Lejer

What is a Lejer?

A lejer is someone who pays rent to live in a property owned by someone else. This can be a long-term apartment, a room in a shared flat, or a temporary sublet (fremleje). Tenants have both legal rights and duties under Danish rental law.

Typical responsibilities of a lejer include:

• Paying rent (husleje) on time

• Taking good care of the property

• Notifying the landlord of needed repairs

• Following the terms of the lease contract (lejekontrakt)

• Returning the property in good condition when moving out

What are a tenant’s rights?

Danish rental law protects tenants from unfair treatment and gives you several important rights:

• Right to a written lease agreement

• Protection against unreasonable rent increases

• Right to appeal disputes to the Huslejenævn (Rent Board)

• Entitlement to move-in and move-out inspections (if the landlord owns multiple properties)

• Refund of your deposit minus documented repair costs

Tenants cannot be evicted without proper legal cause and notice, and you always have the right to contest an eviction through legal channels.

Example

You’re a lejer renting a two-bedroom flat in Frederiksberg. You pay your husleje monthly, keep the place clean, and inform your udlejer when the fridge stops working. You also attend your fraflytningssyn before moving out to ensure you get your deposit back.

Quick Tips for Expats

• Always insist on a written lease—verbal agreements are risky.

• Know what’s included in your rent and what you pay separately (e.g., utilities).

• Attend both the indflytningssyn and fraflytningssyn to document the condition of the property.

• Keep copies of emails, inspection reports, and receipts during your tenancy.