Tidsbegrænset lejekontrakt: when is a fixed-term lease legal in Denmark?

A tidsbegrænset lejekontrakt is a Danish fixed-term lease that ends without notice on an agreed date. Under the Rent Act, the time limit only holds if it is sufficiently justified by the landlord's own circumstances; otherwise the housing court can set it aside so the tenancy continues. If you are looking for a permanent home, Waitly gives you an overview of rental waitlists.

Last updated: 13 October 2026.

In short

A fixed-term lease in Denmark ends automatically on its end date, but only if the landlord has a reasonable ground linked to their own circumstances. The reason should be written into the contract. You cannot terminate during the term unless the contract allows it. If you stay more than 1 month after expiry without the landlord asking you to leave, the tenancy continues with no end date.

When is a fixed-term lease legal in Denmark?

A time limit is legal when the landlord has a reasonable ground in their own circumstances. Under section 173 of the Rent Act, subsection 3, the housing court can set the time limit aside if it is not sufficiently justified by the landlord's circumstances. The tenancy then continues as an open-ended one.

According to Ældre Sagen, typical grounds are that the landlord could not sell the home and wants to try again later, or is temporarily away for work. The reason should be written in clause 11 on special terms if the landlord uses the standard Typeformular A contract.

Even with a reason in the contract, the time limit is not watertight. According to Bolius, the court weighs the stated reason, and a landlord can never be completely sure the limit will hold. Germany has different rules, as explained in fixed-term contracts in Germany.

What happens when the lease expires?

When the agreed term runs out, the tenancy ends without notice under section 173(1). You must move out on the end date, and under section 58(5) you only pay rent until the tenancy ends.

There is one important exception. If you stay for more than 1 month after expiry, and the landlord knows without asking you to leave, the tenancy continues without a time limit under section 173(2).

When you move out, the usual rules on the move-out inspection (fraflytningssyn) and redecoration apply, so read your contract on what the landlord can require.

Can you end a fixed-term lease early?

Only if the contract allows it or the other party breaches the agreement, under section 173(1). Without a termination clause, you must pay rent for the whole term, even if you find another home.

Negotiate a right to terminate before you sign, for example with the Rent Act's standard notice of 3 months to the first working day of a month under section 175. The German market handles this differently, see leaving a fixed-term lease early in Germany.

The landlord cannot terminate during the term either, unless this was agreed or you breach the lease.

Pitfalls of a fixed-term lease

Most problems arise because the contract was not checked properly before signing. Watch out for these:

• No reason or a vague one: "the landlord wants flexibility" is not tied to concrete circumstances on the landlord's side.

• No right to terminate: you owe rent until the end date, even if you move out.

• Inaction: Ældre Sagen points out that tenants must act quickly after the tenancy starts if they want to challenge the time limit.

• Subletting: a sublease is often fixed-term, because under section 158 the main tenant may sublet for up to 2 years during a temporary absence.

• Deposit: the caps of 3 months' deposit and 3 months' prepaid rent also apply to fixed-term tenancies.

Never pay before you have seen the home and the signed contract, and learn how to spot rental scams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides whether a time limit is valid?

The housing court (boligretten) can set aside a time limit under section 173(3). If in doubt, get advice from a tenants' association or a lawyer well before the end date.

Do the rules also apply to a room?

Yes, section 173 also covers rooms. If you rent a room in the landlord's own home, the landlord already has wide termination rights under section 170, so check what the contract says about ending the lease during the term.

Can a fixed-term lease be extended?

Yes, if you and the landlord agree in writing. An extension is a new time limit, and it should also be justified by the landlord's circumstances, otherwise it may not hold.

Find a rental with no end date

A fixed-term lease can be a good stopgap, but it gives no long-term security. Learn how a rental waitlist works, read the terms for each list, and sign up where you want to live. The Waitly FAQ answers common questions about signing up. A signup improves your chances, but it does not guarantee a home.