What Money Do You Pay When Moving In?
Short answer: At move-in you typically pay the first month's rent and on-account payments, a deposit of at most 3 months' rent, and possibly prepaid rent of at most 3 months – never more than the rent for your notice period (section 59 of the Danish Rent Act). With monthly rent, that's up to 7 months' rent plus on-account payments.
"All that's left is to transfer the move-in amount" – and suddenly there are three or four items on the statement that look alike but are legally very different. Here's what each one covers, and the most a landlord may ask for.
Deposit: At Most 3 Months' Rent
The deposit (depositum) is the landlord's security for your obligations when you move out – such as refurbishment you're liable for, or unpaid rent. It may be no more than 3 months' rent, calculated on the base rent and not on on-account (a conto) payments for heating and water. Whatever is left after you move out is paid back to you. Read more in Deposits Explained.
Prepaid Rent: At Most 3 Months – and No More Than Your Notice Period
Prepaid rent (forudbetalt husleje) is rent you pay in advance and use at the end of the tenancy. It may be no more than 3 months' rent and, at the same time, no more than the rent you'd pay during your notice period. If your notice period is 1 month – for example for a room in the landlord's own home – prepaid rent can therefore be no more than 1 month's rent.
First Month's Rent and On-Account Payments
On top comes the first ordinary rent payment plus any on-account payments for heating and water. Rent can be demanded for at most 3 months at a time (section 58(3) of the Rent Act). If the lease says rent is paid quarterly, the amount due at move-in can therefore, in theory, reach 9 months' rent.
Worked Example
Rent of 8,000 kr. a month, on-account heating of 600 kr. and water of 200 kr., 3 months' notice period:
| Item | Maximum in the example |
|---|---|
| First month's rent | 8,000 kr. |
| On-account heating and water | 800 kr. |
| Deposit (3 × rent) | 24,000 kr. |
| Prepaid rent (3 × rent) | 24,000 kr. |
| Total | 56,800 kr. |
If you instead rent a room with 1 month's notice at 4,000 kr. a month, prepaid rent can be no more than 4,000 kr. If you're eligible for housing benefit (boligstøtte), apply no later than 30 days after moving in to receive it from your move-in date – see Housing Benefit for Rentals.
What You Don't Have to Pay
The landlord may not take payment for giving you the tenancy, or make it a condition that you, for example, buy furniture (section 15 of the Rent Act). Money paid in breach of this rule can be reclaimed. The landlord must designate an account at a bank in Denmark (section 57), so be wary if you're asked to pay abroad – and never pay before you've seen the home and have a signed lease.
How This Works on LejLet.nu
Every listing on LejLet.nu shows a total move-in price: the first month's rent plus the deposit plus prepaid rent. On-account payments for heating and water are shown as separate monthly amounts and come on top. Our system rejects a deposit or prepaid rent above 3 times the monthly rent – but it doesn't check the lower limit on prepaid rent when the notice period is shorter than 3 months. So check that yourself, especially for rooms.