To improve clarity and legal security for international tenants, an English version of the standard Danish tenancy agreement has been introduced in the Danish Parliament. The new version, which is currently under consultation, aims to address the challenges faced by non-Danish speakers, such as international students and expatriates, by providing a legally binding standard tenancy agreement in English.
On 10 December 2024, the Danish government proposed the introduction of an official English-language tenancy agreement to better support Denmark’s growing international population. In 2023, Denmark welcomed 8,446 international exchange students and 3,744 foreign students in higher education programmes. In addition, more than 300,000 foreign full-time employees were active in the Danish labour market in October 2022. As many of these individuals rely on rental housing, the need for accessible and legally secure tenancy agreements has become increasingly urgent.
According to the Danish Rent Act, all standard tenancy agreements must be drawn up on a form approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, from which it is not possible to deviate. However, the only authorised version currently available is in Danish. For non-Danish-speaking tenants, this poses a significant obstacle, as many rely either on a Danish tenancy agreement that they simply do not understand, or on an unofficial translation that carries no legal weight. This inevitably paves the way for misunderstandings or disputes and creates uncertainty for both tenants and landlords.
To address these issues, the proposal introduces a legally binding English version of the standard tenancy agreement. With the English version, the process of entering into a tenancy agreement in Denmark as an international resident will become less challenging. This also applies to landlords, as the English version is a reliable and legally binding alternative to the Danish version. Landlords will be able to choose between the Danish and English versions, thus offering flexibility and eliminating language barriers.
By introducing an official standard tenancy agreement in English, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing aims to ensure transparency and fairness for all parties involved. This initiative has been promoted by Denmark’s largest property association, EjendomDanmark, since mid-2024.
The proposal is currently under public consultation to refine the details before its possible implementation.
If enacted, the English-language tenancy agreement would be a significant step towards a more inclusive and equitable housing market. It is expected to come into force on 1 February 2025. Gorrissen Federspiel is closely monitoring the proposal.