GastroShark

My previous landlord, Jon Orn Gudmundsson (KT: 200468-4659), was the most difficult and unreasonable person I've ever had the displeasure of meeting. He worked by day as the head of online corporate banking at Landsbanki, a prestigious Icelandic bank, but he also deposited over 250,000 ISK extra per month (2,000 GBP)  in renting out rooms and a flat in the house on Skolavordustigur 30 where he lived.

People who rented rooms at his house were vulnerable young foreign students coming to Iceland to study and who needed basic accommodation. Rooms at Skolavordustigur 30 were, however, some of the most expensive in Reykjavik; a small room cost 45,000 per month whilst a large room hit 60,000. Tenants were also asked if they could pay cash, as Jon was keen on not arousing the suspicion of the tax authorites.

Tenants were not given written contracts, instead they were on 1 month verbal notices. One month after moving I moved in, a list of 21 rules were presented to me:

The 21+ rules of living at Skolavordustigur 30, abridged - [my comments in brackets]:

2. Visits after 23.00 are prohibited. Exceptions can only be made if every tenant and house owner agree together and with at least one week in advance. [so expect angry 4am phone calls or shouting landlord if you let your friend stay the night]

3. Smoking is not allowed in front of the house. [smokers must proceed to pavement]

5. Downloading from the internet is not allowed. Monthly Internet limit is 3000mb for all usage on the house. If the limit is exceeded the Internet gets limited. [for 6 people would it not have been wiser to get unlimited Internet?]

9. Cooking after 22.00 is not allowed [if you're hungry, tough luck]

11. If you use slippers, use soft bottom slippers [?!]

14. Washing machine and dryer are only accessible on designated washing days and only between 16.00 and 20.00 [I couldn’t go away at weekends as I needed to wash my clothes Sat evening]

17. The gate should be closed on your way in and out of the house [the gate had no latch so blew open in the wind anyway]

20. Candles are not allowed [forget trying to make your room cosy in winter]

Not following these house rules can result in cancellation of rent without further notice [what a sweetheart...]

Additional unwritten rules:

No not leave any trace of alcohol in tenants’ kitchen [landlord’s children might come upstairs and lick the empty wine glasses clean]

Do not tap too loudly on computer keyboard [my personal favourite]

Indoor light chains need to be certified [they could explode and burn down the house]

When cooking, small window must be open and extractor fan on [otherwise landlord will come upstairs and tell tenant off]

Don’t make smelly food [landlord doesn’t like home-cooked food - he prefers take-away pizzas]

No guests allowed in the kitchen [it could be considered a party]

From 1^st March 2008, fixed cooking times to be established for all tenants every day of the week and no cooking after 7pm.

NB: Landlord can break any of the above rules if he wants. Examples include; loud banging at midnight, loud music, constant noise of pet bird, taking tenants’ washing times, banging front door loudly, frequently disconnecting the Internet, smoking indoors....etc etc

Needless to say I didn´t think paying one of the highest rents in the country was worth living like this and I left after 4 months. By writing this, I'm making sure that I don´t forget this unpleasant chapter in my life in Iceland and I'm also highlighting the growing problem of greedy landlords in Reykjavik exploiting foreigners who don't fully know their rights or what is standard rental practise.