You attended the viewing.

You liked the property.

You have a good salary and a steady job.

You told the landlord you wanted to rent it.

But the landlord chose someone else.

Why?

In Norway, securing a rental property is not always simply about who can afford the rent. When several people are interested in the same home, a landlord may be choosing between applicants who are all financially capable of paying.

The decision can then come down to something less tangible:

Who do I trust to pay the rent on time, take care of my property and be easy to deal with?

After 30 years of helping international employees and their families find homes in Norway, we have seen that many newcomers underestimate how much the overall impression they make can influence a landlord’s decision.

Understanding the landlord’s perspective can therefore make a real difference when searching for a home.

What Do Landlords in Norway Look for in a Tenant?

There is no single answer, and every landlord is different.

However, landlords commonly look for a combination of:

• Financial stability
• Reliability and good communication
• A positive first impression
• A household that suits the property
• Respect for the home and neighbours
• A suitable move-in date and rental period
• Confidence that the property will be well looked after

In a competitive rental market, having the highest salary does not necessarily mean that you will be chosen.

Many Landlords in Norway Are Private Individuals

One important thing to understand about the Norwegian rental market is that not every rental property belongs to a large professional landlord or property company.

Many homes are rented out by private individuals.

The property may be an investment. It may be a home the landlord previously lived in and still cares about personally. Or it may be part of—or very close to—the landlord’s own home, with the landlord living upstairs, downstairs or even next door.

In these situations, choosing the right tenant can feel particularly important.

The landlord is not simply choosing someone who will occupy a property. They may also be choosing someone who will effectively become their neighbour.

They may therefore be thinking:

“Can this person afford the rent?”

“Can I trust them with my property?”

“Will they be considerate of the people living around them?”

“Will we have a good relationship if we live close to each other?”

This can make the selection of a tenant feel much more personal than many international renters expect.

That is why the impression you make before, during and after a viewing can matter more than you might think.

1. Reliability Starts Before the Viewing

The landlord’s impression of you may begin before you even meet.

Have you provided sufficient information about yourself to the landlord?

Do you communicate politely?

Do you arrive when you said you would?

Punctuality is particularly important in Norway.

Landlords and agents may schedule several viewings close together, and arriving 15 or 20 minutes late can mean that the viewing does not happen at all. They may need to leave for another appointment, or they may simply decide not to wait for someone who has not arrived at the agreed time.

There is another reason punctuality matters.

A landlord may see how you handle the viewing appointment as an indication of how you will handle the tenancy.

If someone arrives late without communicating, the landlord may wonder:

Will the rent also be late? Will appointments be difficult? Will communication become a problem?

Landlords may also be thinking about how a prospective tenant will fit into the building or neighbourhood.

Will they respect the house rules? Are they likely to be considerate of the neighbours? Could noise or other disturbances become an issue?

This may feel like a lot to assess from a short interaction. But when a landlord has several suitable applicants to choose from, small details can influence the final decision.

2. The Highest Salary Does Not Always Win

A strong income is certainly an advantage.

But it does not automatically guarantee that you will be chosen.

If several applicants can comfortably afford the rent, the landlord may consider other factors equally—or even more—important.

They may prefer the person who appears reliable, communicates clearly and seems likely to take good care of the property.

A landlord may choose a tenant with a lower salary over someone with a higher salary simply because they feel more comfortable renting to them.

This is why approaching a rental viewing as purely a financial transaction can be a mistake.

You are not only evaluating the property.

The landlord is also evaluating you.

3. First Impressions Matter

A rental viewing is not a job interview.

But there are similarities.

The landlord may be meeting several prospective tenants in a short period of time. Afterwards, they need to decide who they would feel most comfortable renting their property to.

And that first impression often begins before you walk through the door.

Arriving on time—or ideally a few minutes early—shows that you respect the landlord’s time and take the viewing seriously. Arriving late without communicating can create a negative impression before you have even met.

You do not need to dress formally or try too hard to impress the landlord.

But being presentable, punctual, polite, interested and respectful can go a long way.

Introduce yourself. Show genuine interest in the home. Ask relevant questions. Communicate clearly about who will be living there and when you would like to move in.

Make it easy for the landlord to understand who you are and what kind of tenant you are likely to be.

4. Landlords Want to Know Who Will Actually Live in the Property

Be clear about who will be living in the home.

Will you live alone? Are you moving with a spouse or partner? Do you have children? How many and how old are they?

Will anyone else be living there?

Do you have pets?

Landlords generally want to understand who will be occupying their property.

The number of people who will live in the home can also affect a landlord’s decision.

For example, a family of four may feel perfectly comfortable renting a one-bedroom apartment, particularly if they are used to living in smaller homes or are trying to keep their housing costs down.

The landlord, however, may have a different view of whether the property is suitable for four people. They may have concerns about the amount of space available, as well as the potential for additional wear and tear or noise.

From the family’s perspective, the property may be perfectly acceptable. From the landlord’s perspective, it may not be the right match for the size of the household.

This is also relevant for international employees whose family members may arrive later.

If your spouse or children will join you in six months, explain this clearly from the beginning rather than creating the impression that you will be the only occupant throughout the tenancy.

Transparency builds trust.

5. Employment and References Can Provide Reassurance

Landlords want confidence that the rent will be paid reliably and that their property will be well looked after.

For an international employee who has recently arrived in Norway, this can sometimes be more difficult to demonstrate than it is for someone with a long Norwegian rental and employment history.

You may not yet have a Norwegian credit history. You may not have references from previous Norwegian landlords. You may still be waiting for practical registrations to be completed.

In these situations, clear information about your employment can help.

A permanent or long-term employment contract, confirmation of your position or other relevant documentation may provide reassurance.

Previous landlord references can also be valuable. A strong reference can show that you have paid rent on time, taken good care of previous homes and been straightforward to deal with.

If you are new to Norway, a reference from a landlord in another country may still be useful.

For employees relocating through their company, the involvement of an employer or professional relocation company can also provide useful context and reassurance to the landlord.

6. Too Many Demands Too Early Can Work Against You

It is completely reasonable to ask questions about a property and clarify anything that genuinely matters before signing a tenancy agreement.

But there is a difference between asking sensible questions and presenting a long list of requests before the landlord has even chosen a tenant.

Can this wall be painted?

Can this furniture be removed?

Can new curtains be installed?

Can the bed be replaced?

Can the landlord buy additional furniture?

Can the rent be reduced?

Each request may be perfectly reasonable on its own.

But if a landlord is choosing between several equally suitable applicants, one who is happy to accept the property largely as it is may be more attractive than another who already appears to require significant changes.

Can You Negotiate the Rent?

Sometimes.

Whether there is room to negotiate the rent—or other aspects of the tenancy—depends heavily on the current rental market and how much negotiating power you actually have.

Is there a shortage of suitable rental properties?

Has the property attracted a lot of interest?

Are several other prospective tenants willing to pay the advertised rent?

Or has the property been available for some time without being rented?

Perhaps your preferred rental period is particularly attractive to the landlord.

Your own position as a prospective tenant also matters.

Do you have stable employment and a strong financial position?

Can you provide good references?

Is your employer paying the rent or otherwise involved in the tenancy?

From a landlord’s perspective, some prospective tenants may represent greater financial security or a particularly good match for the property. If your circumstances make you a particularly attractive tenant, you may have more room to negotiate.

These factors can make a significant difference.

If a highly desirable property has several suitable applicants, asking for a lower rent or multiple changes may simply make another applicant more attractive.

On the other hand, if a property has been on the market for some time, there is limited interest, or your circumstances are particularly well matched to what the landlord is looking for, there may be more room to negotiate.

The same principle applies whether you are asking for a lower rent, different furniture or changes to the property.

Negotiation is not necessarily a problem. Timing, demand and your negotiating position matter.

This does not mean that you should accept a home that does not meet your needs.

It means understanding the difference between what you genuinely need, what would simply be nice to have, and what the current rental market realistically gives you room to negotiate.

7. How You Treat the Property During the Viewing Matters

A landlord may notice how you behave inside the home.

Do you respect that it may still be someone else’s home?

Do you ask before opening private cupboards or moving things?

Do you supervise your children?

We once experienced a situation where a landlord decided not to rent to a family after a viewing because the children were driving toy cars along the walls (creating marks), and the parents did not intervene.

For the landlord, this raised concerns about how the property might be treated during the tenancy.

Small behaviours can influence a landlord’s perception of how you might treat the home if you lived there.

Remember: for you, it may be one of several properties you are viewing.

For the landlord, it may be one of their most valuable assets.

8. Pets Can Affect a Landlord’s Decision

If you have a pet, be transparent about it from the beginning.

Trying to hide a pet until after the tenancy agreement is signed is unlikely to create a good foundation for the relationship.

Some landlords are happy to accept pets. Others are more hesitant.

From a landlord’s perspective, pets can raise concerns about additional wear and tear on the property, such as scratched floors, damaged doors or furniture.

They may also worry about lingering smells, particularly in furnished properties, or the additional cleaning that may be required when the tenancy ends.

Allergies can also be a concern. A landlord may be allergic themselves, or they may worry that animal hair and allergens could remain in the property and affect future tenants. This can be particularly relevant where the property is furnished or forms part of the landlord’s own home.

Of course, having a pet does not mean that you will damage a property. Many pet owners take excellent care of their homes.

The challenge is that a landlord meeting you for the first time has no way of knowing how your pet will affect the property.

When choosing between two otherwise equally suitable tenants—one with a pet and one without—a landlord may simply see the tenant without a pet as the lower-risk option.

If a landlord is open to considering pets, additional information can help. The type, size and age of the animal may be relevant, as may previous landlord references confirming that there were no problems or damage.

The important thing is to discuss it openly.

A landlord who discovers later that important information was withheld may lose trust in the tenant before the tenancy has even properly begun.

9. Smoking Can Be a Concern

Smoking can also affect a landlord’s decision.

Many rental properties in Norway are non-smoking, and landlords may be concerned about lingering smoke smells, discolouration and the cost of removing smoke odours from a property.

Even if you only smoke outside, it is important to understand and respect the rules for the property and any restrictions in the tenancy agreement.

As with pets, the concern is often about perceived risk.

When choosing between several otherwise suitable applicants, a landlord may prefer the option they believe presents the lowest risk of additional cleaning, damage or lingering odours.

10. Flexibility—and Being Decisive—Can Make a Difference

Sometimes the deciding factor is practical rather than personal.

A landlord may prefer a tenant who can move in on the date the property becomes available rather than leaving the property empty for a month.

If you have flexibility around your move-in date or other practical arrangements, mention it.

Being decisive can also matter.

In a competitive rental market, a landlord with several interested applicants may not be willing to hold a property for several days while one prospective tenant thinks about it.

If you know that a property meets your needs and you want it, communicating that clearly and promptly can make a difference.

This can be challenging for international employees who are trying to compare several properties or make a decision together with family members who have not yet arrived in Norway.

But while you are considering your options, another suitable applicant may be ready to commit.

You should never feel pressured into renting a property that does not meet your needs or agreeing to terms that do not work for you.

But if you know that you want the property, say so.

11. Not Every Landlord Wants the Same Type of Tenancy

It is often assumed that every landlord wants a tenant who will stay for as long as possible.

Many do.

A long-term tenant can provide stability and reduce the time, cost and effort involved in finding new tenants.

A landlord looking for stability may therefore want to know how long you realistically expect to stay.

For international employees, this can be relevant if the employment contract is short-term or future plans are uncertain. A landlord may hesitate if they believe they will need to find another tenant again after only a few months.

But not every landlord wants a long-term tenant.

Some landlords only want to rent their property for a limited period because they plan to use it themselves later.

Others may want the property available during certain parts of the year. For example, a landlord may rent a property on a longer-term basis for part of the year but want it available during the summer for their own use or for potentially more lucrative short-term rentals.

This means that the “ideal tenant” can vary considerably from one landlord to another.

One landlord may prefer a family looking for a home for several years.

Another may specifically want someone who only needs the property for ten months.

A landlord may therefore choose another applicant not because they are a better tenant, but because their preferred rental period is a better match.

Sometimes, it is simply about finding the right match between what the tenant needs and what the landlord wants.

12. Good Communication Can Set You Apart

Clear communication is one of the simplest ways to build confidence.

Respond when the landlord contacts you.

Be clear about your intentions.

If you say you will send documentation, send it.

If you are no longer interested in the property, let the landlord know.

If you are delayed for a viewing, communicate as early as possible.

These things may sound basic.

But reliability is often demonstrated through small actions.

And when a landlord is choosing between several suitable applicants, those small actions can matter.

Can Bias and Discrimination Affect Who Gets a Rental Property?

Yes.

It is important to acknowledge an uncomfortable reality: not every decision in the rental market is based purely on objective factors.

International tenants may sometimes encounter conscious or unconscious bias. A landlord may make assumptions about a prospective tenant based on their name, nationality, ethnicity or cultural background.

For example, we have encountered concerns from some landlords about cooking smells and whether strong food aromas may remain in a property.

Concerns about lingering odours or the condition of a property can, in themselves, be practical concerns for a landlord. The problem arises when those concerns are automatically associated with a particular nationality or ethnic group rather than with the individual tenant.

In some cases, prospective tenants may therefore be judged according to assumptions about how people from a particular country cook or live.

Interestingly, this is not always a simple case of Norwegian landlords being reluctant to rent to international tenants.

Over the years, we have also encountered foreign landlords who specifically did not want to rent their property to tenants from their own country of origin.

Bias can therefore be more complicated than it first appears. People may make assumptions based on previous experiences, cultural stereotypes or personal prejudices, regardless of their own nationality or background.

For the prospective tenant, however, the result can be the same: they may not be given a fair opportunity to be assessed as an individual.

A prospective tenant should be assessed on relevant individual factors—not according to stereotypes about people who share their nationality or cultural background.

The reality, however, is that assumptions and prejudices are not always stated openly. Personal interaction and the opportunity to make an individual impression can sometimes help challenge those assumptions—but not always.

Sometimes, despite being a perfectly suitable tenant, you may not be chosen for reasons that have little to do with your actual ability to pay the rent or take care of the property.

Why Do Good Tenants Still Get Rejected?

Sometimes you can do everything right and still not get the property.

The landlord may choose someone who can move in earlier.

Another applicant’s preferred rental period may better suit the landlord’s plans.

Someone else may simply be a better match for that particular property.

And sometimes, you may never know the exact reason.

A rejection does not necessarily mean that you did anything wrong.

The Norwegian rental market can be competitive, particularly for attractive properties in popular locations. A landlord may have several perfectly suitable applicants but can ultimately choose only one.

There is no trick that guarantees you will be selected.

The goal is simply to avoid unintentionally giving a landlord reasons to hesitate.

Remember: You Are Choosing the Landlord Too

Understanding the landlord’s perspective does not mean that a tenant should accept everything.

A tenancy is a two-way relationship.

You should also consider whether the landlord communicates clearly, behaves professionally and seems likely to respect the tenancy agreement and your rights as a tenant.

Understand what is included in the rent.

Clarify important terms before signing.

Make sure that the tenancy and deposit arrangements are handled correctly.

A good rental relationship requires trust on both sides.

The Most Important Question a Landlord May Be Asking

When international employees search for a home in Norway, they often focus entirely on the property.

Is the location right?

Is it large enough?

Is the commute manageable?

Does it have the furniture we need?

These are all important questions.

But when several prospective tenants want the same property, remember that the landlord is making a decision too.

And behind many of their questions may be one simple concern:

“Can I trust this person with my property?”

You do not need to be the wealthiest applicant.

You do not need to oversell yourself.

But being punctual, transparent, respectful, reliable and easy to communicate with can make a significant difference.

At Relocation AS, we have 30 years of experience helping international employees and their families navigate the Norwegian rental market.

Our homefinding support goes beyond identifying suitable properties. We help our clients understand the local rental market, communicate with landlords and agents, attend viewings and navigate the practical steps involved in securing a home in Norway.

Because finding the right home is not only about finding a property you want.

Sometimes, it is also about helping the landlord feel confident choosing you.