State seeks approval to sell university and government properties

The Icelandic government is seeking authorisation to sell seven state properties, including the University of Iceland’s pharmaceutical sciences building in Reykjavík, mbl.is reports.

The proposed sales are included in the 2027 budget bill, which was presented earlier this week. The bill’s first reading is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

The properties newly added to the proposed sales list include Hofsvallagata 53 in Reykjavík, known as Hagi, which houses offices for the University of Iceland’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and its Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Also listed are a building at Laufásvegur 14 in Reykjavík; Dugguvogur 52 in Reykjavík, which includes the Pumping Iron gym; and the office and retail property at Skipholt 37, where the Lumex shop operates on the ground floor.

The list also includes Hafnarstræti 1 in Ísafjörður, the town’s administration building, as well as a radar building at Reykjavík Airport and a commercial building in Akranes.

The finance minister requires legal authorisation to dispose of state-owned properties and land, and to acquire new properties. Many of the authorisations on the list are carried over from previous years and are broadly worded.

Existing authorisations cover the sale of state interests in buildings used by schools, healthcare institutions, courts, police and district commissioner offices, among others.

Separate authorisations already cover the sale of Reykjavík District Court’s building at Austurstræti 19 and the Court of Appeal’s building at Vesturvör 2 in Kópavogur, as well as the purchase or lease of more suitable premises for both institutions.