We have tried to include all the relevant information concerning travel to Norway and your stay in Norway; however the information provided is not fully detailed on all points and should be viewed as a guide not as a verbatim statement of the law.
Holiday rentals
You can rent a holiday home for shorter or longer periods of time. Such accomodation is arranged through professional firms, by ads in local newspapers or through the local tourist office.
Norwegian house rental law does not apply to holiday rentals, therefore the contract is extremely important to secure your rights.
The rental agreement should include the following elements:
- The geographical situation of the property and its location in the city or town.
- The number of rooms available.
- The equipment.
- Services included in the price of the rent.
- Pictures of the property.
- The identity of the landlord and the tenant.
- Dates and hours of arrival and departure.
- The price of the rent and a breakdown of the rental expenses.
- The amount of the sum paid in advance.
We recommend a written rental agreement also when the contract is between two private persons.
Depositum
You may be asked to pay a depositum when booking a holiday rental. Our advice is to avoid paying a large percentage of the rental price in advance. Any paid deposit, should be returned at the end of the rental period if the property has no damages.
Inspection and inventory of the place you have rented
An inspection and inventory of fixtures should be done by the landlord and the tenant together. It is very important to make a precise note of all the problems that are present (mould, loose shower head, etc.). Also, an inventory of the fixtures must be made. It is important to note both what is missing, and any defects that are visible on the different items of furniture, etc. Afterwards, whenever you notice a problem in the property, contact the landlord or the agency immediately; otherwise they may hold you responsible for the damage and keep part of the security deposit.
On arrival, I find that the accommodation is different from that promised: what can I do?
If rented accommodation does not correspond to the description, you need to indicate all the differences, (e.g. with the furniture, number of rooms, etc.) to the landlord. You should consider withholding the rent until you have settled this problem with the landlord or his representative. Do not forget to take pictures for proof in case of a dispute.
If you, as a foreign consumer, are feeling mistreated by a Norwegian professional, the European Consumer Centres (ECCs) will be pleased to help you to find an amicable settlement of the dispute. You can find further information and a complete list of all ECCs under: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/redress_cons/index_en.htm