Tighter rules on short-term rentals

The Tromsø / Finnmark news over the past 48 hours: Tromsø municipality is tightening its oversight of short-term rentals, a letter of concern has been filed against the municipality's chief executive, and a report reveals that one in five employees at the Finnmark fylkeshus say they have been bullied. Tromsø IL has lost another scout, and fishermen in Bugøynes are pushing back against the proposed requirements for king crab. Since 1 January 2024, the former county of Troms og Finnmark no longer exists: Troms and Finnmark now form two separate counties.

Tromsø news: municipality tightens oversight of short-term rentals

Tromsø municipality is tightening the screws on illegal short-term rentals (NRK Tromsø / Finnmark). The regional public broadcaster reports that the fear of making a mistake is making several flat owners hesitate before renting out. The observation comes from one of the city's largest rental operators.

NRK uses the expression "Airbnb shame" to describe the situation. Owners are stepping back rather than risk an inspection, while the municipality is hardening its approach to the phenomenon. The case concerns the balance between short-term tourist lets and local rules in northern Norway.

Tromsø kommune: letter of concern filed against the administrative leadership

The leadership group of Tromsø municipality has sent a "bekymringsmelding" — a letter of concern — targeting the municipality's chief executive, Ellen Beate Lundberg. The information was revealed by the newspaper Nordlys, and mayor Gunnar Wilhelmsen confirmed to NRK Tromsø / Finnmark that the municipality did indeed receive this report. Gunnar Wilhelmsen chairs the employer committee (arbeidsgiverutvalget), which is handling the case.

In a text message to NRK, the mayor said the matter is being followed up by the employer committee in line with the municipality's routines, that the necessary investigations are being carried out to shed sufficient light on the case, and that the follow-up is being assessed on an ongoing basis. He added that he does not wish to comment on the content of the case or on its concrete handling, out of consideration for the people concerned and for the procedure under way. Nordlys writes that it has obtained partial access to certain documents in the case.

Finnmark fylkeskommune: one in five employees reports being bullied

One in five employees at the Finnmark fylkeshus says they have been bullied, according to a report carried out by KomRev Nord on behalf of Finnmark county (NRK Tromsø / Finnmark). The survey covered the working environment and health, safety and environment (HMS) work. It also points to a culture of fear: most employees say they do not dare to flag up questionable conditions.

"This is not acceptable, and it is our responsibility as an employer to put it right," says the director of Finnmark fylkeskommune, Kjersti Vevstad, quoted by NRK. In total, 220 of the 284 employees responded to the survey. The fylkesdirektør notes that the report gives a composite picture of the working environment: most employees are happy, motivated in their work and have good colleagues and good managers, but too many people have experienced or witnessed problematic situations.

King crab: Bugøynes fishermen push back against proposed requirements

The Fiskeridirektoratet, the Directorate of Fisheries, wants once again to tighten the conditions for obtaining a king-crab quota (NRK Tromsø / Finnmark). In Bugøynes, in Finnmark, fishermen say they are exasperated to see the proposal come back. The Fisheries Minister promises a thorough consideration of the case once the consultation process is over. The head of the fishermen's organisation in Bugøynes, Erling Haugan, for his part believes the proposal should be withdrawn.

Sport: Endre Nash also leaves Tromsø IL

Tromsø IL lost its sporting director Lars Petter Kræmer-Andressen on 1 October (NRK Tromsø / Finnmark). Endre Nash, 26, who was involved in scouting for new players, is in turn heading for the exit. TIL's day-to-day leader, William Frantzen, confirmed the departure to NRK, and iTromsø is publishing his explanation for leaving the club.

"What I can say is that Endre received an offer from us, and that he turned it down. We really want to keep him, and we are very happy with the work he has done," William Frantzen told NRK. The leader said the club worked in depth with Nash to find a way forward, and that he ultimately declined. Asked about Nash likely joining Vålerenga, where he would be recruited by TIL's former sporting director, Frantzen replied that Nash's plans are his own and that the club respects his choice.

Local politics: SV Tromsø unveils its list

SV Tromsø has unveiled its list of candidates for the municipal elections, reports NRK Tromsø / Finnmark. Line Solbakken is running for mayor. "I am proud to present a list of 49 good candidates," says Åsne Høgetveit, head of the nominations committee. Mathias Kjerstad is in second place and the outgoing deputy mayor Sigrid Bjørnhaug Hammer in third. The campaign will take place in Norway's largest municipality placed under the "Robek" regime.

📌 Local briefs

The government's proposal to scrap the host municipality scheme (vertskommuneordningen) would cost Kvæfjord municipality, in Troms, 120 million kroner, leaving it to foot the bill for the HVPU reform; the mayor says he is "absolutely furious" (NRK Tromsø / Finnmark).

A delay in the construction of the new waste-treatment site is leading to extra interest costs (NRK Tromsø / Finnmark).

Nordlys reports the sale of the entire building of an iconic kiosk in Tromsø, as well as a case of admitted falsification that did not prevent its author from staying in a management position. It also flags the reopening in a new form of a venue on the day of an anniversary date, cuts announced from one day to the next, and a laser speed check that caught several drivers (Nordlys).

iTromsø looks back at a group of visitors described as leaving a lot of money behind, at a show moving "from raw energy to eurodance", and at an activity under threat of closure (iTromsø).

iFinnmark writes that the Finnmark hospital did not want to disclose the amount of the severance pay for its director Teigmo, that a municipality reported itself to the Datatilsynet (Norwegian Data Protection Authority) following an incident linked to artificial intelligence, that a mayor wanted to keep a notification hidden from the municipal council, and that Milla, 16, reacts to the cost of living for young people (iFinnmark).

According to NRK Nordnytt, it is judged important to show Norwegian military activity around Svalbard. Svalbard is not a Norwegian county: this Arctic territory under Norwegian sovereignty has a special international status and is administered by a governor appointed by the state.

Sources: NRK Tromsø / Finnmark, Nordlys, iTromsø, iFinnmark, The Local Norway — Period: 15 October 2026 and 16 October 2026