In these homes in Bogerud, people with normal incomes can buy half the apartment and rent the rest. If SV succeeds in the negotiations with the government, there will be more such projects around the country.
At Bogerud in Oslo are the first shared housing units from the company Oslobolig, where the municipality is a part owner. SV wants to have several such projects in place with the help of the Housing Bank. Photo: Espedal, Jan Tomas / Aftenposten
Sea view
Published: 08.11.2023 18:29
There is an abrupt brake on housing construction in Norway. So far this year, the proportion of new building permits has fallen by almost one-third compared to the same period last year, according to figures published by Statistics Norway on Wednesday.
This means that the experts fear that housing prices for both renting and owning will only increase in the years to come, because there will be a shortage of housing. This comes on top of an increase in rental prices of as much as 10 per cent this year alone.
– More social housing policy is urgent. Or just housing policy! Here the government has dragged its feet, says financial policy spokesperson in SV Kari Elisabeth Kaski to Aftenposten.
In order to pass its state budget, the government must, as is known, have the support of SV. They don’t get it for free. On Thursday, SV presents its alternative budget, which will be the starting point for the negotiations with the government.
One of the breakthroughs they are asking for is a large housing package that will be in place next year.
– There is a complete standstill in housing construction. The construction industry is also in crisis. Housing policy is one of the most important tools for helping people in a difficult crisis, says Birgit Oline Kjerstad, SV’s housing policy spokesperson.
Kari Elisabeth Kaski leads the negotiations with the government for SV. Photo: Jan T. Espedal / Aftenposten
Sea view
Husbanken as guarantor?
An important point for SV is to initiate an expansion of non-commercial housing, both for rent and ownership.
Kari Elisabeth Kaski highlights Oslo and Stavanger as examples of what they want more of.
Oslo has established the company Oslobolig. They offer shared housing, where you can buy half of a home and rent the rest. The aim is that people who, due to the high housing prices, would otherwise not have been able to get enough loans for a home, should be able to afford it. When the home is possibly sold on later, they will be left with the profit from the share of the home they own. In Stavanger, the municipality has taken the initiative for a scheme where the municipality can act as guarantor for young entrepreneurs who are unable to meet the requirement of 15 percent equity. Facts
SV’s housing package
Increased loan limit to the Housing Bank by NOK 3 billion Half a billion to increase the housing allowance NOK 250 million for the construction of non-commercial rental housing through schemes in the Housing Bank. Show more
Will give young people start-up loans
SV will use Husbanken actively – and will increase their loan limits by NOK 3 billion.
At Husbanken, you can get loans to build or upgrade homes according to certain criteria.
But the frame is used up for this year. Everyone who applies is turned down – even though SV also received an extra grant in the revised budget earlier this year.
– There are almost no limits, I think, to how much we could increase in the frame.
Because there is such a great need and desire out there. And especially now because the construction industry is down, says Kaski.
SV will also change the criteria so that young people in the establishment phase can get a start-up loan.
Start-up loans are given to people who cannot get loans from private banks. Refinancing is also provided to people who are at risk of losing their home. Young people in the establishment phase, or in “a situation where you can save” as stated in the regulations, do not get start-up loans today. SV will change that.
– We have left everything to the market, and now the market is ravaging people, says Kjerstad.
Birgit Oline Kjerstad
Storting representative for SV
– Important experiences
– You use Oslobolig as an example of something you want more of, but they have only sold around 20 homes in Oslo so far. Don’t measures like this become quite a puzzle against the large housing market?
– The experience from Oslo shows that you need Husbanken as a bigger engine in this, says Kaski.
Kaski says they have also been working against the government for a long time to get some rule changes in place that will make it easier.
– For example, that one is allowed to demand locally that a percentage of the homes built in a project must be set aside for social housing conditions.
2023-11-08 17:29:26
#requirements #negotiations #homes
