boligenheter

Boligenhet is a term used in Norwegian housing statistics and planning to denote the smallest separately inhabitable dwelling unit intended for private residence. A boligenhet represents a living space that can be occupied independently by a household, typically within a building or structure containing multiple such units.

Criteria commonly used to define a boligenhet include a self-contained setup with its own kitchen and sanitary facilities and the possibility of independent access. In practice, boligenheter can be apartments in multi-family buildings, separate dwellings within a single property, or standalone houses that form part of a larger housing stock. The key element is that the unit is designed and usable as a private home by one household.

The concept is central to statistics and planning because it delineates housing stock by unit rather than by the building as a whole. Boligenheter are counted in population censuses, housing surveys, and energy or urban planning analyses to measure occupancy, tenure (rental or owner-occupied), condition, and demand. This enables authorities to assess housing supply, plan infrastructure, and monitor housing market developments.

Note that the precise criteria for what constitutes a boligenhet can vary by jurisdiction and over time, depending on regulations and statistical conventions. Local statistics agencies and planning authorities publish the applicable definitions and methodological guidelines. Related terms include leilighet (apartment) and boenhet (residential unit).