As of August 15th, 12,590 students were still in the queue for student accommodation, according to recent data from the Association of Norwegian Student Welfare Organisations (Samskipnadsrådet).

At the time of writing, Oslo has the longest waiting list, with 5,800 students.

READ MORE: The cities in Norway with the worst student housing queues

The shortage is so severe that reading rooms and canteens in Oslo and Bergen have been converted into temporary dormitories.

The Norwegian Student Organisation (NSO) has declared this a housing crisis and is calling for urgent action.

Simultaneously, figures from the Norwegian Tax Administration and analysis agency Capia AS, reported by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), reveal that the increase in short-term rentals to tourists is reducing the availability of homes that traditionally served students.

What do the numbers say?

In Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, rental income from Airbnb has skyrocketed by 171 percent from 2022 to 2024.

Oslo has seen a 135 percent increase over the same period.

Last year, professional rental operators in Norway earned 11 billion kroner through Airbnb and similar platforms.

Meanwhile, the number of secondary homes, including rental properties, on the market dropped by 1.8 percent between 2019 and 2024, according to the Norwegian Association of Estate Agents.

A ‘deeply concerning’ shift

The shift from long-term to short-term rentals in major cities and tourist destinations is ‘deeply concerning,’ Anne-Rita Andal, the manager of the Leieboerforeningen tenant interest organisation, told The Local Norway.

“It shows a serious deficiency in our housing politics, and it is a result of an almost completely marked-based policy,” she said.

Andal pointed out that when landlords find short-term rentals like Airbnb more profitable, the consequences for tenants and cities can be significant.

“But the consequences for tenants and for the cities as a whole are huge, and we need to take a serious look at how to prevent this shift,” she warned.

Morten Andreas Meyer, the general secretary of the nationwide homeowner interest organisation Huseierne, echoed these concerns.

“We have seen this coming and are worried about this trend. Livable cities and communities need a sustainable private rental market where long-term rentals are prioritised,” Meyer told The Local.

“It’s problematic when rental properties for students are effectively turned into hotel rooms.”

Major cities and tourist spots most affected

This shift is most pronounced in areas where demand for short-term rentals has surged. Both Andal and Meyer agree that Oslo and Bergen are among the hardest hit.

“Oslo and Bergen are perhaps the most affected, but it’s also troubling that this is happening in small tourist towns in rural Norway,” Andal said.

Meyer added, “Oslo and Bergen are popular for both living and visiting, and we’ve seen a significant increase in Airbnb revenues in these cities. At the same time, long-term rentals have decreased, making it less attractive and profitable to rent out property in Norway.”

He attributed this trend to rising housing costs and increased wealth tax on secondary dwellings.

The way forward

Leieboerforeningen sees the need for a closer look at the current Airbnb regulations in Norway.

“We must urgently reconsider the regulations around Airbnb. Are they good enough, or do they need changes? Are they being enforced?” Andal questioned.

She emphasised the need to separate housing from tourism more effectively and to rethink Norway’s profit-driven housing policies, suggesting a shift towards more tenant-friendly regulations.

“I believe the time has come to discuss a shift in our housing politics, a shift towards a more tenant-friendly politics that sets our basic human rights higher than we do today,” Andal told The Local.

Meyer, however, advocated for a more straightforward approach: “In short, the most important solution is to build more homes.”

The Local has an explainer on the rules for renting out your home on Airbnb in Norway, which you can find here.