§ 10-5. You can claim compensation for improvements you have made
If you have renovated or made significant improvements to the home with the landlord's (utleier) approval — and nothing was agreed about compensation — you can demand payment for the benefit the landlord gains when you move out.
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 the tenant (leier), with the landlord's consent, has made significant improvements to the rented premises (husrom), the tenant may claim compensation for the benefit the landlord obtains as a result of the improvements, unless otherwise agreed when the consent was given.
If the parties do not agree on the compensation under the first paragraph, either party may demand that the dispute be decided in accordance with the provision in § 12-2. The compensation shall nevertheless be determined by the court when the landlord has brought proceedings against the tenant under the rules in § 9-8, and the notice of termination (oppsigelse) is not set aside.
What does this mean?
Some tenants spend their own money improving the home (bolig) — a new bathroom, a new kitchen, better floors. If this was done with the landlord's approval, it is reasonable that the landlord compensates you for the increase in value he is left with.
Three conditions:
One: You must have had the landlord's consent. Improvements you made without approval give no right to compensation.
Two: The improvement must have been significant — not a new towel rail, but a new bathroom or new kitchen fittings.
Three: Nothing else must have been agreed when you got the consent. If the landlord said "yes, but you get no compensation" — that is binding.
What is covered? Not what you put in of money — but what benefit the landlord actually gains. If you spent NOK 200,000 on renovation, but the home only increased in value by NOK 80,000, then NOK 80,000 is the starting point — no more.
If you cannot agree? The dispute can be decided by a valuation panel (takstnemnd) under § 12-2.
Example
Petter got the landlord's approval to put in a new tiled bathroom — for NOK 95,000 of his own money. When he moves out, he claims compensation. The landlord believes the bathroom increased the value of the home by NOK 60,000. Petter can claim NOK 60,000 — the increase in value, not his costs.
Common mistakes
- Carrying out improvements without written approval and believing you can claim compensation. No consent — no right to compensation.
- Agreeing "yes, you can do it" without settling the question of compensation. Clarify in writing whether you will receive compensation, and on what terms.
What should you do?
If you are planning a larger renovation: Get written approval and settle the question of compensation at the same time. Will you be compensated? How much? Based on what? The more clearly this is settled in advance, the easier it is when you finally move out.
- § 5-4Alterations require permission
- § 12-2Valuation panel in case of disagreement
- § 10-6Compensation for customer base
- § 10-2Return of the premises