§ 2-15. You can withhold rent as security
If you have a claim against the landlord (utleier) because of a defect (mangel) or delay, you can withhold enough of the rent (husleie) to secure your claim. But do it correctly — only withhold the amount that matches your claim, and notify the landlord.
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)
The tenant may withhold as much of the rent as is needed to secure the claims the tenant has against the landlord as a result of a defect or delay.
What does this mean?
The right to withhold rent (tilbakeholdsrett) is a practical way to put pressure on the landlord: instead of paying the full rent and then waiting for the landlord to fix the problem, you can withhold the part of the rent that matches your claim.
But it is important to do this correctly. The right to withhold rent does not give you the right to simply stop paying rent. It gives you the right to secure a claim you actually have — nothing more.
How to do it safely:
One: You must have a real claim — a defect or delay that the landlord is responsible for.
Two: The amount you withhold must match your claim — no more.
Three: Notify the landlord in writing that you are withholding rent and why.
Four: Consider using § 3-8 on paying disputed rent into a blocked account (deponering) — you then put the disputed amount into a blocked account. This is the safest option.
Example
Ingrid has demanded that the landlord repair damp damage and set a deadline. The deadline has passed, and nothing has been done. Ingrid withholds NOK 2,000 of her NOK 11,000 rent — an amount she believes matches the rent reduction (leieavslag) she is entitled to. She notifies the landlord in writing. This is not a breach of the tenancy agreement (mislighold) on Ingrid's part — it is a lawful way of securing her claim.
Common mistakes
- Stopping paying all rent as a "protest". That is a breach of the tenancy agreement. Only withhold the amount that matches your claim.
- Withholding without notifying the landlord. It then looks like non-payment. Always notify in writing.
What should you do?
If you are in a dispute with the landlord about defects: consider using § 3-8 on paying disputed rent into a blocked account. You then put the money into a blocked account and are well protected. Contact the Rent Disputes Tribunal (Husleietvistutvalget) for guidance.
- § 2-10Right to have defects repaired
- § 2-11Rent reduction
- § 2-13Compensation (erstatning)
- § 3-8Paying disputed rent into a blocked account
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