Forkjøpsrett

Forkjøpsrett is a legal right in Norwegian law that gives a specific party the priority to purchase a property under the same terms and conditions as a third-party offer. This right is typically established by law or through contractual agreement. The most common form of forkjøpsrett is for housing cooperatives (borettslag) and community housing associations (sameier). When a unit within such a property is put up for sale, existing members of the cooperative or association have the right to exercise their forkjøpsrett.

This means if an external buyer makes an offer to purchase a property, the forkjøpsrett holder has a set period, usually 10-20 days, to match that offer and buy the property instead. The intention behind forkjøpsrett is often to allow existing residents to acquire more property within their community or to prevent unwanted external ownership. The terms of the forkjøpsrett are usually outlined in the cooperative's bylaws or the association's statutes. Exercising the right involves formally notifying the seller or the responsible entity of the intention to purchase. If multiple parties have a forkjøpsrett, specific rules usually govern who has precedence.