How to search for a rental safely in Denmark

A convincing listing can still be fraudulent, even when it appears on a familiar rental platform. Before you commit to a home in Denmark, check the property, the person offering it, and the terms of the agreement. These steps reduce the risk of a scam; no website or checklist can guarantee that a listing is safe.

Before you sign or pay

1. Compare the rent with similar homes. A price far below other rentals in the area is a reason to investigate, especially if the advertiser also wants a quick decision. Compare with apartments in Copenhagen or apartments in Aarhus, and see typical rents in our guide to renting in Copenhagen.
2. Visit the actual home. Confirm that the address, rooms and condition match the listing. A video tour alone does not prove that the advertiser can rent out the property. Danish Police advise viewing the home in person before signing a lease or transferring money.
3. Check who has the right to rent it out. Ask a private landlord to identify themselves and check the registered owner on tinglysning.dk or boligejer.dk. An agent or tenant subletting the home may not be the registered owner; ask them to explain and document their authority. At the viewing, check whether names on the doorbell or mailbox match what you have been told.
4. Check Bolighub’s verification mark. In Bolighub’s search results, listings marked as verified have a blue checkmark. On a listing page, look under “About the landlord” for “Verified by Bolighub”. The mark is a useful signal, but you should still check the home, lease and payment details yourself.
5. Look more closely at the listing. Search the address and use a reverse image search to see whether the photos appear in unrelated ads. Keep your conversation on the rental platform where possible, and visit the platform by typing its address yourself rather than following a link in a message.
6. Get a signed lease before paying a deposit. Check the address, rent, deposit, other charges and the identity of the person or company you are renting from. Life in Denmark advises you not to pay a deposit without a lease. Make sure you have seen the home in person first.
7. Protect your personal details. Do not send photos of your passport, driving licence or health card to an advertiser. Be cautious with requests for your CPR number or bank details until you have verified who you are dealing with and why the information is needed.
8. Pay in a way you can document. Once you have viewed the home and checked the lease and landlord, keep a record of the payment and who received it. Danish Police recommend a transfer through a Danish bank and warn against cash and foreign accounts.

Pressure to sign immediately, refusal to arrange a viewing or a request to pay before you have a lease are reasons to pause. A familiar website does not replace these checks.

If you think you have been scammed

Stop sending money and save the listing, messages, lease and payment receipts. If you have already paid, contact your bank as soon as possible. Report the listing to the platform and report the suspected fraud to Danish Police.

For more examples of warning signs aimed at newcomers, read NordicExpat’s guide to rental scams in Denmark. For current Danish rental rules, use the official guidance from Life in Denmark linked above.