Rentals in Denmark

So you have decided to move to Denmark and your next step is finding rentals in Denmark. Which is easier said than done!

Finding an apartment or a house to rent is not going to be easy, especially if you are planning to move to Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg or Odense. This is not to say it's not possible, but you will have to be realistic.

First, let me say that if you don’t have a residency permit, it will be hard to get a long-term rental, since one thing that most places ask for is your CPR number, which you get when you have a residency permit.

Now you need to decide on your budget, your desired area and what type of place you need. This will influence where you look. Copenhagen will the most expensive place to live; as you go farther from the city, housing is less expensive.

Going north of Copenhagen, you will find rentals in Denmark a bit more expensive, while looking south west of the city it is usually less expensive. There are exceptions, but generally that is the case.

It is also less expensive on Fyn or Jutland, but whereever you go, you will find apartments for rent in Denmark are rarely cheap.

Check out these rental websites in Denmark.

Types of Rentals in Denmark

Before you start searching for rentals in Denmark, you might want to learn some of these common rental terms. The most sought-after rentals in Denmark is an apartment, which is known as a lejlighed, and they are much smaller than the ones you find in the US or UK. Apartments are usually described in kvm (kvadratmeter), which is a square meter. Apartments rarely come with their own gardens; instead, they have shared communal space.

The next popular type of rental is a raekkehus, which is a terraced house. They are usually larger than most apartments and have one or two shared walls with their neighbors. Most terraced houses have a small private garden area attached.

The next type of rental you may be looking for is a house, which is usually advertised as a villa or hus. These are stand-alone (detached) homes and usually have their own gardens.

If you see rentals in Denmark for sommerhus or fritidshus, these are what are referred to as summerhouses. These homes can vary from very basic (without any utilities) to very nice. Generally, these types of homes can only be lived in from the 1st of April to the 1st of October.

During the rest of the year, you can use the homes, but you're not allowed to overnight except for short holidays. (This is a law which is often broken and rarely enforced due to several complications). Suggest you avoid renting summer homes unless you are just planning on using them for short holidays -- then they are great. They are rarely practical for people planning on residing on a permanent basis. But it is a good place to stay while searching for a better place, so don't overlook them if you are in a jam.

TIP: There are so few good places to rent that the good ones go very quickly. That is why, if you are outside of Denmark, most people will not even respond to your requests, because they have lots of locals to choose from. That does not mean they won't rent to you, but you have to be here to get those places. Plan to come over a few months before your move to scout out places, and don't try to get one from overseas.

Check out these websites for rentals in Denmark.

Where do you search for rentals?

Your first stop for finding rentals in Denmark should be one of the many online websites that cater to renters.

Most of the website rentals in Denmark places do require you to sign up and pay a fee for using their site. If you are serious about getting a place, this is probably the best way.

There are also lots of apps via your favorite app store that help you find rentals. I am not familiar with any of them except for what I have seen in the app stores. You should check them out for ratings and avoid being duped. I am always a bit wary of all the new apps on the market and how easy it is to hack your phones with some of them. Take care when giving out your personal information.

Another way to find rentals is to check some of the Real Estate Agencies that often have rentals available on their sites. (That is how we got our last rental).

Local newspapers also have rentals; the Blaa Avis (a large auction-type newspaper) has a good selection of rentals. DBA is closing down their paper version, but you can still search online for rentals. The newspapers that publish online do not usually list rentals, so again, you need to be in Denmark to use that avenue.

If you have been hired by a company and are being relocated to Denmark, they should be able to help you find a place. There are also several relocation agencies which will help you locate places to live and help you settle in. IF your budget allows it, these companies can make many of the problems of settling in a lot less stressful and get you off on the right foot.

If you are a college student, you should contact your school for assistance. There are several schools that have host family programs. Some have student accommodations and also keep a list of rentals that may be exclusive to their school. Always check with your school for help when looking for accomodations.

If you know which kommune or municipality you want to live in, check out the kommune's website and see what they have to offer.

Another possibility is advertising in newspapers for an apartment to rent. You can place an ad in papers like the Copenhagen Post (the English newspaper which many expats read regularly).

Tip: When you are viewing the various sites, you'll see that some are only in Danish, but there are ways to get around that. Check out the translator to show how you can view the pages in English.

Hope this information has been helpful - happy hunting. Remember, other people have found places to live and so can you. It just takes a bit of time, patience and perseverance.

Check out these rental websites in Denmark.

Avoid being ripped off!

When you are first getting started in Denmark, especially with finding a place to rent, it is very easy to be ripped. When looking for rentals in Denmark, a little care is needed. Not all renters are honest, so if you follow these precautions, you will have less chance of being swindled.

1. Never ever pay cash after seeing a property. If you want to rent and they want to rent to you, obtain a rental agreement first and than set the money in the bank.

2. If you have any doubt about who owns the property, check with the kommune (ejendomsskattekontoret) or the tinglysningskontoret.

3. If you are subletting a rental property or cooperative hoúsing (andelsbolig), make sure to see proof of permission to do so from the person who owns property or the housing association.

4. If you have any doubts, do a couple of checks. Talk to the neighbors, check if name on door is the same as the name on mailbox and if you agree to rent. Hang around and see if they are still showing the place. Can even call again and see if it still available.

5. Read your contract carefully. If you do not understand the language, get it translated before you sign. Notice the moving out terms, they can be pretty sneaky at times and you can easily lose your deposit. (nearly happened to us.

6. Make sure the check the rental carefully when you move in. Make note of any damage, no matter how small. You have 14 days from move in date to send in the form. Keep a copy. This is your insurance. When you move out, you are responsible for any damage and if it is not noted on the form, it is caused by you.

7. Also if in doubt, check with the police and see if there have been complaints against this person or landlord.

TIP: The most important thing to avoid is paying cash and paying under the table. This is a surefire way to lose your deposit and get taken for the "proverbial ride". Be smart - if in doubt - walk away.

Rental Agreements

When you finally find a place make sure to sign a rental agreement or tenancy agreement. There is a standard agreement put out by  Danish government.

As a tenant the agreement will be more favorable to the tenant than the leasing agent /person. There are lots of little things in the standard contract, but one of the things you really need to know is that you MUST get 3 months notice to vacate the premise, when you are ready to move.

Personal story: Check the fine print, because if the leasing company needs to fix the place up for the new tenant, they may have you out even earlier. We gave 3 months notice and than 3 weeks before we were to move they said that they needed 14 days to get the place ready and we had to move out in the following week. Our new house was not available, so we ended up at a friends house on the couch.

Also you will be required to repaint, make repairs clean or pay someone to do it, when you vacate the place.

Both the landlord and the tenant have certain rights as per the Lejeloven. You can download a copy here. You should read it - it is long - but will let you know your rights. 

Now check out these rental websites in Denmark and find yourself a place to live.

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