Most Norwegians own their homes, and the rental market is therefore very limited in Norway. It is very expensive to buy or to rent accommodation here. Rental prices start from around 4,500 kr just for a small room or studio flat, while prices for whole apartments or houses are much higher than this. However, it is possible to find slightly cheaper properties outside the city centres.

Some estate agencies also deal with rental properties, and private landlords sometimes advertise their properties in newspapers or websites. Alternatively, prospective tenants themselves sometimes advertise in the local or national press for a home to rent.

In Oslo, the evening newspaper Aftenposten Aften has details of rental accommodation in its classifieds section.

Tenancy agreements are normally valid for an initial one year, and subsequently for periods of five years with a termination notice period of three months on the part of the tenant or the landlord. On moving in, a security deposit of two or three months rent is usually payable by the tenant.

Within the cities there are higher levels of renting among Norwegians, and many live in housing co-operatives, in which rental and maintenance costs are shared. Oslo has an active Tenants' Association which protects the interests of tenants and provides legal services to those entering into tenancy agreements or taking legal action in relation to a tenancy.