§ 2-3. Incorrect information about the home
If the landlord (utleier) told you something about the home (bolig) that was not true, and you rented it because you believed it, it is a defect (mangel). This applies even if the landlord did not mean to lie. You can demand repair of the defect (retting), a rent reduction (leieavslag) or compensation (erstatning).
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)
There is a defect if the rented premises (husrom) are not in accordance with information given by the landlord or on the landlord's behalf. However, this applies only if it can be assumed that the information has influenced the agreement, and it has not been corrected clearly and in time.
What does this mean?
The landlord, or the estate agent working for the landlord, is responsible for making sure the information they give you is correct. This applies to what is said in the advertisement, at the viewing, in emails and in the contract.
Three conditions must be met:
One: The information was incorrect or misleading.
Two: It influenced you: you would not have rented, or you would have paid less, if you had known the truth.
Three: The error was not corrected clearly enough before you signed.
What kind of information does this cover? Anything relevant to the tenancy (leieforhold): floor area, number of rooms, access to parking, that the boiler works properly, that the hot water tank is new, that there is sound insulation between the floors, that pets are allowed.
It makes no difference that the landlord believed the information was true. The consequence is the same: it is a defect.
Examples
The advertisement said the flat had a "new bathroom from 2022". Anne rents it and discovers that the bathroom is from 2012 and has early signs of damp damage. The landlord did not mean it as a lie; he remembered wrong. It is still a defect, because the condition of the bathroom affected what Anne was willing to pay and whether she wanted to rent. Anne can demand a rent reduction.
Petter was told at the viewing that parking in the basement was included. After moving in, it turns out that the parking space belongs to the neighbour. Petter can claim this as a defect and demand compensation, for example that the rent is reduced by an amount equal to the market rent (markedsleie) for a parking space.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the landlord is only responsible for lies, not mistakes. No: honest mistakes are also the landlord's responsibility if they influenced your decision.
- Not complaining quickly enough. The longer you wait to speak up, the harder it is to succeed. See § 2-8.
- Accepting verbal explanations without documentation. If something is promised at a viewing, ask to have it confirmed in writing.
What should you do?
Keep all advertisements, emails and messages from the landlord. Take a screenshot of the advertisement at the time of the viewing. If something does not match what you were told, make a written complaint about the defect (reklamasjon) to the landlord as soon as you discover it.
- § 2-4Missing information the landlord should have given
- § 2-6What happens if you inspected the home yourself
- § 2-8Deadline for complaints about defects
- § 2-2Requirements for the condition of the home