Not allowed to move out

– We are simply following the rules, says Tom Olstad, Director of SiO Housing.

Students who wish to move out early are allowed to sub-let the flat, but they must do the work to find a new tenant themselves. If not, they risk having to pay double rent. Olstad does not want to cut down on the period of notice, even though the queues are long.

– We can’t take all the responsibility for this.

Olastad explains that it is only one month period of notice in June, but that after 31 July the tenant will need exceptional circumstances in order to achieve a shorter period. And even that requires a written application.

Time-consuming

Olstad emphasises that most of the people who are wait-listed at this point are applying for specific flats. While there are more than seventy different types of flats to choose between, a lot of students are only interested in living at Vestgrensa.

– We need time to find the tenants who would like to move into the flats that are vacant, he says.

– Does that take two months?

– Not necessarily at Vestgrensa, but yes, at some student villages it may take that much time, Olstad says.

– Embarrassing

Stine Winger Minde, President of Velferdstinget, the Student welfare body, finds the rule of a two month period of notice ridiculous.

She says that it is embarrassing that the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo (SiO) won’t show more flexibility even though the situation is pressed, and she has no understanding for Olstad’s time-frame excuse.

– At the more popular student villages, it shouldn’t take more than a week to find new tenants, but naturally I can understand that the less attractive flats are more difficult to sell.

Winger Minds believes that SiO is afraid of taking on an administrative burden and of facing loss of income, but she also fears that something like this will be a problem in the longer run as it causes bad publicity for SiO and may reduce the contribution from the state.

– Do you disagree with the rule of a two month notice?

– Yes, at least when there is a queue of people looking for housing.

Winger Minde intends to address the matter with SiO Housing on the next meeting. However, she will not give them any orders.

– It’s common sense to be flexible when the waiting lists are record high this year, she adds.

No change

Trond Enger, Vice-President of the board of SiO, believes that a new set of regulations are unnecessary.

– The intention is to ensure stability for all parties, he says.

Nevertheless, Enger can understand that this is a problem, and feels that the solution is that SiO Housing helps to find new tenants.

– But the consequence of the existing rule is that people who hasn’t even waited in line get to rent a student flat for up to two months through sub-letting. Is that fair?

– It is difficult for us to regulate everything, and people should have the opportunity to sub-let their flats, Enger answers.

– Still, the situation being what it is, SiO Housing should be more flexible, he adds.

– I should add that I was aware of the rule of a two month notice in the contract, but I also know that it was possible to shorten it if special circumstances called for it, says Richard Bjerkøe.

He would like to move out of Bjerke Studenthus and into private accommodation with his wife. He has applied for shorter notice on the basis that his wife is pregnant, but has not received an answer yet. He sent his application over a week ago.

– This ought to be a win-win situation for both parties, he says, and points to the waiting lists at the student villages. He and his wife have been offered to rent a house from a friend.