Eviction from Property

Eviction involves compelling an individual to vacate a property or remove specific items from it.

A property owner can request the eviction of a tenant if, for example, they have not paid rent or if their conduct is significantly lacking.

A court order must be obtained before the District Commissioner can process an eviction request.

When can I request an eviction from the District Commissioner?

Once the district court has authorised the eviction, a written enforcement request is sent to the District Commissioner in the district where the property is located.

The enforcement request must include:

• The parties involved - the property owner and the person to be evicted.

• The demand for enforcement - for example, eviction from which property, including the property number.

• The district court's decision.

Cost

When submitting an enforcement request to the District Commissioner, a fee of 12,000 ISK must be paid.

The District Commissioner processes the request as quickly as possible.

Process at the District Commissioner's Office

The District Commissioner decides whether the request will be handled at the office, and both parties are summoned to attend. During this meeting, the next steps regarding the execution are determined, such as the timing of the eviction. In some cases, it is decided to proceed directly with the eviction without a meeting at the office.

If the person to be evicted vacates the property and hands it over to the owner, the eviction request is withdrawn.

Execution of Eviction

The property owner must carry out the eviction themselves, but the District Commissioner's role is to oversee and supervise the execution and to call the police for assistance if necessary.

The property owner or their representative must be present during the eviction.

The owner must cover all costs incurred during the execution, but the evicted person is legally obliged to reimburse these costs.

During the eviction, the property owner's responsibilities include arranging, as needed:

• Movers and other necessary personnel to empty the property.

• A van.

• A locksmith.

• Storage for the belongings.

If children under 18 reside in the property, the relevant child protection committee is consulted.

Once the property is emptied, it is handed over to the rightful owner.

Property Owner's Responsibilities After Eviction

There are no laws or regulations specifying how to handle the evicted items or how long they must be stored. However, the items must be stored for a sufficiently long period for the owner to retrieve them.

If the evicted person does not collect their belongings, they may be sold at auction to cover storage costs or disposed of if deemed of little value.