Housing

Deposit rules, what a landlord can and cannot take

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionBy law a landlord can ask for a deposit of up to 3 months rent, plus up to 3 months prepaid rent. Normal wear and tear is not deductible, and the huslejenaevn will back you if the rules are broken.

What you can be asked to pay

Under the Danish Rent Act (Lejeloven), upfront costs are capped and split into two legal categories:

ItemMaximumWhat it is
Deposit (depositum)3 months' rentSecurity against damage or unpaid rent; refundable
Prepaid rent (forudbetalt leje)3 months' rentCovers your final months; you stop paying rent then, not refunded as cash

Neither may include utilities. So the legal ceiling is first month + up to 3 months' deposit + up to 3 months' prepaid rent.

Normal wear and tear is not yours to pay

A landlord can only deduct for damage beyond normal wear (normalt slid) - faded paint, worn carpet and small picture-hook holes are the landlord's cost, not yours. Since 2015, you cannot be required to return a flat in "newly refurbished" condition, only normalistandsaettelse (normal condition). If you lived there 3+ years, repainting for normal wear is on the landlord.

The inspection rule is your biggest protectionLandlords with 2+ rental units must hold a move-in and move-out inspection with signed reports. If they skip the required inspection, they generally cannot deduct anything from your deposit except unpaid rent. Know this - many landlords hope you do not.

Getting your deposit back

After move-out you should receive a final accounting (flytteopgoerelse), typically within about 4-6 weeks. If the landlord stalls, send a written 14-day demand, then file with the huslejenaevn. You may be owed interest on a delayed return.

Document everything on day onePhotograph and date every existing mark, scuff and defect the day you move in, and note them on the move-in report. This dated evidence is what wins deposit disputes months later.

Common questions

How much can a landlord legally take upfront?
A deposit of up to 3 months' rent plus up to 3 months' prepaid rent, neither including utilities - so up to roughly 6-7 months' rent counting the first month.
Can they charge me for repainting?
Not for normal wear, especially after 3+ years. Only damage beyond normal use is deductible.
What if they skip the inspection?
If they own 2+ units and skip the required inspection, they generally forfeit the right to deduct anything but unpaid rent.

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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