Furnished apartment in Oslo

Before you sign Ask for a complete list of what is furnished: linens, towels, kitchenware, internet, TV, washer. A good landlord sends you a spec sheet; a less good one assumes you understand what "fully furnished" means in their particular universe. If you have to buy a coffee cup on the first morning, you chose the wrong apartment.

Price and what is included Ask which costs are in the monthly rent and which come on top. Electricity, heating, internet, municipal charges, cleaning. In furnished rentals it is common for electricity and internet to be included, but not always. Ask for an example calculation for a typical winter month, so you do not get surprises in January.

Contract length and termination Agree how long you will live there, what happens if you need to extend, and how termination works if your project becomes shorter than planned. For serviced apartments it is common to have shorter notice periods (one month) than for regular rentals (three months).

Check at handover Walk around with the landlord or their representative and fill out a handover protocol. Test every appliance: washer, dishwasher, coffee maker, TV, internet router. Measure the wifi signal in every room where you plan to work. Check that there is enough hot water by letting the shower run for five minutes. Take photos of any marks, scratches or damage.

Internet and home office If you will be working from home: ask the landlord for a speed test, or test it yourself on handover day. For video meetings you need a minimum of 50 Mbit symmetric. Also ask for a workstation that holds up for an entire day: ergonomic chair, large desk, extra monitor.

Travel time Measure travel time to the office or the school during rush hour, not midday. The difference can be twenty minutes. Use the Ruter app for public transport and Google Maps for cycling and driving. If you fly often, check how easy it is to reach the airport express or the airport bus.

Neighbourhood and everyday services Check the distance to a grocery store (Coop, Rema, Meny), wine monopoly, gym, doctor and pharmacy. If you have children: kindergarten, playground and primary school. These everyday details decide whether you thrive in the district.

Insurance Clarify who is insured for what. The landlord usually has insurance on the apartment itself and the contents, but you need your own travel or contents insurance for your own belongings. Ask in advance, not after something has been stolen.