> Part of Norway, the whole Svalbard archipelago is one of the only places in the world you don't need a visa to live -- if you show up, you can stay, so long as you don't commit a crime or go broke in the process, in which case the governor sends you back to Oslo.

My understanding is that Norway owns all the land there, and that the accommodation situation is quite tricky - there are few rental properties, operated by private landlords, while most of the properties exist solely for the purpose of accommodating local workers (researchers, miners, etc.).

Is that indeed the case? Could you, please, shed some light on this?