Purchasing Honeyside in Riften is one of the most rewarding real estate investments in Skyrim. Unlike Breezehome in Whiterun, which serves as a simple starter shack, Honeyside offers unique conveniences. It sits directly on the canal with a private porch, features an enchanting table, and allows you to build an indoor alchemy lab or a garden depending on your setup.
To buy Honeyside, you must complete specific quests for the Jarl of Riften, gain the favor of the local citizens, and pay the gold fee to the Jarl's steward. This guide breaks down every prerequisite, hidden hurdle, and expense required to secure your own property in the heart of the Thieves Guild territory without getting bogged down by bugs or missing quest triggers.
Understanding the Riften Housing Requirements
Before you can hand over your hard-earned septims for Honeyside, you must meet several mandatory progression markers set by the Jarl and the city guard. Skyrim handles property ownership through a civic favor system. Riften is notoriously corrupt, meaning your path to homeownership requires dealing with local politics and crime.
Reaching Level 15 and Meeting Jarl Laila Law-Giver
You cannot purchase Honeyside at level one. The game locks the Jarl's housing questline until your character reaches level 15. Once you hit this milestone, head up to Mistveil Keep in the southern district of Riften. Inside, you will find Jarl Laila Law-Giver sitting on her throne, flanked by her suspicious advisor, Anuriel. Speak to the Jarl, and she will mention that she needs help dealing with the citizens' problems before she grants outsiders the right to buy property within the city walls.
If the Jarl refuses to offer the quest, check your level or ensure you haven't accidentally angered the guards. Civil war status also alters Riften's leadership; if the Imperial Legion captures the Rift during the Civil War questline, Jarl Laila is replaced by Maven Black-Briar. Fortunately, Maven follows the exact same quest triggers, so you can still buy Honeyside under either ruler.
Assisting the Citizens of the Rift
The core requirement for buying Honeyside is helping five citizens of the Rift hold. Riften and its surrounding farmlands (including Shor's Stone, Ivarstead, and the various mills) contain plenty of residents who need small favors. Completing these tasks boosts your standing and satisfies the Jarl's mandate.
- Bersi Honey-Hand: Speak to Bersi at The Bee and Barb and ask about his broken business. This triggers the "Drowned Sorrows" quest to smash Maven Black-Briar's prized brewing vat.
- Wujeeta: Find the Argonian addict at the Bee and Barb or the docks, and hand her a healing potion to earn her gratitude.
- Shadr: Stand outside the Riften Stables and talk to the distressed stableboy about his debt to Sondas and Sapphire.
- Fastred or Narfi: Travel to Ivarstead to solve local disputes or find lost items for easy citizen credits.
- Nilheim: Clear out the bandits at Nilheim east of Ivarstead to help Stolr.
You can track your progress toward this goal by checking your general stats in the pause menu under the "Quests" or "Misc" tabs, though the game doesn't display a direct counter for citizens helped. Simply pick up five distinct miscellaneous tasks from NPCs in the Rift hold and complete them.
Clearing the Skooma Trade and Earning the Title
Once you have helped five citizens, return to Jarl Laila Law-Giver or Maven Black-Briar. Tell her you want to buy a house in the city. She will acknowledge your service to the hold's people, but she will note one final obstacle: the city is suffering from a dangerous skooma trade run by a mysterious figure known as the Dealer.
This triggers the quest "In My Time of Need" or, more accurately for Riften housing, the questline starting with "Skooma Trade" tied to Wujeeta and the Riften Warehouse.
Investigating the Warehouse
Head down to the Riften Docks at night and find the locked warehouse on the water. Pick the lock (requires Adept security skill) or grab the key off the harbor master. Inside, fight off the skooma-addled thugs and inspect the suspicious crates. Look for a note detailing a drop-off point at Riften Warehouse or leading you to the Riften Fishery.
Venturing into Redwater Den or Cragslane Cavern
The trail leads you to Cragslane Cavern, located northwest of Riften. Prepare for a tough fight against multiple Marauders and skooma dealers inside the cave. Clear out the inhabitants, free the captive Argonian named Sudi if she is still alive, and retrieve the suspicious note or key that exposes the smuggling ring.
Return to the Jarl or her steward, Anuriel, and deliver the news that the drug ring has been disrupted. With the skooma threat minimized, you are finally granted the Thane title of the Rift and the official right to purchase property within the city walls.
Purchasing and Furnishing Honeyside
Honeyside is the cheapest house in Skyrim's base game, making it an attractive early-to-mid-game investment. However, buying the shell is only the first step. You need to buy furnishings separately to make the house functional.
The Cost of Property and Upgrades
Anuriel or Hemming Black-Briar acts as your housing steward. Approach them with the necessary gold in your inventory:
- Base House Cost: 8,000 Septims (gets you an empty, dirty wooden shack with a bed and a few cooking utensils).
- Porch Upgrade: 500 Septims.
- Kitchen Upgrade: 500 Septims.
- Bedroom Upgrade: 600 Septims.
- Alchemy Laboratory Upgrade: 900 Septims.
- Enchanting Laboratory Upgrade: 1,000 Septims.
The total cost to fully kit out Honeyside is 11,500 Septims. If you are strapped for cash, prioritize the bedroom (for the well-rested experience bonus) and the enchanting lab, since finding an early enchanting table in the open world can be tedious.
Where is Honeyside Located?
Unlike most houses in Skyrim, Honeyside has two entry points. You can enter through the front door from the main residential alleyway in Riften, or you can walk around the exterior of the city walls to the eastern docks and enter directly through the back porch door. This rear entrance lets you slip into Riften without paying the city guard tax or sneaking past the front gates, making it a favorite hideout for Thieves Guild members.
Common Bugs and How to Fix Them
Riften is notorious in the Skyrim community for script bugs, particularly regarding property purchases. If you run into issues, try these community-tested fixes:
- Anuriel won't give the dialogue option: Make sure you actually completed five distinct favor quests in the Rift. Simply talking to people isn't enough; you must complete their specific objective and receive a reward.
- Can't buy the alchemy lab: If you buy the porch upgrade last, it occasionally conflicts with the layout of the alchemy station due to overlapping cell data. Buy the interior upgrades before purchasing the exterior porch to avoid this glitch.
- Items disappearing from containers: Honeyside has a reputation for random item despawns in non-safe storage containers. Only store your rare weapons, dragon priest masks, and armor sets inside specific designated chests or weapon racks that do not reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Honeyside without joining the Thieves Guild?
Yes. Joining the Thieves Guild is entirely optional. While Honeyside is located deep within Riften's criminal underbelly, the Jarl sells the house to anyone who meets the level requirement, helps five citizens, and stops the skooma trade.
Why is there no forge inside Honeyside?
Honeyside does not feature an indoor forge, smelter, or workbench. However, you can walk just a few dozen paces out the back door to the Riften marketplace, where Elgrim's Elixirs, the blacksmith, and general merchants operate in the open courtyard.
What is the fastest way to get 8,000 Septims early in the game?
Alchemy is the fastest money maker in Skyrim. Collect blue mountain flowers and lavender, mix them into poisons or potions at any alchemy lab, and sell them to local merchants. Alternatively, clear out Embershard Mine and Bleak Falls Barrow early to sell iron daggers and enchanted loot.
Does Honeyside have room for children?
No. Honeyside does not feature a children's bedroom or a way to build a kid's bed, meaning you cannot adopt children and move them into this specific house without using third-party PC mods. For adoptions, look toward Hearthfire homes like Lakeview Manor or houses in Whiterun and Solitude.
