Rent, deposit and contracts
Rent
Rents in Denmark vary widely, depending on the region. Generally, renting a home is more expensive in Copenhagen and Aarhus, while smaller towns and rural areas are considerably less expensive. Also, whether you live in the centre or outskirts of the city makes a great difference in the price.
Apart from location, the rent will naturally depend on the fixtures and size of the apartment.
Utilities
In addition to your monthly rent, you should expect to pay for utilities such as heating, water, electricity and gas. Sometimes utilities are included in the monthly rent so make sure to find out whether you have to pay utilities or not.
Deposit
In Denmark it is normal to pay a deposit when renting accommodation. There are limits to the amount that the owner may request in deposit. Legally, he or she can request up to 3 months deposit and 3 months prepaid rent.
The deposit will remain on the owner’s account until the apartment has been inspected for any damages and the heating and other utilities have been settled.
When terminating your lease, if you have prepaid 3 months of rent, you will not need to pay rent for the last three months of your lease.
Contracts
The leasing contract defines some of the rights and obligations of the tenant and the landlord. This includes the amount of rent you must pay and the conditions for moving-in and moving-out.
If you rent a home from a public housing enterprise, a written lease is required by law. However, a written lease is not required by law for privately owned homes, but it is recommended nonetheless. When subletting, a written contract is required by law in all cases.
Do not pay rent and deposit to the landlord before having received a signed leasing contract. Your landlord could use the authorized version in Danish, from the link below. The English version of the lease contract is not authorized but can be used as a translation of the authorized Danish contract. You can find links to the contracts below.
Please find the rules for subletting on the website of the Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs (in Danish).