The Tenancy Act
LOV-1999-03-26-17 · 89 §§Renting a home: deposit, maintenance, rent increases, termination and moving out. Each section has the legal text (unofficial translation) and a plain-language explanation.
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
§ 3-5Deposit (depositum) — the rules you need to know§ 9-5When can the landlord give you notice?§ 10-2How to hand back the home when you move out§ 2-10You can require the landlord to repair defects at their own expense
Chapter 1 — General provisions§§ 1-1 – 1-8
- § 1-1Who does the Act apply to?The Tenancy Act (husleieloven) applies to you if you rent, or rent out, rented premises…
- § 1-2The Act cannot be departed from to your disadvantageIf you have rented a home (bolig), the landlord cannot use the contract to take away…
- § 1-3Standard terms for tenancy contractsIf your tenancy agreement (leieavtale) is based on a standard tenancy contract…
- § 1-4Do you need a written tenancy agreement?A verbal tenancy agreement (leieavtale) is lawful and valid. But either party can…
- § 1-5What happens if your letter arrives too late?If you send a message in a proper way, for example as a registered letter (rekommandert…
- § 1-6How to calculate deadlines under the Tenancy Act (husleieloven)Deadlines under the Tenancy Act are calculated according to the rules in the Courts of…
- § 1-7Personal injury is not covered by the Tenancy ActIf you are injured in your rented home (bolig) — for example because the stairs were…
- § 1-8Your landlord cannot discriminate against youYou cannot be rejected as a tenant, refused permission to take someone into your…
Chapter 2 — Handover and requirements for the premises§§ 2-1 – 2-17
- § 2-1When should you get the keys?The landlord (utleier) must give you access to the home (bolig) on the date you agreed…
- § 2-2What condition should the home be in when you move in?The home (bolig) must be tidied, cleaned and in normal good condition when you move in…
- § 2-3Incorrect information about the homeIf the landlord (utleier) told you something about the home (bolig) that was not true…
- § 2-4Information the landlord should have given youThe landlord has a duty to tell you about problems he knows about, even if you don't…
- § 2-5Does "as is" mean the landlord gets off the hook?The landlord (utleier) cannot hide behind "rented as is". If he knew about faults and…
- § 2-6What can you no longer complain about if you inspected the home?If you knew about a fault when you signed, or should have seen it at the viewing, you…
- § 2-7When is the condition of the home assessed?Whether the home (bolig) has a defect (mangel) is decided by how the home was when you…
- § 2-8How long can you wait before complaining about a fault?If you discover a fault in the home (bolig), you must tell the landlord (utleier)…
- § 2-9Can you demand that the landlord actually hands over the home?If the home is not ready at the agreed time, you can demand that the landlord actually…
- § 2-10You can require the landlord to repair defects at their own expenseIf there is a defect (mangel) in the home (bolig), you can require the landlord…
- § 2-11You can demand lower rent if the home has defectsIf the home (bolig) is not ready on time or has a defect (mangel), you do not have to…
- § 2-12When can you end the tenancy agreement because of defects?If the delay or the defect (mangel) in the home is serious enough to amount to a…
- § 2-13You can claim compensation for losses caused by delay or defectsIf you have lost money because the home (bolig) was not ready at the agreed time, or…
- § 2-14What does compensation cover — and what does it not cover?Compensation (erstatning) is meant to cover the financial loss you have actually…
- § 2-15You can withhold rent as securityIf you have a claim against the landlord (utleier) because of a defect (mangel) or…
- § 2-16What happens if someone else has rights in your home?If it turns out that someone else has a right in your home (bolig) — for example an old…
- § 2-17Public orders that prevent you from using the homeIf you cannot use the home (bolig) as you agreed because the authorities have imposed a…
Chapter 3 — Rent and other payments§§ 3-1 – 3-8
- § 3-1How much rent can the landlord charge?The rent (husleie) must always be set as a fixed amount. If you have not agreed on the…
- § 3-2When is the rent due?Rent (husleie) is normally due at the start of the payment period, typically on the 1st…
- § 3-3How to pay your rentThe landlord (utleier) can say that the rent (husleie) must be paid into an account…
- § 3-4Payment for electricity, water and sewageIf you pay a charge for electricity, water or sewage on top of the rent (husleie), you…
- § 3-5Deposit (depositum) — the rules you need to knowThe landlord (utleier) can require a deposit of up to six months' rent (husleie). The…
- § 3-6Guarantee as security for the landlordInstead of a deposit (depositum), or in addition to one, the landlord (utleier) can…
- § 3-7Your landlord cannot charge you extra paymentsIf you rent a home (bolig), the landlord (utleier) cannot charge any payments other…
- § 3-8How to set disputed rent asideIf you disagree with your landlord (utleier) about the rent (husleie), or you want to…
Chapter 4 — Rent protection§§ 4-1 – 4-6
- § 4-1The landlord (utleier) cannot set the rent (husleie) unreasonably highThe landlord cannot demand a rent that is unreasonably high compared with what similar…
- § 4-2The landlord can adjust the rent in line with the Consumer Price IndexThe landlord can adjust the rent once a year in line with the Consumer Price Index…
- § 4-3After 2.5 years the rent can be adjusted to market levelAfter at least two and a half years, the landlord (utleier) — or you — can demand that…
- § 4-4You can claim back unlawful rentIf you have paid too much rent (husleie) — more than is lawful under the protection…
- § 4-5Exceptions from the protection against unreasonable rent (leieprisvern)If you pay separately for electricity, water or wastewater in addition to the rent…
- § 4-6The authorities can introduce a rent freezeIn special situations, the government can introduce a rent freeze (leiestopp) or set…
Chapter 5 — The parties' obligations during the tenancy§§ 5-1 – 5-8
- § 5-1Your duties and the landlord's duties while you live thereWhile you rent, the landlord (utleier) must keep the home (bolig) available to you. You…
- § 5-2Peace, order and keeping petsYou must follow the normal rules of order in the building. But even if the landlord…
- § 5-3Who is responsible for maintenance?The landlord (utleier) is responsible for keeping the home (bolig) in good repair. You…
- § 5-4Can the landlord (utleier) make changes to your home (bolig)?The landlord can make minor changes to the home without asking you, but not if they…
- § 5-5You must report damageIf you discover damage in the home (bolig) that must be repaired straight away — for…
- § 5-6Can the landlord enter your flat?The landlord (utleier) can enter your home (bolig) for inspection (tilsyn) and…
- § 5-7Your rights when something goes wrong during the tenancyIf the landlord (utleier) fails to meet their obligations while you live there…
- § 5-8Your liability to pay compensation to the landlordIf you break your obligations as a tenant (leier) and the landlord (utleier) suffers a…
Chapter 6 — Tenant representation in certain residential tenancies§§ 6-1 – 6-3
- § 6-1You and your neighbours can elect a tenants' representativeIf there are five or more rented homes in your building, the tenants (leier) can vote…
- § 6-2What does the tenants' representative do?The tenants' representative (tillitsvalgt) represents all the tenants (leiere) in…
- § 6-3The landlord must inform the tenants' representativeThe landlord (utleier) must inform the tenants' representative (tillitsvalgt) about…
Chapter 7 — Adding household members and subletting§§ 7-1 – 7-7
- § 7-1Who can you take into your household?You can take in your spouse (ektefelle) or cohabiting partner (samboer), your children…
- § 7-2You cannot sublet without the landlord's consentYou cannot rent out your home to others — neither all of it nor part of it — unless the…
- § 7-3You can sublet a room if you live there yourselfIf you live in the home yourself, you can sublet part of it, such as a bedroom, with…
- § 7-4You can sublet your whole home if you are temporarily awayIf you go away temporarily because of work, education, military service or illness, you…
- § 7-5Subletting when you have a fixed-term tenancy agreementIf you have a tenancy agreement for a fixed period — for example two years — you can…
- § 7-6If the landlord says nothing for one month, it counts as approvalIf you send a written application to let someone join your household (husstand) or to…
- § 7-7What happens to your subtenant if you lose your tenancy agreement?If the landlord (utleier) gives notice of termination (oppsigelse) of your tenancy…
Chapter 8 — Change of tenant§§ 8-1 – 8-6
- § 8-1You cannot transfer the tenancy agreement without consentYou cannot hand over your tenancy agreement (leieavtale) — with its rights and…
- § 8-2Who can take over the tenancy agreement when the tenant dies?If the tenant dies, the spouse, children and others who lived permanently in the…
- § 8-3Who keeps the home when a relationship ends?If the tenant (leier) leaves the shared home when a relationship ends, the spouse…
- § 8-4Transfer of the right to lease commercial premisesIf you sell your business that is run from rented commercial premises (lokale), you can…
- § 8-5How a change of tenant is carried outOnce a change of tenant has been approved, the new tenant (leier) takes over from the…
- § 8-6What happens to your tenancy agreement when the landlord sells?If the landlord (utleier) sells the property, the new owner takes over the rights and…
Chapter 9 — Duration of the tenancy – termination§§ 9-1 – 9-11
- § 9-1Fixed-term or open-ended tenancy agreement?A tenancy agreement (leieavtale) is either fixed-term — it runs until a specific date…
- § 9-2What happens when a fixed-term tenancy agreement expires?A fixed-term tenancy agreement (tidsbestemt leieavtale) ends without notice of…
- § 9-3Fixed-term tenancy agreements for homes must last at least three yearsA fixed-term tenancy agreement (tidsbestemt leieavtale) for a home (bolig) must, as a…
- § 9-4You can give notice to end an open-ended tenancy agreementIf you have an open-ended tenancy agreement (tidsubestemt leieavtale), you can give…
- § 9-5When can the landlord give you notice?The landlord (utleier) cannot give you notice of termination (oppsigelse) without a…
- § 9-6How long is the notice period?The notice period (oppsigelsesfrist) is normally three months, and the tenancy…
- § 9-7Requirements for the landlord's notice of terminationA notice of termination (oppsigelse) from the landlord (utleier) must be in writing and…
- § 9-8You can object to the notice of termination within one monthIf you receive a valid notice of termination (oppsigelse), you have one month to send a…
- § 9-9When can the landlord terminate the tenancy agreement with immediate effect?If you breach the tenancy agreement (leieavtale) seriously enough, the landlord…
- § 9-10What happens to the tenancy agreement when the tenant dies?If the tenant (leier) dies, both the landlord (utleier) and the estate of the deceased…
- § 9-11Notice to the municipal social services before evictionThe landlord (utleier) should notify the municipal social services (sosialtjenesten) in…
Chapter 10 — Return of the premises when the tenancy ends§§ 10-1 – 10-6
- § 10-1You must let prospective tenants view the home before you move outIn the period before you move out, you must give interested tenants access to view the…
- § 10-2How to hand back the home when you move outWhen you move out, the home (bolig) must be cleared, cleaned and in the same condition…
- § 10-3The landlord can claim compensation if you do not return the home properlyIf you return the home late, the landlord can claim rent for the period of delay. If…
- § 10-4Did you leave something behind when you moved out?If you leave belongings in the home (bolig) when you move out, the landlord (utleier)…
- § 10-5You can claim compensation for improvements you have madeIf you have renovated or made significant improvements to the home with the landlord's…
- § 10-6Compensation for customer base in a commercial lease (næringsleie)If you are a tenant (leier) of commercial premises (lokale) and are given notice of…
Chapter 11 — Special rules for certain residential tenancies§§ 11-1 – 11-4
- § 11-1Special rules for homes for people who struggle to find housingMunicipal homes for people who struggle to find housing (vanskeligstilte på…
- § 11-2Special rules for student and pupil housingStudent housing (studentbolig) can be let on fixed-term contracts shorter than three…
- § 11-3Special rules for employer-provided housingIf you live in employer-provided housing (tjenestebolig) as part of your job, you can…
- § 11-4Special rules when you rent out your own home temporarilyIf you rent out your own home (bolig) while you are temporarily away — for example…
Chapter 12 — Procedural provisions§§ 12-1 – 12-5
- § 12-1Arbitration in residential tenancy disputesA clause in the contract saying that all disputes must be resolved by arbitration…
- § 12-2A valuation panel can set the rent and compensationIf you disagree on what the market rent (markedsleie) or the prevailing rent (gjengs…
- § 12-3Temporary right of use during legal proceedingsIf a court case about approval of a subtenant, household member or new tenant is…
- § 12-4Anticipated enforceability — eviction before the judgment is final and bindingIf a judgment has been given in a case about a notice of termination (oppsigelse) and…
- § 12-5The Rent Disputes Tribunal — your free help with tenancy disputesThe Rent Disputes Tribunal (Husleietvistutvalget, HTU) handles disputes between tenants…
Other laws
- 63 §§The Consumer Purchases ActYour rights when you buy goods from a shop or online store: defects, repair…
- 30 §§The Right of Withdrawal ActRight of withdrawal when you buy online, by phone or away from a shop: deadlines…
- 48 §§The Craftsman Services ActWhen you hire a tradesperson: price, defects, delay and complaints.
- 82 §§The Sale of Goods ActSales between private individuals and between businesses: defects, complaints, delay…
- 55 §§The Package Travel ActPackage holidays: information, changes, cancellation, price reduction and compensation.
- 37 §§The Debt Collection ActDebt collection: what must happen before a debt collection agency can demand payment…
- 33 §§The Limitation ActWhen a claim is time-barred: the time limits for debts and other claims, and what…
- 52 §§The Debt Settlement ActDebt settlement for individuals: conditions, application and payment plan.
- 179 §§The Financial Contracts ActLoans, bank accounts and payments: your rights as a bank customer.
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