Moving-in guide
The keys will soon be yours. Here is what to remember before the move, at handover and during the first few days.
See the three stepsPrepared by BoligButler. Rules and deadlines checked on .
2 weeks
As a general rule, report defects within 2 weeks of the lease starting. Do not wait until the last day.
The deadline starts when the tenancy begins, not necessarily when you move your belongings in. This applies to both private and social rentals.
Danish Rent Act, sections 90–91 ↗Danish Social Housing Rent Act, sections 14–15 ↗
5 days
Register your move no later than 5 days after actually moving. You can often do this beforehand.
This is a different date from the lease start. The guide covers moves within Denmark. If arriving from abroad or without MitID, contact the municipality.
Step 1
A few agreements in advance make moving day easier.
Note the lease start and agreed key handover in your calendar. Even if you move your belongings later, keep track of the deadline for reporting defects.
Read our contract guide →Check the deposit or resident contribution, prepaid rent and first payment. Set aside money for moving and any overlapping rents. Keep receipts.
Plan moving-in costs →Confirm the time, meeting place and contact person. Ask about the inspection, storage access and where the moving van can park.
Find out what the landlord arranges and what you must sign up for yourself. Contact providers early and agree start and end dates. Ask your insurer about cover during the move.
Step 2
Walk through before furniture and boxes cover floors and walls.
Try them at the entrance, mailbox and rooms you may use. Note how many you received and ask about anything missing.
Take overview photos and close-ups of scratches, marks and defects. Note the room and date and save originals with the contract.
Check floors, walls, windows and doors. Test taps, the toilet and appliances. Note poor cleaning and anything unlike the agreement. Do not dismantle installations.
If an inspection is held, read the report and ask for a copy. Include your comments and send your own written list if anything is missing.
Photograph accessible meters at handover. Ask the landlord or supplier which readings to send and which are automatic.
Step 3
You do not need to unpack everything, but send the important messages.
Describe what is wrong, where it is and what you want repaired. Attach photos, ask for confirmation and save the dated message. Use the agreed email or portal.
Register your address at borger.dk. Notify anyone not updated automatically, such as employers and subscriptions. Check your choice of doctor when moving.
Read the house rules and check waste, laundry and shared rooms. Save caretaker and emergency damage contacts.
Keep the contract, report, photos, readings and receipts in one folder. Get repair agreements in writing and follow up if the agreed date passes without a response.
Landlords renting out more than one residential apartment must hold a move-in inspection and prepare a report. You must be invited and given the report at the inspection. If absent or unwilling to acknowledge receipt, it must be sent within 2 weeks of the inspection.
A move-in report must be prepared with your participation. Check the property's maintenance rules too. The report and your list should describe the condition you take over, not only needed repairs.
Use this text to help write your message. Fill in the placeholders, remove anything irrelevant and attach your own photos.
Describe only what you have seen. A scratch in the floor can be worth noting even if you are not asking for a new floor.
Subject: Defects at handover of [address] Hello [name] I took over [address] on [date]. During the inspection I found the following defects, which I am reporting: 1. [Room, defect and its location] 2. [Room, defect and its location] I have attached photos and would like the following repaired: [describe]. Please confirm receipt and let me know the next steps. Kind regards [name]
Answers to common questions once you have received the keys.
Still check the home, take photos and report defects on time. For private rentals, the inspection requirement depends on how many residential apartments the landlord rents out. See the rules above.
Check that the report describes them precisely and keep a copy. Send an extra list for omissions or unclear details. Photos on your phone alone do not notify the landlord.
Report it immediately and state when you discovered it. Exceptions to the 2-week deadline apply to defects not discoverable in a reasonably careful inspection and to landlord fraud. Whether an exception applies needs an individual assessment.
Keep the dates separate. The defect deadline starts with the lease; address registration concerns your actual move. If you cannot access the home as agreed, contact the landlord immediately and seek advice.
This guide covers moving into a rental home in Denmark. Rules and deadlines were checked against the sources below. For disputes, delayed access or special circumstances, seek advice on your own agreement. The guide does not decide who must pay for particular damage.
Danish Rent Act, sections 90–91 ↗Danish Social Housing Rent Act, sections 14–15 ↗Borger.dk: Moving home ↗CPR: Moving ↗
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