Utilities and neccessities

Here you will find information about utilities and necessities, in housing. Utilities and necessities for housing includes waste removal and recycling, stations, fire safety and department, chimney sweeps, water, electricity, internet, TV and radio, phone services, and additional information about municipalities fees, and other prices and billings.

Recycling and waste removal

Norway has a strict recycling and waste removal system which is almost the same in every region and municipality, where there are some differences between them. It is Helgeland Avfallsforedling IKS (HAF) who has the responsibility for managing recycling and waste removal in Rana municipality in the Helgeland region. Keep in mind it is all in Norwegian. Go to HAF webportal for home recycling and waste removal to find English recycling guide.

Go to HAF webportal for waste and recycling to find the calendar for removal of waste and recycling stations according to residence. 

Go to Rana municipality’s webportal about waste and recycling to find information about fees and prices pregulations in Rana municipality.

Electricity

Norwegians use electricity to heat up their personal homes, and it is not common to have gas or heating or cooking in private homes. Go to the website Energi fakta Norge to read and learn about electricity production in Norway. 

It is not common to have electricity included into the payment amount if you are renting or buying a home. Therefore, you can ask if you can the electricity agreement can be transferred over to you, in your official name. Keep in mind that it is common for some electricity companies to do credit checks on your name, so it is important talk with the electricity company before you get the agreement transferred over in your name. 

Price and billing

Electricity prices and billings varies between companies in Norway. Electricity bills are usually sent to customers every month, where you pay for both the infrastructure and the usage, but they are charged as invoices together. 

Go to the Norwegian Consumer Council where they have a free service called Strømpris which compares between electricity companies in terms of official providers and offers to find the perfect price for your home. 

Internet

Internet is usually included in rent when you are renting a home, but not included if you are buying a home. There are quite a few options to choose between where you can compare different offers and prices, and where mobile phone services and TV packages is usually included together with internet. Search words for internet providers are the following:

  • Internet: Internett, bredbånd.
  • Provider: Tilbyder, leverandør (internetleverandør or bredbåndstilbyder).

Go to the Norwegian Consumer Council to find more information about Bredbånd in Norway. 

TV and radio

The national channel is called "NRK" where there are three main channels online: 

  • NRK1
  • NRK2
  • NRK3

NRK have a channel called “New New in Norway where newcomers can listen and read news in several languages. 

If you want an overview of other channels in Norway use the official website to Media Norway to find all channels in Norway. 

Construction, fire, and property

Fire safety and regulations is important parts to remember when it comes to household inventories. Go to the webportal about fire safety to learn about official and personal safety. Go to Rana municipality's website to find information about regulations regarding fire safety and sweeping.

Water

You can drink water from the tap in Norway. It is probably the cleanest water in the world, so don't go and buy water or buy cleansing equipment. Go to Rana municipality's website to find more information about water and wastewater in Rana municipality. 

Air quality

The air quaility in Norway is probably one of the best qualities in the world, so it is something you don't really have to think much about here. Go to Rana municipality's website to find more information about air quality in Rana municipality. 

Road and traffic

Road and traffic system is not that bad but actually very good here. Go to Rana municipality's website to find more information about road and traffic system in Rana municipality. 

Property tax and other taxes

Go to Rana municipality's website to find information about  property tax in Rana municipality. Be aware that there are also other taxes such as public taxes in Rana municipality. 

Help with housing finances

Go to Rana municipality's website to find information about finances, benefits, loans and grants, financial and debt advice in Rana municipality. 

Emergency numbers

Go to Rana municipality's website to find an overview of emergency numbers in Rana municipality. 

If you are calling from abroad or with a non - Norwegian phone number set +47 or 0047 in front of the number.