Norwegian man’s unusual flat with no bathroom struggles to find a buyer

Steffen Brenna’s 22-square-metre loft apartment in Fjellhamar, Norway, has no bathroom inside—yet he insists the unconventional setup has its advantages, Dagbladet reports.

The 30-year-old electrician must leave his flat and cross a shared attic space to reach the toilet, a quirk that has made selling the property unexpectedly difficult. “I’ve changed a bit living like this,” Brenna admitted. “If I need to go at night, I just use a bucket.”

Brenna purchased the studio apartment in 2020 for 1.3 million kroner (approx. €115,000) after separating from his ex-partner. At the time, he believed the bathroom—located outside his unit in the building’s attic—was communally owned, with exclusive use granted to him. Only recently did he learn he legally owns the space.

The compact flat, which he painted entirely black against the advice of friends, includes a kitchen, living area, and bedroom partitioned by a slatted wall. Storage nooks under the sloped ceiling provide additional space. Despite the oddities, Brenna claims the layout offers privacy. “It works fine,” he said. “Once, after a night out, even my ex said she liked the setup.”

Now planning a move to Oslo, Brenna has struggled to attract buyers. “No one wants it,” he acknowledged, though he remains fond of the place. Born in Lambertseter, he relocated to Fjellhamar as a child and has lived in the Haneborgveien area for years. The apartment’s unusual design dates to its conversion in the early 2000s, when the loft was repurposed without altering the original floor plan.

Tags: norway, housing, unusual homes