Practical information

• Deposit and pre-paid rent

  Most landlords require that you pay the first month´s rent, a deposit and one month of prepaid rent, before you arrive. If you are staying for less than one month, some landlords will not require that you pay a deposit and prepaid rent.

  The deposit is typically the same amount as 3 months of rent. This acts as a guarantee for any expenses there might be when you move out of the apartment. Please note that you will typically have to pay for the accommodation to be painted, as the accommodation must be freshly painted for the next tenant. Furthermore, you will have to pay for any broken or missing items, as well as cleaning, in case this is not done sufficiently when you move out.

  The prepaid rent is typically 1 to 3 months of rent. Prepaid rent is to be used from the time you terminate the tenancy agreement until you move out of the apartment.

  
  
• Insurance

  In Denmark it is very common to take out contents insurance. If you choose not to take out insurance for your housing, you should be aware that you will not be covered in the event of burglary or fire.

  
  
• Accommodation on the private market

  We strongly advise you to use the accommodation offers that SDU provides.

  However, if you decide to seek accommodation on your own, please keep these guidelines in mind:

  • Please be aware of unrealistically cheap accommodation offers in comparison to other accommodation offers in the neighbourhood.
  • Never pay money in order to move up in the queue. It is illegal and you have no legal recourse for getting your money back.
  • We strongly advise against using Western Union or other online payment services as your payment is untraceable and there is no possibility for you to get your money back.
  • Never pay rent or a deposit before having seen the accommodation.
• Terminating your contract

  In Denmark, you usually have a three-months termination period for your lease.

  This means that you will be liable for rent for three months after you have handed in your termination notice. Furthermore, you are often liable for the 14-day maintenance period following your date of moving out. In other cases, your lease may be limited to a specific date. In that case, you do not have to hand in notice of termination but simply move out on the expiration date specified in your contract.

  Make sure to read your lease contract carefully and take note of the termination period.