Unfortunately, even Norway is not free from situations in which the standard of the flat does not comply with the lease contract. Fortunately, the tenant is not helpless in such a situation. See what you can do.
When is the flat standard non-compliant with the contract?
From a legal point of view, a non-compliance can be considered primarily when the condition of the apartment differs from what was included in the contract. Another reason to talk about this type of situation is that the property is not suitable for the purpose for which it was rented. However, there is an exception to the latter situation when the tenant simply did not use the available information.
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It is worth noting that the above premise cannot be abused by the owner of the premises. If he withheld important information about the rented property, it will be possible to prove that the standard of the flat is inconsistent with the contract. The same applies if the tenant provided false information about the premises. This may concern, for example, the height of the apartment, the number of rooms or the availability of a balcony.
What can you do when there is a non-compliance of the apartment standard with the contract?
Your basic right in this situation is to make a complaint. Non-compliance is a reason to demand a reduction in the rent, removal of defects or, finally, payment of compensation for the problem. Other options are to terminate the contract and, in certain situations, to demand that the rent be withheld.
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Importantly, the problem must be reported as soon as possible after its discovery. If you delay, your rights in this regard will be forfeited, and the positive consideration of the complaint will depend on the tenant's good will. Fortunately, the time limits were not set arbitrarily and in some situations you can defend yourself with the time it took to assess whether a given defect was in fact large. Still, such a delay must be justified.
Limitation of claims
I mentioned the possibility of a fault rectification. It should be remembered that this request does not apply to a situation in which the repair would be too expensive for the owner of the premises or impossible to carry out for reasons beyond.
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Termination of the contract as a result of non-compliance with the contract
The right to terminate the contract is not automatic. For it to exist, the non-compliance of the standard of the apartment with the contract must be really big. Therefore, if you do not indicate a significant defect in the complaint, you cannot count on immediate release from the tenant's obligations. Whether the defect is actually significant is assessed individually. However, it is worth remembering that even if it is considered minor, you are still entitled to other claims arising from non-compliance with the contract.
