§ 10-4. Did you leave something behind when you moved out?
If you leave belongings in the home (bolig) when you move out, the landlord (utleier) must look after them, but can demand that you cover the costs. If you do not collect them within a reasonable time, the landlord can sell them at your expense. Pure junk can be thrown away immediately.
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read the original in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
The text of the law (unofficial translation)
If movable property is left behind in the rented premises (husrom) and must be presumed to belong to the tenant (leier) or someone in the tenant's household (husstand), the landlord shall take care of it at the tenant's expense. Pure junk may nevertheless be thrown away immediately. If the duty of care involves work, the landlord may demand reasonable remuneration for this.
The landlord shall, as far as possible, ask the tenant in writing to collect the movable property. The landlord may withhold the movable property until the costs of storage are covered or adequate security is provided.
The landlord may sell the movable property at the tenant's expense if the costs or inconvenience of storage become unreasonable, or if the tenant waits an unreasonably long time to pay the costs or to take over the movable property. If there is reason to believe that the sale price will not cover the costs of sale, the landlord may instead dispose of the item in another appropriate way.
What does this mean?
If you leave furniture, clothes, electronics or other belongings in the home when you move out, the landlord is not free to simply throw them away, even though it is the landlord's home again.
The landlord's duty: The landlord must take care of the items, store them properly and ask you in writing to collect them. The landlord can demand that you cover the storage costs before handing them back.
Junk is thrown away immediately. If it is obviously rubbish, such as broken furniture you would not collect anyway, empty bottles or a bag of rubbish, the landlord can throw it away straight away. The landlord has no duty to store it.
Not collecting your things? If you wait an unreasonably long time, or refuse to cover the storage costs, the landlord can sell the items at your expense. If the sale price would be lower than the costs, the landlord can instead dispose of them in another appropriate way, such as giving them away.
Example
Anne leaves a bicycle and some boxes in the garage when she moves out. The landlord stores them and sends Anne a written request to collect them. Anne ignores it for three months. The landlord sells the bicycle and uses the proceeds to cover the storage costs. This is within the law.
Common mistakes
- Thinking that forgotten items are lost. The landlord must notify you. Get in touch immediately if you discover you left something behind.
- Forgetting to collect items and assuming they will be there forever. They will not. The landlord can sell them after a reasonable time.
What should you do?
Go thoroughly through the home with a checklist on moving-out day. Check storage rooms, garages, the basement and all cupboards. If you have left something behind, contact the landlord immediately and arrange a time to collect it.
- § 10-2Requirements for returning the premises
- § 10-3Compensation (erstatning) for defects when moving out