How to Avoid Rental Scams in Denmark

Rental scams in Denmark target new arrivals who are under time pressure, unfamiliar with the local housing market, and willing to move fast to secure a flat. The mechanics are simple: post a convincing listing, create urgency, collect a deposit, disappear. Reports suggest the problem is most acute in Copenhagen, Aarhus, and other university cities where demand consistently exceeds supply.

This article tells you exactly how the scams work, the five red flags that appear in nearly every case, and how to verify a landlord before you hand over a single krone.

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How Rental Scams Work in Denmark

The typical scam follows a predictable script:

1. A listing appears on Facebook Marketplace, Lejebolig, or occasionally Boligportal — usually a well-furnished flat at a price slightly below market rate. The photos are professional (often stolen from legitimate listings or real estate sites).
2. You contact the poster. They respond quickly and are friendly. They explain they are currently abroad — working for an NGO, on a contract job, or caring for a family member in another country.
3. Because they are "not in Denmark right now," a viewing is not possible. Instead, they offer to post you the keys once you pay a deposit to show commitment.
4. They may send you a realistic-looking contract, a scanned ID, or even claim to use an escrow service. These are all fake.
5. You transfer money. They stop responding.

The amount lost typically ranges from one to three months' rent — DKK 6,000 to DKK 30,000 or more in Copenhagen. Recovering this money once transferred is very difficult.

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5 Red Flags Every Expat Must Know

If you see any of these, stop and verify before proceeding.

1. Viewing not possible before payment No legitimate landlord in Denmark requires a deposit before you have seen the property. If a landlord says they cannot arrange a viewing and asks you to pay first, treat this as a scam until proven otherwise.

2. The "abroad" story A landlord claiming to be overseas and unable to meet you is the single most common element in Danish rental scams. It explains why they cannot do a viewing and creates pressure to act remotely. Legitimate landlords living abroad do exist, but they will always arrange a representative (an estate agent, a neighbor, a property manager) to show you the flat in person.

3. Price significantly below market A well-located two-room flat in Copenhagen currently rents for DKK 9,000–15,000/month in most neighborhoods. A listing at DKK 5,500 for a furnished flat in Frederiksberg should raise immediate suspicion. Scammers use below-market prices to attract desperate or inexperienced searchers.

4. Communication only by email or WhatsApp, never phone Scammers avoid voice calls because accents, background noise, or spontaneous questions are harder to fake. If a landlord refuses to speak on the phone or video call, that is a serious warning sign.

5. Contract sent before viewing, requesting payment to "secure" the flat A contract that arrives before you have physically inspected the property — accompanied by a request to transfer money to "secure" or "reserve" it — is a scam pattern. Danish law does not require you to put down money to hold a viewing.

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How to Verify a Landlord Is Legitimate

Do this before any money changes hands.

Check the property on OIS.dk

OIS.dk (Offentlig Information Server) is the Danish government's official property information register. It is free and public. Search by address to find:

• Who legally owns the property
• The property type and size
• Registered land use

If the name on OIS.dk does not match the person contacting you, ask for an explanation. A legitimate landlord will have one (estate agent, property management company). A scammer will not.

Ask for CPR or CVR

A private landlord has a CPR number (Danish personal ID). A company landlord has a CVR number. You can look up CVR numbers at cvr.dk — it shows whether the company is registered, what it does, and who the directors are.

You do not need to demand these upfront, but if you are uncomfortable, it is entirely reasonable to say: "Before I transfer anything, I need to confirm your identity — can you share your CPR/CVR?" A real landlord will not be offended.

Confirm the lease follows Lejeloven

Danish tenancy law (Lejeloven, updated 2022) sets minimum standards for all rental contracts. A legitimate contract must include:

• The parties' full names and addresses
• The property address and description
• The monthly rent, deposit amount (maximum 3 months' rent), and prepaid rent (maximum 3 months' rent)
• Notice periods
• What is included in rent (heating, water, internet)

If the contract is vague, typed in broken Danish, or missing these elements, do not sign. See Danish Rental Contract Guide for what a compliant lease looks like.

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What to Do With Your Deposit

Do not transfer deposit money until:

1. You have viewed the property in person
2. You have confirmed the landlord's identity via OIS.dk
3. You have a signed tenancy agreement in hand

That is not negotiable. Landlords who pressure you to pay before these three conditions are met are either scammers or operating illegally — neither is someone you want as a landlord.

For the period between finding a flat and signing the contract, consider keeping your deposit money in a dedicated account where it is separate from your daily spending. Wise is useful here: you can hold DKK in a multi-currency account, transfer same-day to a Danish bank account once you have confirmed the landlord is legitimate, and avoid the delays that sometimes affect international transfers if you are still setting up a Danish bank account. See Best Bank Account for Expats in Denmark for your full banking setup options.

Once you do pay a deposit, Danish law requires your landlord to hold it in a separate deposit account and return it within 14 days of your departure (minus documented deductions). If they refuse, the Huslejenævnet (Rent Tribunal) can order repayment. See Tenant Rights in Denmark for how to use the Tribunal.

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Safe Platforms vs. Risky Ones

Platform	Risk Level	Notes
Boligportal.dk	Lower	ID-verified listings, complaint system, landlord ratings. Scams still occur but are rarer.
Lejebolig.dk	Lower	Similar to Boligportal. Regulated, with some landlord verification.
Facebook Marketplace	High	No identity verification. Highest concentration of scam listings. Use only for initial discovery, then verify everything independently.
Random Facebook groups (e.g. "Expats in Copenhagen Housing")	High	Completely unverified. Treat every listing as unverified until you have done the OIS.dk check.
Finn.dk, expat forums	Medium	Less regulated than Boligportal. Verify as you would Facebook listings.

The safest approach when using any platform: treat the listing as a starting point, not a guarantee. The verification work (OIS.dk, contract review, in-person viewing) is the same regardless of where you found the flat.

For guidance on where to actually search for flats, see How to Find an Apartment in Denmark.

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Where to Report If You've Been Scammed

1. Politi.dk — file a police report Go to politi.dk and use the online reporting form ("Anmeld en forbrydelse"). Select "Bedrageri" (fraud). You will need: the listing URL, all communication with the scammer, your bank transfer details, and any documents they sent. Even if recovery is unlikely, a police report is required for insurance claims and helps law enforcement track patterns.

2. Your bank — request a transfer recall Contact your bank immediately. If the transfer went to a Danish account, they may be able to initiate a recall. Success depends on how quickly you act and whether the recipient account still holds funds. International transfers are harder to recover.

3. The platform — report the listing Boligportal, Facebook, and other platforms have reporting mechanisms. Reporting the listing prevents others from being targeted.

4. Forbrugerrådet Tænk Forbrugerrådet Tænk is Denmark's main consumer advice organisation. They can advise on your legal options and may be able to assist with formal complaints. They publish guides (in Danish) on current scam patterns.

5. SKAT — if the scammer used a bank account If you have the bank account details the scammer used, report them to SKAT (the Danish tax authority). Unexplained large deposits to an account can trigger an investigation. This is a secondary step, but worth doing.

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Common Problems and Fixes

"The landlord showed me the flat but still wants payment before signing." This is unusual but does happen with legitimate landlords managing high demand. Insist on signing the contract first. No Danish landlord has a legal right to collect deposit money before the contract is executed. If they refuse, walk away.

"The OIS.dk owner name is different from my landlord's name." Ask directly: are you the owner, or are you managing this on behalf of the owner? If managing, ask for the property management agreement in writing. Legitimate property managers will have one. If they cannot produce documentation, do not proceed.

"I already sent money and now they're not responding." Call your bank first — within the same day if possible. File a police report at politi.dk. Accept that recovery may not be possible, and use this as a data point for others by reporting the listing and the scammer's contact details to the platform and police.

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Next Step

Before you search for flats, read How to Find an Apartment in Denmark to understand which platforms are legitimate and how the Danish rental market actually works. Then read Danish Rental Contract Guide so you know what a compliant lease must contain before you sign anything.