# Subletting in Norway: approval, agreement and responsibility

Staying somewhere else for a while? Learn when you can sublet, how to request approval and what responsibility you keep towards your landlord.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/fremleie-leiebolig-norge
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-04T15:37:50.652+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-05T01:57:11.443657+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Three situations in the law You can apply to sublet part of the home, sublet during a temporary absence, or sublet for the rest of a fixed-term agreement.
- One month from receipt No response to a written application covered by the law counts as approval after one month.
- You remain responsible You still owe rent to your landlord even if the subtenant does not pay.

Subletting means renting your home to someone else without ending your agreement with the landlord. You normally need approval. You remain responsible to the landlord, even if the new tenant does not pay.

## What is subletting, and who has an agreement with whom?

**With subletting, two rental agreements exist at the same time.** You keep your agreement with the landlord and make a new agreement with the subtenant.

You are the **main tenant** under the first agreement. The person renting from you is the **subtenant**. The person who originally rented the home to you remains your landlord.

This differs from finding a new tenant who signs an agreement directly with the landlord. In that arrangement, your agreement may end if you actually agree to that. Do not assume your responsibility disappears just because someone else receives the keys.

The Rent Disputes Tribunal, **HTU**, is the public body for rental housing disputes. HTU explains that [subletting does not release the main tenant from responsibility](https://www.htu.no/artikler/fremleie-kan-leietakeren-leie-ut-boligen-til-andre). Also read SamfunnPrep’s guide to [rental agreements in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/leiekontrakt-norge-2026).

## When can you sublet your home?

**The law provides for subletting in three main situations, but approval is still required.** The rules concern a home that you rent yourself.

As of 3 October 2026, these situations are set out in [chapter 7 of the Tenancy Act](https://lovdata.no/nav/lov/1999-03-26-17/kap7):

| Situation | What can you apply for? | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| You continue to live in the home | Subletting part of it, such as a room | The landlord must approve the person. |
| You are temporarily away | Subletting for up to two years | The absence is because of work, education, military service, illness or other compelling reasons. |
| You have a fixed-term agreement | Subletting for the rest of the rental period | The agreement has a specified end date. |

In these situations, approval cannot be refused freely. The landlord must have a legitimate reason related to the specific person, or the home must clearly become overcrowded. HTU mentions poor references as a possible legitimate reason.

Wanting to move permanently does not automatically give you the same right as temporary absence. If your agreement has no end date, you cannot use the rule about “the rest of the rental period” as if it were fixed term. You may still be allowed to sublet part of the home or sublet temporarily under the other rules.

## How do you request approval?

**Send a clear written application before subletting begins.** State who will live there, why you are applying and the period involved.

First find your main rental agreement. Check the end date, termination rights and subletting terms. A standard ban in the agreement is not the whole assessment when the law gives you a particular right to sublet.

For example, your application could say:

> I am applying for approval to sublet the home to [name] from [date] to [date]. I will be temporarily away because of [work or education]. I plan to return. I have attached contact details and agreed references. Please confirm receipt and send your reply in writing.

This is an example, not a required public form. Adapt the reason to your situation. If you are subletting for the rest of a fixed-term agreement, give the end date in the main agreement instead.

Use the written channel you have agreed on and keep proof that the application was received. A verbal conversation that subletting “might be fine” is not clear approval of a specific person and period.

## What if the landlord does not reply or says no?

**No response may count as approval after one month if the legal conditions are met.** The period starts when the landlord received your written application.

Section 7-6 of the Tenancy Act applies to applications under sections 7-1 to 7-5. As of 3 October 2026, the rules therefore do not give a general right to sublet anything. Your application must concern a situation covered by those provisions.

Keep the application, attachments and information about when it arrived. Ask for guidance if you disagree about receipt, the application’s contents or your right to sublet. Do not use an unanswered phone call as proof that the one-month period has started.

If the landlord refuses, ask for the specific reason. If the application concerns the rest of a fixed-term agreement, an unjustified refusal may give you the right to terminate under section 7-5. This is termination with the statutory notice period, not an automatic right to move out and stop paying rent the same day.

If you still disagree, [the Rent Disputes Tribunal can consider the tenancy dispute](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/husleietvistutvalget-norge). Gather the main agreement, application and response before asking for help.

## Who pays if the new tenant does not?

**You remain responsible for paying your landlord.** The subtenant’s failure to pay does not end the main agreement.

Make a written subletting agreement. It should state:

- who is renting from whom
- which home or rooms are covered
- the start and end dates
- rent, payment date and what is included
- what you have agreed about keys, furniture and returning the home
- which house rules apply

Any deposit is a separate part of the subletting arrangement. Do not simply mix that money with your own deposit under the original tenancy agreement. Follow [the rules for a secure deposit account](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/depositum-norge), and ask the bank to explain the correct arrangement.

Take photos and make a simple record of the home’s condition with the subtenant. This can help if you later disagree about what was already damaged.

## What should you settle before handing over the keys?

**Confirm approval, agreements and a contact person before move-in.** The new tenant should know whom to contact about damage and when the home must be returned.

Check that the subletting period fits within the main agreement. Agree who will handle electricity, internet and messages from the landlord. Give the subtenant practical information without sharing passwords or personal logins.

If you actually want to end the tenancy, you can first ask whether the landlord will agree to an earlier end date. HTU describes this as an option [when the rental agreement cannot be terminated](https://www.htu.no/vanlige-uenigheter/leiekontrakten-kan-ikke-sies-opp). Get any such agreement in writing, with a date and payment responsibility.

SamfunnPrep’s [practical tools](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) offer more ways to access services in Norway. Start the subletting process with your main agreement and a clear application so both agreements have clear terms.

## FAQ

### Do I need approval to sublet?

Yes, the landlord normally has to approve the subletting. In certain situations, the law limits the reasons for refusal.

### Can I sublet while studying somewhere else?

For a temporary absence due to education, you can apply to sublet for up to two years. The landlord’s approval is required.

### What if the landlord does not reply?

A written application under sections 7-1 to 7-5 of the Tenancy Act counts as approved if the landlord does not reply within one month of receiving it.

### Am I still responsible for the rent?

Yes. The main agreement continues, and you remain responsible for paying your landlord.

### Can subletting replace ending the agreement?

Subletting does not end the main agreement. You can instead agree in writing on an earlier end date.

## Sources

- [Fremleie – kan leietakeren leie ut boligen til andre?](https://www.htu.no/artikler/fremleie-kan-leietakeren-leie-ut-boligen-til-andre)
- [Husleieloven kapittel 7: opptak i husstand og framleie](https://lovdata.no/nav/lov/1999-03-26-17/kap7)
- [Leiekontrakten kan ikke sies opp](https://www.htu.no/vanlige-uenigheter/leiekontrakten-kan-ikke-sies-opp)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Subletting in Norway: approval, agreement and responsibility", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-04T15:37:50.652+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/fremleie-leiebolig-norge