Home maintenance in Norway – postponing repairs can cost much more
About four out of ten homeowners in Norway do not set aside money for maintenance. The problem is that a small repair postponed can turn into costly damage that insurance does not always cover.
In brief
About 4 in 10 property owners in Norway do not set aside money for maintenance. This corresponds to about 1.5 million people. 26% of those not saving for this purpose say they cannot afford to. Home insurance does not replace the obligation to maintain the property. Damage resulting from prolonged neglect may not be covered by the policy. First priority should be securing the roof, gutters, drainage and areas at risk of moisture. Regularly checking small faults can prevent much larger expenses.
A leaking roof, poor drainage around the house or a minor damp problem are easy to put off, especially when the household budget is tight. The problem is that home maintenance in Norway is not an expense you can keep postponing indefinitely. A small repair done today can cost a few thousand kroner. The same fault left for several years can result in a bill many times higher.
Around 1.5 million Norwegians do not save for home maintenance
The latest survey by Respons Analyse conducted for Fremtind shows that about four out of ten owners of apartments and houses do not set aside money for ongoing property maintenance. That's about 1.5 million people.
Among those who do not save for this purpose:
26 percent say they simply do not have the money for it,
29 percent assume that renovation needs will be small,
19 percent do not know what the house will require and how much it may cost,
18 percent allocate the money to other expenses.
The survey was conducted in 2025 on a nationwide sample of 1,012 people.
Fremtind survey – owners postpone renovations
The figures are little better when owners are asked about their responsibility for home maintenance. In another Fremtind survey from May 2025, 39 percent of owners admitted that they know their duty to maintain the property poorly or very poorly.
Worst plan? "Insurance will pay anyway"
That's a very risky assumption.
Home insurance is primarily protection against sudden and unforeseen events. It is not a renovation fund.
If damage occurs gradually because the owner has not maintained the house for a long time, the insurer may refuse to cover the costs.
If points out directly that even a comprehensive policy does not replace the obligation to care for the property and may not cover damage that could have been avoided through proper maintenance.
What may not be covered by home insurance – If
Similarly, Fremtind reports that some claims are rejected precisely because of a lack of proper home maintenance.
So the worst possible scenario can arise:
you did not make the repair, the damage became greater, and the insurance does not cover the entire bill.
Where to start if money is tight?
You don't have to renovate everything at once.
First, it's worth looking for things whose further neglect could cause additional damage.
Fremtind advises prioritizing elements that protect the building from water, moisture and an increasing amount of precipitation. The roof and drainage around the house become particularly important.
A simple order could look like this:
Roof and gutters – check for leaks, damage and water runoff.
Drainage and foundations – pay attention to moisture and water near the building.
Bathroom and plumbing – a small leak can quickly turn into major damage.
Exterior elements – repair cracks, damaged wood and areas where moisture can enter.
Electrical system – do not experiment on your own with work that requires a professional.
Huseierne also maintains an up-to-date home maintenance calendar that suggests what to check in each month. In September it recommends, among other things, checking the roof before winter and preparing the drainage around the building.
Home maintenance calendar – Huseierne
Inspect the house first, then shop
A common mistake is spending money on what is visible.
A new kitchen looks better than a new drainage system.
A freshly painted living room pleases more than repaired gutters.
But financially the order should be reversed.
First address what can:
cause further damage,
lead to moisture,
damage the structure,
increase the risk of fire,
make later repairs much more expensive.
Only then is it time for cosmetic renovations.
Don't have money? Start by reviewing your budget
Consumer economist Magne Gundersen from SpareBank 1 advises starting with a full review of income and expenses and preparing a budget and a savings plan. If the situation is tight, it's also worth talking to the bank about loan costs and possible solutions.
It's not about setting aside huge sums from tomorrow.
It's about changing your mindset:
home maintenance is not an unexpected expense.
The roof, facade, drainage, bathroom or systems will eventually require money.
So the question is not if, but when.
Small repair today or a big bill later?
The most costly home problems often don't begin with a major catastrophe.
They start with:
a small leak,
a single damaged gutter,
a damp wall,
a crack that "will last a little longer".
And that is why regular property maintenance is often cheaper than waiting until repairs can no longer be postponed.
Next step: how much should you actually save for home renovations?
The mere statement "you have to save" does little good if you don't know how much money to save and how to prepare for large expenses in a few years.
So we break this topic down.
In the next guide we will show:
How much to save for home renovations in Norway and how to create your own renovation fund?
We will discuss a simple method of dividing costs into annual, multi-year and major renovations and show how to make a plan without guessing.
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Editorial comment Your Norway
When the household budget is tight, postponing a renovation for another year seems a logical way to save. The problem begins when we delay not an aesthetic refurbishment, but a repair that protects the house from further damage. Then the saving can quickly turn into a bill that can no longer be postponed.
Official sources and useful links
Fremtind – study on saving on home maintenance
About 1.5 million people do not set aside money for property maintenance.
Fremtind – obligation to maintain property
Data on owners' awareness and the risk of claim denial when maintenance is lacking.
Fremtind – the maintenance obligation
If – what home insurance does not cover
Information about damages resulting from improper maintenance.
If – home insurance exclusions
Huseierne – home maintenance calendar
Practical tasks to carry out in the coming months.
Huseierne's maintenance calendar
Information verified: 14 September 2026.
Sources
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