Værelse til leje: renting a room in Denmark and the rules that apply

A værelse til leje is a single room you rent to live in, usually sharing kitchen and bathroom with the landlord or other residents. The Danish Rent Act covers rooms too, so the rules on deposits, prepaid rent and notice protect you. Waitly gives you an overview of housing waitlists, useful if the room is only a stopgap.

Last updated: 13 October 2026.

In short

When you rent a room in Denmark, you are a tenant under the Rent Act. The landlord can ask for at most 3 months' deposit and 3 months' prepaid rent. If the landlord lives in the home, the tenancy can be ended with 1 month's notice. If you sublet a room from a tenant, the agreement must be in writing. Housing benefit generally requires your own kitchen, and you must register your new address within 5 days of moving in.

Does the Rent Act apply when you rent a room?

Yes. Under section 1 of the Rent Act (lejeloven), the law covers renting, including subletting, of a house or a room. A room is therefore a tenancy with the same basic rules on deposits, maintenance and moving out as an apartment.

If the landlord uses a printed form for the lease, it must be an authorised standard form, even for a single room. The most common is Typeformular A, where special terms such as access to kitchen, bathroom and laundry should be written in.

Insist on a written contract, even with a private landlord: it documents rent, deposit, what is included and how the agreement ends.

How much deposit and prepaid rent can the landlord charge?

For a single room rented as a home, the landlord can ask for a deposit of at most 3 months' rent plus at most 3 months' prepaid rent. This is in section 59 of the Rent Act, and under section 58(3), rent cannot be demanded for more than 3 months at a time.

A worked example: with rent of DKK 4,500 a month, the deposit can be at most DKK 13,500 and the prepaid rent at most DKK 13,500. So you could pay up to DKK 27,000 plus the first month's rent on move-in.

The deposit is a maximum, not a minimum, so a lower amount can be agreed. Never pay before you have seen the room and received the contract, and learn how to avoid rental scams.

A room in the landlord's home or a sublet from a tenant

Your rights depend on who rents out the room and whether they live there.

The landlord lives in the home

If you rent a room in an apartment, or in a one or two-family house, where the landlord lives, the landlord can end the tenancy under section 170(1) of the Rent Act. The notice period is 1 month under section 175, so your protection is weaker than in an apartment of your own.

In regulated municipalities, rent for such rooms is not cost-based under section 6(3). If you find the rent or terms unreasonable, you can still take them to the rent tribunal (huslejenævnet) under section 34, and the tribunal can overturn a notice given to push through an unreasonable rent under section 35.

You sublet a room from a tenant

A tenant may sublet up to half of the apartment's living rooms under section 157, and the total number of residents may not exceed the number of living rooms. The sublease must be in writing, and the main tenant must give the landlord a copy before it starts.

The owner does not live in the home

If you rent a room directly from an owner who does not live there, the Rent Act's ordinary protection against termination applies. The landlord can then only end your tenancy on the grounds the law lists, for example if the landlord is moving in.

Can you get housing benefit for a room?

Generally only if the room has its own kitchen. Under Housing Benefit Act section 9, benefit (boligsikring) can only be paid for a home with a kitchen with running water and drainage, with a few exceptions such as shared-kitchen cohousing and certain care homes.

A room with access to a shared kitchen therefore normally does not qualify. If you live in a dormitory or youth housing unit with its own kitchen, you can apply as long as you meet the other conditions.

If the main tenant receives housing benefit and sublets a room, a proportionate part of the rent is deducted in the calculation. Discuss it before you agree.

Do you need to register your address at the room?

Yes. You must report your change of address no later than 5 days after moving, according to Life in Denmark, and late registration can lead to a fine. This also applies when you move into a room in someone else's home.

Your CPR address is used for post, health services and housing benefit, so keep it correct.

Where can you find a room to rent?

Rooms come from private landlords, tenants who sublet, and dormitories and youth housing with their own waiting lists. Combine several tracks:

• Dormitories and youth housing: If you are studying, sign up early. Read about student housing in Denmark.

• Private landlords and sublets: Use your network, your place of study and listings, but always see the room and the contract before you pay.

• Rental waitlists: A room is often a stopgap. Sign up for rentals at the same time, for example rentals with a balcony in Copenhagen, so you are on lists while you live in the room.

Some lists are interest lists rather than strict queues, so learn how to join an interest list. If you are looking for a room in Copenhagen, be extra careful: never transfer a deposit to a landlord you have not met.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent a room without a deposit?

Yes, if the landlord agrees. The Rent Act caps the deposit and prepaid rent but sets no minimum.

What is the difference between a room and a dormitory room?

You usually rent a room from a private person or a tenant. A dormitory room (kollegieværelse) is part of a dormitory with its own rules on who can live there, typically that you are studying, and rooms are allocated through waiting lists.

What happens to my room if the main tenant moves out?

Your sublet rests on the main tenant's lease. If the main lease ends, your right to the room generally ends too, so ask about their plans first.

Find rooms and rentals with a waiting list

A room solves an urgent need but rarely a long-term one. Find lists on Waitly, read the terms for each one, 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.