Registration of a lease in the HMS Rent Register

Create and register a lease in the HMS Rent Register

The HMS Rent Register keeps track of the electronic registration of leases and is part of the HMS housing database. The rent contract database provides better data on the rental market, such as changes in rental prices and the length of leases, and that data can then be used by authorities in developing housing policy.

Electronic leases simplify life for both landlord and tenant.

Parties provide signatures electronically.
Witnesses´ signatures are not necessary.
Registration of leases at the District Commissioner’s office, (Sýslumaður) is no longer a condition for receiving housing benefits.
Information regarding rental amounts are automatically entered into the parties´ annual tax statement form.

When drafting a lease, an inspection must be made by the parties of the condition of the rental unit, including fire safety, and the following results recorded in the appropriate section of the lease.

Electronic registration

Landlords who rent out more than two apartments, are legally obliged to register their leases in the Rent Register within 30 days of signature.

If the landlord has not registered the lease when the rent starts, the tenant can register the lease in the Rent Register.

As of January 1, 2026, the requirement to register lease agreements in the HMS Rent Register will apply to all individuals who rent out residential property.

The process

In addition to HMS, several service providers offer electronic lease agreement creation and registration in the HMS Rent Register. These providers, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Advania – S5 Rental System
Myigloo / Leiguskjól
OneSystems
Wise lausnir ehf

Once all parties have signed the lease agreement, it is automatically registered in the HMS Rent Register.
A landlord may authorize a representative to sign the agreement on their behalf, for example, if they reside abroad or are absent due to long-term illness.

Cost

Electronic rental agreements are free of charge for both tenants and landlords, unless the landlord chooses to purchase services from a service provider — in that case, the landlord covers the cost.

Condition and fire inspection

The tenant and landlord (or their agents) must make an inspection of the condition of the rental unit, including fire safety, and record the results in the appropriate section of the lease.

If one of the parties requests an independent inspection conducted by an outside inspector, that request shall be granted. The cost of the inspection is then divided equally between the tenant and the landlord.

Good to keep in mind when conducting a condition and fire inspection:

What is the landlord's ownership or involvement in the rental unit?
Is there any noted damage?
Have there been any renovations or repairs?

Statement of condition inspection of the rental unit

Rental agreement on paper

It is possible to submit a signed rental agreement for registration in the HMS Rent Register by sending it to hms@hms.is. HMS charges a service fee for manually registering a paper rental agreement in the Rent Register and for providing a copy of the agreement according to the current price list.
The registration fee for a paper agreement is found here.
A payment claim will be created in the online bank of the person submitting the agreement, and the agreement will be registered once the payment has been made.

Good to keep in mind

All parties to the rental agreement must either sign the agreement by hand or sign it electronically. If the agreement is signed by hand, two witnesses must confirm the signatures. The agreement must include the main findings regarding the condition of the property and fire safety. The agreement will be registered in the HMS Rent Register once all requirements are met and the registration fee has been paid.

Please note: It may take up to one week for a paper rental agreement to be registered in the HMS Rent Register after payment has been received.

If HMS has any comments about the submitted rental agreement — for example, if it is incomplete or incorrectly filled out — the agreement cannot be registered. In such cases, HMS will contact the submitter by email or phone.

Rent register Q&A

What is the HMS Rent Register?

How is a lease registered in the HMS Rent Register?

Who should register leases in the HMS Rent Register?

When do you need to register a lease in the HMS Rent Register?

How is information from the lease used?

How do I terminate or rescind a lease?

How do I register an extended lease in the HMS Rent Register?