Living in Norway

Cost of living in Norway

After finishing with the relocating process, soon you’ll find that life in Norway can be a bit costly. To compare London and Oslo: groceries and public transportation are nearly twice as expensive in the latter. The one thing that may be much cheaper in Oslo is rent and apartment prices, which are on average 45 and 60 percent lower than in London.

Buying a House in Norway

There are no restrictions on buying a house in Norway. Norway’s housing market is slowing sharply, after almost four years of house price rises. Property demand is declining and building activity is falling, but it is amazing the steep places where homes are constructed.

Be sure you understand fully any documents before you sign them, if necessary employ a translator. You will have to pay the estate agents’ fees yourself. These are the steps required:

The sales contract is drawn up and kept by the estate agent.
The seller gives the agent the deed when the contract is signed. The agent keeps the deed until registration is completed.
On registration, a certified copy of the land register is issued by the registration authorities. This shows the name of the title owner, and any encumbrances attached to the property. When you pay the registration fee (around £200) you will also need to pay the stamp duty of 2.5%.
It only takes an average of one day to complete the registration process.

The total transaction costs include all costs of buying and then re-selling a property – lawyers’ fees, notaries’ fees, registration fees, taxes, agents’ fees, etc., which typically come to 3.75 to 5.75%. The real estate agent’s fee varies but will normally be around 1 to 2.5% of the purchase price, plus 24% VAT.

It usually costs more than you expect, so check your finances carefully. Currency rates will affect you – the following website may save you money: www.smartcurrencyexchange.com

removals to Norway

Working in Norway

Norway is not a member state of the European Union (EU), but is closely associated with the it because it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), in the context of being a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member. This allows them to be part of the EU’s single market. As the UK is a member of EFTA this means that you do not need a work permit.

All the information you need on finding work in Norway may be found on the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration’s (NAV) website (https://www.nav.no/Forsiden). It also explains the administrative details as well as advertising all the jobs available through them, you can upload your CV and more.

Another useful site for finding work is the Finn lifestyle website finn. Companies’ websites and the Norwegian national newspapers are also places to look.