10 Things That Are Often Worth Checking Before You Sign Your Lease

1. Deposit (depositum)

The deposit is an amount your landlord typically holds as security against damages and unpaid rent. As background: under the general rules, the deposit on a lease agreement is typically expected to stay within three months of husleje. It is generally meant to cover repairs beyond normal wear and tear, and any unpaid rent when you move out.

A landlord withholding part of the deposit would typically need to point to documented issues raised at the move-out inspection. Amounts or reasons that look unusual are worth double-checking.

• Check the size of the deposit against the general three-month guideline as a starting point.
• Confirm when and how the deposit is meant to be refunded after fraflytning.
• Watch for extra 'fees' that function like an additional deposit — this is a point worth checking closely.

2. Prepaid rent (forudbetalt leje)

Prepaid rent is rent you pay upfront that is meant to cover the final months of your tenancy — usually during the notice period. It works differently from the deposit: prepaid rent is generally offset against rent you would otherwise owe, while the deposit is meant as protection against damage.

As background, prepaid rent is typically expected to correspond to the length of the notice period agreed in the rental agreement, which for tenants is commonly three months.

• Compare the prepaid rent amount to the notice period stated in the contract.
• Note that deposit and prepaid rent combined can add up to a significant sum upfront — worth planning for.
• Confirm in writing how prepaid rent is meant to be offset against the final months of husleje.

3. Monthly rent (husleje)

Your monthly rent is rarely your total housing cost. Utilities such as heat, water and electricity, plus antenna, internet and stairwell cleaning, are often billed on top. It is worth checking exactly what is included in the rent and what is charged separately.

• Payment date each month and accepted payment methods.
• On-account charges (aconto) for heat, water and utilities.
• Any indexation clause or planned rent increases worth reviewing.

4. Fees worth a closer look

Some lease contracts include fees that are easy to miss because they are tucked into the special terms. Examples include compulsory cleaning, repainting on move-out, ongoing maintenance charges, or administration fees. Several of these types of clauses are commonly discussed as potentially unenforceable — but that is exactly why it is worth having them reviewed rather than assuming either way.

5. House rules (husorden)

House rules cover day-to-day life in the building — pets, smoking, subletting, noise and renovation. It is a good idea to ask for the house rules in writing before you sign; rules that were not handed over at signing can be harder for a landlord to rely on later, though this is worth checking case by case.

• Are pets allowed? Get it in writing.
• Is smoking permitted indoors or on the balcony?
• Is subletting or fremleje an option, and under what conditions?
• Quiet hours and rules on renovation or drilling.

6. Termination rules (opsigelse)

As a tenant you would typically expect a notice period of about three months, but many contracts also contain a lock-in period (uopsigelighed) of 6, 12 or 24 months, during which you may still be liable for rent even if you move out — this is worth checking closely before signing.

A landlord's options for ending a tenancy are generally more limited and follow specific rules that are worth understanding as background, or having reviewed if it becomes relevant.

• Check both the tenant's and the landlord's notice period.
• Look for any lock-in period — this is where tenants are most often caught out.
• Confirm how notice is meant to be delivered (registered letter, digital post, e-mail).

7. Moving-in condition (indflytning)

The move-in inspection documents the condition of the apartment when you take over the keys. In properties with more than one rental unit, holding a move-in inspection and issuing a report within a set deadline is generally expected of the landlord.

This report tends to be an important piece of documentation for when you move out — without it, disputes about pre-existing damage can be harder to resolve.

• Attend the inspection in person if at all possible.
• Photograph every room, including scratches, marks and appliances.
• Raise defects in writing shortly after moving in.

8. Moving-out report (fraflytningsrapport)

When you move out, a move-out inspection and a moving-out report are generally expected within a set deadline after the landlord receives the keys. Missing that deadline is often discussed as a point that can affect a landlord's ability to charge for repairs — but the specifics are worth checking against your own documents.

The move-out report tends to be central to how much of your deposit comes back — worth treating as seriously as the contract itself.

• Attend the move-out inspection; don't leave it to the landlord alone.
• Take dated photos and video of every room on hand-over day.
• Wear beyond normal use versus ordinary age-related wear is a common point of disagreement — worth documenting carefully.

9. Understanding your position as a tenant

Danish rental law (lejeloven) is generally described as offering meaningful protection for tenants, but knowing what applies to your situation matters. Clauses that appear to reduce that protection are a common source of dispute and are often worth having checked, even if you signed them.

• Outdoor maintenance and structural repairs are typically the landlord's area of responsibility.
• Ending a tenancy is generally expected to follow a proper ground and procedure — worth reviewing if it happens to you.
• Rent increases are expected to follow either the lejelov or a valid contract clause — worth checking against your contract.
• A written contract, a house rules document and a proper move-in report are things worth asking for if you haven't received them.

10. Let AI take a first pass for you

Even careful readers can miss something in a 20-page lease agreement. LeaseGuard reads through the entire contract, compares it against common patterns from Danish rental law, and summarises the result in plain language as a starting point for your own judgment.

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Relaterede guides

• Home
• Pricing
• How LeaseGuard works
• Deposit rules
• Prepaid rent
• Termination of tenancy
• Moving-out report
• Danish rental law