§ 9-6. How long is the notice period?
The notice period (oppsigelsesfrist) is normally three months, and the tenancy (leieforhold) ends at the turn of a month. For single rooms where the landlord (utleier) lives in the same home (bolig), and for garages/storage units, the period is one month. The parties can agree on a different period in the contract.
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 notice period shall be three months, ending at the expiry of a calendar month.
For a tenancy agreement (leieavtale) for a single residential room where the tenant (leier), under the agreement, has access to another person's home, the notice period shall be one month. The same applies to the separate rental of a garage or storage unit.
For a tenancy agreement for commercial premises (lokale) where the rent is agreed per day, the notice period shall be one day.
The provisions of this section may be departed from by agreement.
What does this mean?
The notice period is the number of months you must wait from when you (or the landlord) give notice of termination (oppsigelse) until the tenancy actually ends. Even when the property is sold, it is the notice period, not the progress of the sale, that decides when you must move.
Three months is the standard for most tenancies. And the period runs to the end of a calendar month — not three months to the day.
If you give notice on 15 March: The period is three months starting from 1 April — that is, until 30 June. You must pay rent (husleie) up to and including 30 June.
If you give notice on 1 March: The period starts running on 1 April — not from 1 March. It ends on 30 June.
A one-month period applies to:
- Single rooms where the landlord lives in the same home (a bedsit with someone who lives there themselves)
- A garage or storage unit rented separately
A different period in the contract: You can agree on a different period. A shorter period is to your advantage and is lawful. A longer period can be agreed — but see § 1-2 on how terms that are worse for you cannot be imposed on you unilaterally.
Examples
Marius sends written notice of termination to his landlord on 20 May. The period is three months to the end of a month. From 20 May, the period runs from 1 June. Three months on is 31 August. Marius must pay rent up to and including 31 August and can move out by then at the latest.
Anne rents a room from a private individual who lives in the same flat. She gives notice on 10 April. The period is one month to the turn of a month — until 31 May. Anne pays rent up to and including May and can move out on 1 June.
Common mistakes
- Counting three months from the date — not to the turn of the month. The period always runs to the end of a calendar month.
- Thinking the notice period starts on the day notice is given, not at the next turn of the month. The period starts running from the beginning of the month after the notice.
- Not paying rent during the notice period. You must pay throughout the whole period — even if you move out earlier.
What should you do?
Give notice early in the month to avoid paying for an extra month. Send written notice, state the date, and work out the last day of rent. Keep the receipt. Move out and return the keys before the notice period ends.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move out before the end of the notice period?
- § 9-4The tenant's right to give notice
- § 9-5The landlord's right to give notice
- § 9-7Formal requirements for the landlord's notice
- § 9-8Objection (protest) to the notice of termination
- Notice from the landlord: requirements, legitimate reason (saklig grunn) and the deadline for objecting
- The tenant has died: what happens to the tenancy agreement?
- Tenant wants to move: how to end the tenancy correctly
- Garages, holiday rentals, hotels and borrowed homes: when does housing protection not apply?