Newly built apartment includes unapproved ‘storage space’ larger than its bedroom, living room, and kitchen combined

A newly constructed apartment in Trondheim, set for completion this autumn, includes a 27-square-metre “storage space” that accounts for nearly 40 percent of its total area—but is not approved for permanent use as a living space, bedroom, or kitchen.

The 71-square-metre apartment, listed for 3.55 million Norwegian kroner (approximately €310,000), markets the unfinished concrete-floored space as an opportunity for buyers to “create your own area.” However, the room lacks formal approval for habitation, a detail that has raised concerns among potential buyers.

Buyers express scepticism

Sofie Erdal Kjeldsand, a local resident, told NRK she would have carefully analysed the requirements for converting the space into a legal living area. “If you have the option, you’d probably avoid it,” she said, adding that pricing would be a key factor. “It depends on whether you’re paying for it as a bedroom or not.”

Emilie Enger Berg, a homeowner, said she would have been deterred by the listing. “I’d probably be scared off and look at other apartments instead.” She noted that navigating property listings can be confusing, with critical details often unclear. “There’s a lot of information you might not understand about how the apartment actually is.”

Student Sigurd Lindtvedt said he would have questioned why the space exists in its current form. “I’d wonder what the deal is with it being a storage room. Why isn’t the living room there instead?” John Herman Wik, another prospective first-time buyer, called the setup “strange” and said he would seek more information before considering a purchase.

Developer admits late-stage adjustment

Petter Bang Møllersen, the real estate agent responsible for selling the apartment in Trondheim’s Solsletta Hageby development, acknowledged that the space was an unplanned surplus. Originally intended as a 35-square-metre void in the building’s lower floor, the area was later incorporated into the apartment when it became clear no separate storage unit was needed.

“Instead of having a storage room in the basement that no one owns, we thought it made more sense to include it in the apartment,” Møllersen said. He estimated the unit’s value at 3 million kroner without the storage space, or 4.3–4.6 million kroner if fully finished as a 70-square-metre apartment.

Møllersen claimed converting the space for permanent use should not pose major obstacles, as it meets requirements for emergency exits and natural light. However, he stressed that any changes would require a formal application to the municipality. “A buyer would need to apply for this, and the commune must assess the change in use,” he said.

Municipality warns of potential hurdles

Erlend Stav, zone manager at Trondheim’s building permit office, confirmed the apartment does not violate regulations in its current form. However, he cautioned that approval for conversions is not guaranteed. “We assess whether legal, regulatory, and zoning plan requirements are met,” Stav said. “While some applications are straightforward, others can be quite demanding.”

To qualify as a habitable space, the room must comply with standards for lighting, views, ceiling height, and indoor climate. Stav noted that processing times for standard applications—those not requiring exemptions—are capped at three weeks. For spaces up to 50 square metres, approval may be simpler, but larger or more complex conversions could face delays.

The listing does not include images of the storage space, and the developer has not specified its intended use.