For expats, students and families

Accommodation can be difficult to find in Copenhagen and as a newcomer it is even harder to get an overview. In this guide, we try to give you the basic information you need in your search for a place to live.

Subletting is quite common and for many the first place is a temporary one. Apartments and rooms for rent are often advertised on the internet or found through colleagues, friends and acquaintances. Subletting means that you rent somebody else’s dwelling for a limited period of time. What you rent is the right to live in and use the dwelling for the agreed period of time, nothing more. If you plan to stay permanently, it is a good idea to sign up for an apartment in one of the housing associations.
Another option is to buy, depending on where you come from there are certain rules. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website you can find information about property purchase in Denmark.

Ideas and ways to find a place to live

  • Search the Internet
  • Read ads in the daily newspapers, local papers or special housing newspapers
  • Place an ad stating that you are looking for accommodation
  • Sign up on a waiting list
  • Place a notice in a supermarket (most of them have a board for ads)
  • Ask family, friends and acquaintances.

Important advices

  • Deposit is required from most landlords. Normally, you have to pay 1 months deposit for a room and 3 months deposit for a flat.
  • Check the room/apartment personally before making a deal.
  • Before signing a contract, carefully read the terms.
  • Cheating with ads on the internet is seen and fraud ads and offers can look very professional.
  • Payment of deposit in advance without having a contract is a bad idea, it can be very difficult to get the money back.
  • If the offer sounds too good, it might be too good to be true.

Budget – how much should you expect to pay

It is difficult to say how much you should expect to pay. Prices depend on the location and also time of the year. When new students arrive around February and September, prices are high and it is very difficult to get a place to live. Please note that prices can be lower in the suburbs of Copenhagen.

Furnished rooms for a single person (with access to kitchen and bathroom) cost from about DKK 4.500 – including heating and electricity.
Small furnished apartments (1-2 rooms + kitchen and bath) are most difficult to get. Normally they are rented to a single person or a couple without children. Cost from about DKK 8000 per month plus consumption.
Furnished apartments (2-3 rooms + kitchen and bath) can be easier to find. Cost from about DKK 13.000 per month plus consumption.
Larger furnished apartments (4-6 rooms + kitchen and bath) cost from about DKK 16.000 or much more per month plus consumption.
Consumption is heating, water, gas, electricity and eventually telephone and TV license fee (if a TV set is included in the furnishing).

Housing associations

Rented accommodation is either privately owned or owned by a housing association. You can sign up for an apartment in a housing association, but please note that it can take years to get an offer.

You might get an apartment faster (from 3 months and up) if you meet the conditions for flexible rental (“fleksibel udlejning” in Danish). Please ask a housing association.
In order to be eligible for flexible rental, you have to meet one of the following criteria:

1. You can document that you have a permanent job

  • Min. 25 hours per week
  • Duration min. 3 months
  • Documentation: Contract of employment and if possible payment slips
  • Self-employed: Documentation for CVR registration and turnover for the latest year

2. You are a student

  • At a Danish educational institution or covered by a training/internship contract or apprenticeship.
  • Documentation: Letter of enrollment at a Danish educational institution.
  • Copy of a training/internship or apprenticeship contract

Several housing associations offer accommodation according to the criteria for flexible rental. Some of the housing associations are:

Furnished apartments

Housing portals – rooms and apartments for rent
Some of the following websites are only in Danish but may still be helpful. Please note that there is no guarantee that you get anything for the registration fee for which reason you should always be critical and alert.

Student accommodation

Please ask your international office for help. They can offer you different types of accommodation in student halls or shared flats.

If they cannot help, you can apply for a room or a small flat in a student residence.

Apply for accommodation 3 months before your studies begin. KKIK has a point system, which means that everyone gets points based on their individual situation. Students with the highest score receive accommodation offers first. There are 18 student residences in the Copenhagen area.

Another option for both students and others in need of a place to live

Privately owned student halls with independent administration

A place to stay on arrival

These offers are only for short term and you please note that it is not possible to register for CPR at a hostel or the like.

Reference: Copenhagen International House