Boligfritid.dk is a Danish magazine for homeowners. This English version is written for international residents in Denmark. Read the original in Danish.
Updated 23 October 2026. For most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase of their life. Here are the key steps, the reports and insurance you need to know about, and the costs that come on top of the purchase price.
Step by step
- Agree your budget with the bank and get pre-approval. As the buyer, you must pay a deposit (udbetaling) of at least 5% of the purchase price yourself.
- Find the home and read the sales prospectus (salgsopstilling), the condition report (tilstandsrapport), the electrical installation report (elinstallationsrapport) and the energy label (energimærke) carefully.
- Have the home inspected. It is a good idea to bring a building expert (byggesagkyndig) if the reports mention damage you are unsure about.
- Get a buyer’s adviser (køberrådgiver), such as a lawyer, to review the deal and ask for a lawyer’s reservation (advokatforbehold).
- Sign the purchase agreement. You have a right of withdrawal (fortrydelsesret) of 6 working days, but you must pay 1% of the purchase price to the seller if you withdraw.
- Decide on change-of-ownership insurance (ejerskifteforsikring) no later than when you sign. The seller typically pays half.
- Loans, title deed and land registration. Your buyer’s adviser or the bank takes care of the title deed (skøde) and mortgage deeds (pantebreve).
- Taking over the home: read the meters and go through the home. Report faults quickly.
The reports in the house inspection scheme
When selling a house, the seller typically uses the house inspection scheme (huseftersynsordningen). It consists of a condition report (tilstandsrapport) from an authorised building expert and an electrical installation report (elinstallationsrapport) from an electrical contracting company. The reports are a precondition for you being able to take out change-of-ownership insurance.
| Document | Prepared by | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Condition report (tilstandsrapport) | Authorised building expert | 6 months from submission |
| Electrical installation report (elinstallationsrapport) | Electrical contracting company | 1 year |
| Energy label (energimærke) | Certified energy labelling company | 10 years (must be up to date at the time of sale) |
Read more: Condition report and electrical installation report: how to read them and Energy label: what does it show?
Change-of-ownership insurance
The seller can send an offer of change-of-ownership insurance (ejerskifteforsikring) along with the reports and declare that they will pay at least half of the premium. The seller is then free of liability for hidden faults and defects, whether or not you as the buyer take out the insurance. Without the house inspection scheme, the seller is liable for hidden faults for 10 years. Change-of-ownership insurance covers faults that are not mentioned in the reports, so it is worth taking out for most buyers.
Costs on top of the purchase price
- Land registration fee for the title deed: DKK 1,850 + 0.6% of the purchase price.
- Land registration fee for mortgage deeds: DKK 1,825 + 1.25% of the loan principal (from 2026).
- Loan costs: arrangement fees, brokerage and price deductions (kursfradrag) at the mortgage credit institution and the bank.
- Buyer’s advice: a lawyer or another adviser.
- Change-of-ownership insurance: the buyer typically pays half of the premium.
- Proportional settlement of, for example, property taxes and utility consumption on the takeover date.
The calculator below is in Danish.
| Skøde (1.850 kr. + 0,6 %) | – |
| Pant (1.825 kr. + 1,25 %) | – |
| I alt | – |
Satser for 2026. Den variable del er rundet op til nærmeste 100 kr. Fordeles pantet på flere pantebreve, betales den faste afgift for hvert. Låner du om, kan afgift ofte overføres fra det gamle lån.
Read more about the fee in the article Land registration fee 2026: how it is calculated.
After the purchase: property tax and energy
- Update your preliminary income assessment (forskudsopgørelse), so you pay the correct property value tax (ejendomsværdiskat) and land tax (grundskyld). You can log in with MitID. See property tax 2027 with calculator.
- Use the energy label’s suggestions to prioritise improvements, such as extra insulation or a heat pump.
- Arrange your utilities: electricity, heating, water, internet and insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I have to pay as a deposit?
At least 5% of the purchase price. The rest is typically financed with a mortgage credit loan (realkreditlån) of up to 80% and a bank loan.
Can I withdraw from a home purchase?
Yes, within 6 working days after you have signed the purchase agreement. You must pay 1% of the purchase price to the seller. With a lawyer’s reservation (advokatforbehold), your adviser can often approve or reject the deal at no cost.
What does change-of-ownership insurance cover?
It covers hidden faults and defects that are not mentioned in the condition report or the electrical installation report. Read the terms and consider add-ons.
Sources
- Skatteministeriet (the Danish Ministry of Taxation): Rates in the Land Registration Fees Act (in Danish)
- Sikkerhedsstyrelsen (the Danish Safety Technology Authority): Use the house inspection scheme (in Danish)
- Boligejer.dk: The house inspection scheme (in Danish)
This guide is for guidance only and is not legal advice. Use a buyer’s adviser when buying a home.