Roomie Guide 101: The complete guide to finding a roommate in Denmark

Finding the right roommate is one of the biggest decisions you make when you move, and one of the most underrated. It's not just about finding someone to split the rent with. It's about finding someone you can live with day after day, month after month.

This guide takes you through the entire process: from first search to move-in and beyond. It's built on lessons from hundreds of Danish shared housing situations, both the ones that worked and the ones that didn't.

Table of contents

1. Define what you're actually looking for
2. Where to look
3. How to write a profile that works
4. Vet potential roommates
5. The first meeting
6. The contract
7. Move-in
8. When it goes sideways

💡 Renting out a room yourself? Read our guide to creating an attractive listing profile →

1. Define what you're actually looking for

Before you even start looking, get clear on three things:

Budget. Write down what you can realistically pay in monthly rent including utilities. The standard rule is that rent + utilities shouldn't exceed 30% of your net income, but it's a guideline, not a commandment.

Location. Where do you need to live? Not "Copenhagen". Be specific. Close to work? Close to university? Close to family? Within a certain bike distance of a metro station? Make a short list of neighborhoods you know and can see yourself living in.

Dealbreakers. This is the most important exercise. Write down 5–10 things you cannot live with. Examples:

• Smoking inside
• Parties on weekdays
• Pets (especially if you have allergies)
• Poor hygiene in common areas
• Financial unreliability
• Constant guest traffic

Be honest with yourself. It's better to say no to 10 flats and find the right one than to say yes to the first one and regret it after a month.

2. Where to look

There are five real places to look:

ROO:ME (recommended). Verified profiles, matching by lifestyle and budget, in-app chat. Free. Built specifically to filter out the red flags. Join early access →

Facebook groups like "Bofælle/værelse i [city]". High volume, but plenty of scams. Check every profile, meet in person, never transfer money before the contract is signed.

Boligportal and BoligGrupperne. Primarily for apartments, but some have roommate features. Better for finding the home than the roommate.

University housing offices (if you're a student). Copenhagen University's Housing Service, AU's housing office, SDU, and AAU all have programs, especially good for internationals.

Word of mouth. Friends, colleagues, classmates. The safest route, but also the slowest, and you're at the mercy of luck.

For most people a combination works: ROO:ME as primary, Facebook as backup.

3. How to write a profile that works

People spend just a few seconds on a profile before scrolling on. If your photo is blurry or your text is generic, you're filtered out. What works:

A good photo. Face visible, natural light, not a bathroom selfie. Smile. A friendly portrait in natural light makes a noticeable difference for how many people stop to read.

A concrete description. Not "I'm chill and easy-going." Everyone is. Write: "I work from home as a designer, go to bed at 23, love cooking dinner, and listen to podcasts in the morning while drinking coffee." That paints a real picture.

What you're looking for. Be just as specific in the other direction. "Someone who respects that I'm on Zoom calls from 9–15, and doesn't play loud music in the evening because I'm an early riser."

Realistic budget. Don't lie. It's awkward to show up to a flat you can't afford.

If you're renting out a room, the same rules apply in reverse. We've written a complete guide to an attractive landlord profile and which photos work.

4. Vet potential roommates

Once you've heard back from someone promising, do this before you meet:

1. Read their profile carefully. Read all of it. Look at the photos. Click any links.
2. Google their name. You're not looking for dirt. You're just checking they're a real person.
3. Ask concrete questions over chat. "How many guests do you typically have per week?" beats "are you social?"
4. Ask to speak to the current roommate (if there is one). If they say no or deflect, that's a red flag.

Also read our piece on 5 red flags when looking for a roommate for more specific warning signals.

5. The first meeting

Three rules for the first meeting:

Meet at the flat, not at a café. You need to see the room, the light, the sound, the smell. And you need to feel the energy between you and the people who live there.

Talk about the practical stuff. How are bills split? Who cooks? How often do you have guests? What happens if someone moves out? Get concrete answers.

Trust your gut. If something feels off, even though everything technically looks fine, listen to it. You'll be living with them. It needs to feel right.

6. The contract

Never transfer money before the contract is signed.

Use the LLO (Tenants' Union) standard contract (llo.dk). It protects you. Check especially:

• Rent and what's included (utilities?)
• Deposit: max 3 months' rent, nothing above
• Notice period (typically 3 months, but can be shorter for rooms)
• Who is liable for the rent
• What happens on move-out: joint inspection? Maintenance?

If you're unsure about anything, send the contract to LLO. They review it for free for members (membership is cheap).

7. Move-in

On moving day:

• Do a move-in inspection with the landlord. Document all existing damage in writing. Take photos of everything, especially walls, floors, appliances.
• Register your CPR address at borger.dk within 5 days.
• Set up NemKonto if it's not already done.
• Agree on house rules with your roommate. Write them down. Stick them to the fridge if needed.

Set up a shared expense account or use an app like MobilePay groups for shared groceries and bills. That removes 80% of all money conflicts.

8. When it goes sideways

Even with good preparation, some shared housing situations go wrong. When it happens:

Step 1: Talk about it. It sounds banal, but 80% of conflicts are about unspoken expectations. Have the conversation. Be concrete. Not "you're too messy", but "we agreed the kitchen gets cleaned the same evening, and that hasn't happened the last four times."

Step 2: Put rules in writing. If the conversation helps, write the new rules down so both of you have something to fall back on.

Step 3: Find a mediator. If you can't agree on your own, ask a mutual friend or LLO for advice.

Step 4: Move. If it can't be resolved, move. It's better to move out early than to drag a bad situation out for months. Check your notice period and start looking.

Ready to get started?

Roommate searching doesn't have to feel like a lottery. With a good process and the right tool, you find the right roommate faster and without the typical pitfalls.

ROO:ME is built specifically to make this process easier: verified profiles, smart matching by lifestyle and budget, and in-app chat.

Join early access →

Sources

• Danish Rent Act § 34 (deposit and prepaid rent) – Retsinformation
• Borger.dk – Moving notification / CPR registration
• LLO – Danish Tenants' Union (standard contract and advice)
• MobilePay – groups and shared expenses