What is a deposit?
A deposit (depositum in Danish) is an amount you as a tenant pay to the landlord at move-in as security that the home will be returned in the same condition as you received it. It is not prepaid rent. It is money held on deposit by the landlord.
How much can a landlord charge?
Under the Danish Tenancy Act (§ 34, lejeloven, Retsinformation), a landlord may charge a maximum of:
- 3 months' rent as a deposit: calculated on the annual rent, not including utilities.
- 3 months' rent as prepaid rent.
That means you as a tenant can have a maximum of 6 months' rent on deposit. If you're asked for more, for example "5 months because demand is high", it's against the law.
When do you get the deposit back?
When you move out:
- Move-out inspection. You walk through the flat together. Document everything in writing, ideally with photos.
- 14-day deadline. The landlord has 14 days after the inspection to specify which claims will be made against the deposit (§ 98, lejeloven).
- Return. The remaining deposit is paid out, typically within a few weeks, depending on whether any repairs need to be carried out.
The landlord can only deduct from the deposit for damages you've caused beyond normal wear and tear, not for normal patina on floors, walls, or appliances.
How to avoid deposit scams
The classic scam: someone "rents out" a flat on Facebook, asks for a deposit transferred to an account, and disappears. Always:
- See the flat in person. Never pay anything before you've stood in it.
- Meet the landlord. Check passport or driver's license if you're at all unsure.
- Check the landlord in the CVR registry if it's a company. Private individuals can be checked via Tinglysningen (the Danish Land Registry).
- Get a written contract before transferring a single crown. Use LLO's standard template.
If you're unsure, call LLO (the Danish Tenants' Union). They help free of charge for members.
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