# Housing benefit 2027: proposed freeze on expense ceilings Norway proposes unchanged housing expense ceilings for benefits in 2027. See how they differ from rent and your payment, and what to check now. Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/bostotte-2027-forslag-endringer Language: en Publisher: SamfunnPrep Author: Hlib Suslov Published: 2026-10-08T11:36:46.674+00:00 Modified: 2026-10-08T11:36:46.730073+00:00 AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt ## Key takeaways - A freeze on ceilings is proposed The government proposes unchanged housing expense ceilings in kroner in 2027. The proposal has not been adopted as of 7 October 2026. - The ceiling applies to the calculation The housing expense ceiling does not freeze rent. It limits which housing expenses are included in housing benefit. - Check your own situation NOK 43,600 is an estimated annual average, not a promise to each household. Use Husbanken’s current calculator. The government proposes keeping the housing expense ceilings used for housing benefit at the same krone amounts in 2027. This may matter if your rent rises. As of 7 October 2026, it is a budget proposal, not adopted rules for next year. ## What does the government propose? The proposal is to continue the **housing expense ceilings in nominal terms**. This means the same amounts in kroner, without raising the ceilings to account for inflation. Kommunal- og distriktsdepartementet, Norway’s Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, responsible for housing policy, also proposes **NOK 4,210 million** for housing benefit in 2027. Stortinget, Norway’s parliament, must consider the budget. See [the proposal under chapter 581, item 70](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/prop.-1-s-20262027/id3175192/?ch=2). Housing benefit supports households with low incomes and high housing expenses. Husbanken, Norway’s state housing bank, manages the scheme together with municipalities. The existing [housing benefit guide](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bostotte-2026) explains applications and eligibility. ## Does the housing expense ceiling limit your rent? No. It limits **how much of your housing expenses is included when calculating housing benefit**. It is not a rule that freezes your rent. Husbanken uses the upper limit if your approved housing expenses are higher. The limit depends on where you live and how many people are in your household. Income and your own contribution, the part you must cover yourself, also affect the benefit. See [Husbanken’s explanation of the calculation](https://www.husbanken.no/person/bostotte/beregning-av-bostotte/). For example, if your housing expenses already exceed the ceiling and your rent rises, the full increase will not necessarily be included. An unchanged ceiling also does not guarantee an unchanged housing benefit payment. The calculation depends on other information too. ## Does everyone receive NOK 43,600 a year? No. The ministry estimates that an average of **92,900 households** will receive housing benefit each month in 2027. The estimated level of support corresponds to an average of **NOK 43,600 per household per year**. These figures are a budget forecast. They are not a fixed annual amount for all recipients and do not tell you how much you personally will receive. The figures appear in [the same budget chapter](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/prop.-1-s-20262027/id3175192/?ch=2). ## How can you check your own situation? Use current information and rules when checking housing benefit now. [Husbanken’s housing benefit page](https://www.husbanken.no/person/bostotte/) links to the current housing benefit calculator. An estimate from it is not a decision on your application. - Gather your rent or other housing expenses and your household’s income details. - Use the calculator with the correct municipality and number of people. - Read your latest decision if you already receive housing benefit. - Ask the municipality or Husbanken how to report changes in your situation. Follow the remaining budget process before planning on the basis of 2027 rules. You can also see [other support schemes for low-income families](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/stotteordninger-lavinntektsfamilier-norge) and use [SamfunnPrep’s practical tools](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy). ## FAQ ### Have the housing expense ceilings for 2027 been adopted? No. As of 7 October 2026, unchanged krone amounts are the government’s budget proposal. Stortinget must consider it. ### Does an unchanged housing expense ceiling mean rent cannot rise? No. The ceiling concerns which housing expenses are included in the housing benefit calculation, not how high rent may be. ### Will I receive NOK 43,600 in housing benefit in 2027? Not necessarily. The amount is an estimated annual average in the budget. Your benefit depends on your own situation. ### How can I check my housing benefit now? Use the current calculator on Husbanken’s housing benefit page and read your latest decision. A calculator estimate is not a decision. ## Sources - [KDD: Statsbudsjettet 2027, kapittel 581 post 70](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/prop.-1-s-20262027/id3175192/?ch=2) - [Husbanken: Beregning av bostøtte](https://www.husbanken.no/person/bostotte/beregning-av-bostotte/) - [Husbanken: Bostøtte og kalkulator](https://www.husbanken.no/person/bostotte/) Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Housing benefit 2027: proposed freeze on expense ceilings", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-08T11:36:46.674+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/bostotte-2027-forslag-endringer