Grants

The Housing Bank and the municipalities in co-operation may provide first-home housing grants.

The objective is to aid especially disadvantaged households in establishing themselves in and maintaining an acceptable home. Housing grants for approximately NOK 700 million were used in 2004 for individuals getting established in an owned or rental home, and for measures to enhance accessibility in dwellings for the elderly, disabled and low-income families. The Government aims at allocating the housing grant ever more directly towards geographical areas with high pressure in the housing market.

The Housing Bank gives priority to improve competency and knowledge in the housing and building markets. The earlier quality-grant and the grant for information, communication and activities to promote further knowledge, has been integrated to one single grant, the Knowledge grant, with an allocation of NOK 57 million in 2005. One of its objectives is to promote good quality building design and environmentally sustainable solutions. This grant is also important in the implementation of the National strategy for preventing and combating homelessness. Moreover the Housing Bank will contribute to develop and spread knowledge on universal design.

Other responsibilities