Housing

Andelsbolig, ejerbolig, lejebolig, the three ways to live here

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionDenmark has three main housing tenures: rent it (lejebolig), own it outright (ejerbolig), or buy a share in a cooperative (andelsbolig). The andelsbolig is the one that confuses newcomers - you buy the right to live, not the property.

The three tenures

TypeWhat you getGoverned by
Lejebolig (rental)You rent from a landlordRent Act (Lejeloven)
Ejerbolig (owner-occupied)You own the property outrightProperty law; registered at tinglysning
Andelsbolig (cooperative)You buy a share in a cooperative that owns the building, giving you the right to live in one unitSeparate cooperative-housing law

There is also almen bolig (social/public housing) - allocated via waiting lists, covered in housing associations and waiting lists.

The andelsbolig, explained

This is the one that trips up newcomers. With an andelsbolig you do not buy the flat - you buy a share (andel) in the cooperative (andelsforening) that owns the whole building, and that share gives you the exclusive right to live in a specific unit. You pay a purchase price for the share, then a monthly fee (boligafgift) that covers the building's shared costs and any collective mortgage.

Andel: cheaper entry, real limitsAn andelsbolig is usually cheaper to buy into than an equivalent ejerbolig, and the monthly fee can be modest. But the resale price is often capped by the cooperative's rules (maksimalpris), financing is different, and you must be approved by the cooperative. It is ownership with strings.

Which suits you

  • Short or uncertain stay: rent (lejebolig) - flexible, strong tenant protection.
  • Long-term, want to own: ejerbolig - full ownership, but see the foreigner rules in buying property as a foreigner.
  • Long-term, lower entry cost: andelsbolig - community living, capped resale, cooperative approval.
Andelsbolig and social housing have their own lawsThe Rent Act protections you get as a renter do not all carry over to cooperative or social housing - they are governed by separate legislation. Read the specific rules before committing.

Common questions

Is an andelsbolig 'owning'?
Sort of - you own a share in the cooperative, not the flat itself, with the right to live there. Resale is often price-capped and needs cooperative approval.
Which is cheapest to get into?
Renting needs no purchase but ties up deposit money; andelsbolig is usually a cheaper buy-in than ejerbolig; full ownership is the most capital-intensive.
Can foreigners buy an andelsbolig?
There can be extra rules for non-residents on cooperative and holiday housing - check before you commit, as with any purchase.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: the Danish Rent Act (Lejeloven, LBK nr 341), um.dk and Civilstyrelsen (property acquisition), tinglysning.dk and lifeindenmark.borger.dk. Figures are 2026 levels and reset each January. General information, not legal advice - see our editorial policy.

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