§ 9-1. Fixed-term or open-ended tenancy agreement?
A tenancy agreement (leieavtale) is either fixed-term — it runs until a specific date — or open-ended, which means it runs until one of the parties gives notice. If there is no end date in your contract, it is open-ended.
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)
A tenancy agreement may be entered into for a fixed or an indefinite period. If the time of termination is not set out in the tenancy agreement, it is open-ended.
What does this mean?
The difference between a fixed-term tenancy agreement (tidsbestemt leieavtale) and an open-ended tenancy agreement (tidsubestemt leieavtale) is perhaps the most important legal distinction in tenancy law. It determines what rights you have and how the tenancy (leieforhold) can be ended.
A fixed-term tenancy agreement has a specific end date — for example "the tenancy agreement applies from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027". It ends automatically on the end date, without anyone needing to say anything. As a rule, you cannot give notice in the middle of the period, and the landlord (utleier) cannot either.
An open-ended tenancy agreement has no end date. It keeps running until one of you gives notice — subject to the deadlines and rules that apply. For you as a tenant (leier) this is usually better: the landlord can only give notice if he has a lawful reason, and you have the right to object to the notice of termination (oppsigelse).
The rule of thumb: If you see no end date in your contract — then it is open-ended. The law says so explicitly.
Many tenants believe they have a fixed-term contract because they heard something about "one year" verbally — but if you see no end date in writing, it is open-ended.
Examples
Kari signs a contract that says "the tenancy begins 1 September 2025". No end date is mentioned. Kari has an open-ended tenancy agreement — she cannot be evicted without a legitimate reason (saklig grunn) and the correct process.
Lars has a contract with a clear end date of 31 December 2026. It is a fixed-term tenancy agreement. On 31 December it ends automatically — unless they have agreed otherwise or the tenancy has become open-ended under § 9-2.
Common mistakes
- Believing that "one year" said verbally makes it fixed-term. Without a written end date, the agreement is open-ended.
- Believing that fixed-term is best for both parties. For tenants, open-ended is often better — it gives stronger protection against notice of termination.
- Believing they can terminate a fixed-term contract whenever they want. Normally they cannot — see § 9-2.
What should you do?
Look at your contract. Is there an end date? Then it is fixed-term. Is there no end date? Then it is open-ended — and you have stronger protection. If you are unsure, contact the Rent Disputes Tribunal (Husleietvistutvalget) for a free assessment.
- § 9-2Rules for fixed-term tenancy agreements
- § 9-3Minimum period for a fixed-term tenancy agreement
- § 9-4Your right to give notice
- § 9-5The landlord's right to give notice
- § 9-6Length of the notice period