Government Opens the Door for Shared Ownership and Rent-to-Own – A Shift Towards Housing Affordability

Big news from the Norwegian government this week: New legislation is being proposed to expand access to shared ownership and rent-to-own housing models across the country.

Since 2022, approximately 2,000 people have entered these types of agreements. Now, with the government’s proposal, thousands more could follow.

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“Owning a home contributes to stability and financial security,” said Minister for Local Government and Districts Kjersti Stenseng in the official announcement.

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What’s changing?

The legislative proposal, which modifies the Housing Cooperative Act and Owner-Tenant Act, would:

• Remove legal limitations on how many homes can use shared ownership or rent-to-own models within a housing development
• Introduce stronger consumer protections, including right of first refusal and clear legal definitions
• Enable faster adaptation through flexible regulation in the form of administrative rules (forskrift)

📄 Full proposal here (Prop. 158 L 2024–2025)

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This is structural change – not a pilot

These models are no longer fringe experiments. They are becoming part of the national housing playbook.

At Living Impact, we have been advocating for this shift for years. The traditional housing model excludes many creditworthy, income-strong individuals who simply lack equity or family support. Shared ownership creates a bridge – and now the government is building that bridge into law.

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What happens next?

The law is now being reviewed by Parliament, with regulations being developed in parallel. It is expected to come into force next year, providing a legal and regulatory foundation for scaling shared ownership and rent-to-own housing models nationwide.

We at Living Impact are already moving – building partnerships with leading developers and institutional investors to deploy these models nationwide. With regulatory support, we are ready to scale what works.

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📢 Want to help shape the future of housing? Reach out to collaborate with Living Impact.

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