§ 5-4. Can 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 reduce its value to you. Bigger changes require your consent. You, for your part, cannot make changes without the landlord's approval.
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 (leier) must accept changes to the rented premises (husrom) if the work can be carried out without significant inconvenience to the tenant, and the change does not reduce the value of the rented premises to the tenant.
Other changes may only be carried out with the tenant's consent.
The tenant cannot, without the landlord's consent, make changes to the rented premises or elsewhere on the property.
A tenant of a home may, with the landlord's approval, carry out measures on the property that are necessary because of the reduced functional ability of the tenant or members of the household (husstand). A tenant of commercial premises (lokale) may, with the landlord's approval, put up ordinary signs, awnings and the like. Approval under the first and second sentences cannot be refused without a legitimate reason (saklig grunn).
The tenant's duty to restore the rented premises to their original condition is governed by § 10-2.
What does this mean?
Who can do what with the home, and when do you need permission?
The landlord's right to make changes:
The landlord can carry out changes that do not cause you significant inconvenience and do not reduce the home's value to you. Typical examples: installing broadband in the wall, upgrading the electricity meter, putting up a new mailbox. This can happen without your consent.
But if the landlord wants to do bigger work, such as tearing down a wall, replacing all the windows or rebuilding the kitchen, he needs your consent. This applies even though you cannot refuse without good reason, but you have the right to be asked and the right to consider it.
Your right to make changes:
You cannot repaint, put up shelves that require large holes in the wall, tear down walls, or otherwise change the home unless the landlord has said yes. A verbal yes is risky. Ask for written approval.
Important exception: disability:
If you or someone in your household has a disability, you can apply to make necessary adaptations, for example a ramp at the entrance, grab handles in the bathroom, or wider doorways. The landlord cannot refuse this without a legitimate reason. A landlord who refuses because he thinks it looks ugly does not have a legitimate reason.
What happens when you move out? See § 10-2. The starting point is that you do not need to reverse changes you were allowed to make. You normally do not need to reverse adaptations for a disability either.
Examples
Lars wants to paint the living room from white to dark grey. He emails the landlord and asks for approval. The landlord approves, but asks Lars to paint it back to white when he moves out. That is a lawful condition for approval. Lars paints the living room and documents the agreement in writing.
Ingrid uses a wheelchair and needs a ramp at the front door and grab bars in the bathroom. She applies to the landlord for approval. The landlord cannot refuse without a legitimate reason, and the fact that it costs a bit of money is not enough. Ingrid gets approval, and the measures are carried out.
Petter puts up a large TV wall with drilled holes and recessed cables without asking the landlord. When he moves out, the landlord demands that Petter repair and pay for the damage. Petter was not allowed to do this, and he is liable for the costs.
Common mistakes
- Making changes based on a verbal agreement and thinking that is enough. Always get approval in writing. A verbal agreement is hard to prove.
- Thinking adaptations for a disability are automatically approved. You must apply, but the landlord cannot refuse without a legitimate reason.
- Repainting and thinking you do not need to paint it back. Without an agreement, the landlord can demand that you restore it when you move out.
What should you do?
If you plan to do something with the home, ask in writing. Describe what you want to do and ask for a written answer. If the answer is yes, keep it. If the answer is no without a legitimate reason, and you have a disability, you can complain to the Rent Disputes Tribunal (Husleietvistutvalget).
- § 5-6The landlord's access to the rented premises
- § 5-3Maintenance (vedlikehold)
- § 5-1Duties during the tenancy