Subletting a room

Your housing arrangement comes first

A tenant and a cooperative owner do not have the same subletting rights. Find your own lease or your association’s current bylaws and check them before promising anyone a room. This guide concerns a room while you continue living in the home. Letting the entire home or holiday accommodation has different conditions.

Lejeloven, herunder § 157 om fremlejeSocial- og Boligministeriet: boliglovgivning

If you rent your home

For a private residential apartment, section 157 of the Rent Act permits subletting up to half of its habitable rooms for residence. The number of people living there must not exceed the number of habitable rooms. Occupancy-limit rules can also be relevant.

The subletting agreement must be written. Send the main landlord a copy before the sublet starts. Your original tenancy and responsibilities to the main landlord continue. Social housing has a separate legal framework; ask your housing organisation about your particular arrangement.

Lejeloven, herunder § 157 om fremleje

If you own a cooperative share

Your association’s own bylaws determine whether and on what conditions you may rent out. ABF’s model bylaws are an example, not automatically your association’s rules. Their section 11 allows the board to permit room letting on conditions it sets.

Ask the board or administrator about any permission you need, and retain written confirmation. An agreement with a prospective tenant cannot replace required association permission.

ABF: standardvedtægter, § 11Social- og Boligministeriet: boliglovgivning

Before publishing your listing

Resolve the room and occupant counts, your right to let, any necessary permission and the lawful rent. Then describe the room and shared areas accurately. Use a written contract and keep it together with the documents confirming what you checked.

Lejeloven, herunder § 157 om fremlejeABF: standardvedtægter, § 11