsleie”, “furnished/møblert”, “utilities included/inkludert strøm/Internett”, “Wi-Fi”, “deposit/depositum”. On FINN, the filters ‘Korttidsleie’ and ‘Møblert’ save hours.

🚇 Areas and commutes — centre/“semi-centre” and “bedroom communities”

🌆 Centre and “semi-centre”.

• Bjørvika/Barcode–Sørenga — walking distance to Oslo S and Deichman, waterfront; can be noisy in summer (promenade), but convenient for offline meetings.
• Grünerløkka/Helgesensgate–Akerselva — ‘walkable’ short-term rental, cafes and transport within walking distance. Noisier on weekends, but everything is nearby.
• St. Hanshaugen/Majorstuen/Frogner — quieter in the evenings, quick access to the metro/tram; more expensive, but stable for remote work.

🌳 Residential areas (for those who prefer).

• Nydalen/Sinsen/Carl Berner — 10–15 minutes by T-bane to the centre, more space for the same price.
• Lamberseter/Mortensrud/Grorud/Grefsen — green and quiet; consider the commute and proximity to shops/gardens.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Micro-guide for families

Look for walkability (schools/kindergartens, ‘barnehage’ nearby), parks (Frognerparken, Tøyenparken, Torshovdalen), swimming pool Tøyenbadet (new complex, open since January 2025; there may be windows for technical work in August).

On weekdays, the Deichman library is a quiet ‘second living room’ with children's areas and places to work.

📋 How to read ads — what to ask and what to look for

Ask the landlord 7 short questions:

1. Internet: type (fibre/coax), actual speed; ask for a screenshot of Speedtest and a photo of the router.
2. Utilities: what is included (electricity/water/heating/internet); is there a kWh cap?
3. Noise/house rules: quiet hours, no evening calls, rubbish rules.
4. Windows and light: side (street/courtyard), photo of the view during the day.
5. Storage: storage room/cupboards, where to dry clothes.
6. Contract and term: exact move-in/move-out dates, possibility of extension.
7. Deposit: where exactly it is paid (see next section).

Photos vs reality — red flags: wide-angle ‘stretched’ rooms, ‘show apartments’ without small details (bins/hangers), lack of layout, vague answers about the internet and ‘included’. If you are asked to transfer the deposit to a personal card before signing the contract, close the dialogue: according to the rules, the deposit is paid into a separate account (depositumskonto), not ‘in cash/to a card’.

📑 Contract and deposits (overview, not legal advice)

• Only a written contract. Use a standard form and specify what is included/not included. Termination and penalties must also be in writing. Advice and templates are available from Forbrukerrådet.
• Deposit according to the law. Paid into a separate deposit account at a bank in the name of the tenant; the landlord cannot dispose of it during the tenancy. Maximum amount (deposit + guarantee) — up to six months' rent. Prepayment of rent for more than 1 month is prohibited.
• Guarantees instead of a deposit. The municipality warns explicitly: "guarantee products" are not always advantageous/safe — study the terms and conditions (keywords: husleiegaranti/depositumsgaranti).

✅ Check-out (short plan)

• 7–10 days in advance, agree on the check-out time, final cleaning (flyttevask) and a list of small items that should be left behind.
• Take photos of the room/plumbing/meters.
• Hand over the keys/key fobs against receipt.
• Ask for confirmation that the landlord has sent the bank their consent to return the deposit.

✉️ Template for your first message to the landlord

EN:

Hi [Name], I’m [Your name], a [role/company] coming to Oslo from [date] to [date]. I’m looking for a short-term furnished apartment with reliable Wi-Fi (for video calls). Your place looks like a fit. Could you confirm: 1) internet type & speed (screenshot), 2) what utilities are included, 3) depositumskonto details, 4) exact move-in/out dates? Happy to share references and proof of income. Thanks!

NO (short):

Hei [Navn]! Jeg heter [Ditt navn] og skal bo i Oslo fra [dato] til [dato]. Ser etter korttidsleie, møblert, med stabilt internett. Kan du bekrefte: 1) type/speed, 2) hva som er inkludert (strøm/vann/nett), 3) depositumskonto, 4) inn-/utflyttingsdatoer? Jeg kan sende referanser og inntektsdokumentasjon. Takk!

✅ Mini checklist (quick route)

• Set filters Korttidsleie + Møblert on FINN/Hybel and save alerts.
• Narrow down the areas to suit your lifestyle: Bjørvika/Grünerløkka (closer to the centre) or Nydalen/Sinsen (quieter and cheaper).
• Check the internet/noise and what is included — only then ask for a contract.
• Deposit — strictly depositumskonto; do not pay more than 1 month in advance.

Need some quiet spots? Check out Deichman and MESH/Rebel coworking spaces (daytime options available).