You can choose either to rent or to buy housing. However, most foreign nationals choose to rent their home, as it is the type of home with the least obligations.
A common way to find a place to live is to search on the internet. Denmark has a series of housing portals you can use. In addition, some Danish newspapers run ads. As an alternative, you can contact a real estate agent, rental agency or relocation partner. They can help you find a place to live for a fee. Another good idea is to ask your employer or perhaps colleagues for advice. Making use of your personal network will most often be an effective way to find a place to live.
Renting
Rents in Denmark vary widely, depending on the location, size and general condition of the specific dwelling. You can rent a room, a flat or a single-family house.
You can rent from either a private property owner or a housing association.
As a tenant, you have legislative rights, including a tenancy agreement, which specifies the conditions for renting such as the deposit amount and renovation obligations. You can read about your rights and obligations as a tenant on Lejeloven.dk.
There are many housing associations in Denmark, covering a wide range of flats and single-family houses built with public subsidies.
Non-profit housing associations often use waiting lists. Thus, you may need to wait a while before being offered an apartment or a house. In addition, you must be aware that in order to rent through a non-profit association, you must be a member and pay a yearly fee. However, the monthly rent is often less than if you rent from a private company or property owner.
In Randers, we have the non-profit associations Lejerbo and RandersBolig. You can see available housing and sign up for housing on their websites.
If you want to avoid a waiting list or paying a fee to a non-profit housing association, you can choose to rent an apartment or house from a private property owner.
You can find privately rented apartments and houses on the internet and in one of the local newspapers.
You can also choose subletting. This could be an advantage if you are only staying here for a short amount of time, as the apartment or house may be furnished.
Buying
If you wish to buy a home in Denmark, you must have permission from the Department of Civil Affairs to acquire real property in Denmark, unless you have domicile in Denmark or you have had residence in Denmark for at least five years.
As a homeowner, you are obligated to pay property tax and have a fire insurance, as law in Denmark requires this.
In Randers, houses and apartments are mainly sold through estate agents. Therefore, if you are considering purchasing a home, you should contact an estate agent.
You can also buy building land where you can build the house of your dreams. See building land for sale in Randers Municipality.
In Denmark, it is normal to take out a housing loan at a mortgage credit institution and/or bank to finance this kind of purchase.
No matter what kind of property you plan to buy, it is highly recommended that you consult a lawyer specializing in property law.
Cooperative housing is a group of houses or apartments owned by a cooperative housing society. This type of living option usually has a social aspect, which can be beneficial if you want to meet new people when moving to Randers.