The Danish buying process, step by step
From loan approval to handover day: who the agent works for, why your own buyer's adviser is the norm, the six-day withdrawal right and how the deed is registered digitally.
Applies to: Denmark. Reviewed 2026-09-25.
Key takeaways
- The estate agent works for the seller. The buyer normally hires their own buyer's adviser, often a lawyer.
- The purchase binds the seller once both have signed, but you have six business days to withdraw against 1 per cent of the price.
- Put a lawyer's approval clause and a financing clause in the purchase agreement unless you are fully ready.
- The deed is registered digitally with the land registry and the buyer usually pays the registration fee.
What the journey looks like
- Get a pre-approval from your bank and work out the down payment, mortgage-credit loan and bank loan.
- Read the sales prospectus, condition report, electrical report, energy label and registered documents.
- Make an offer. Price and terms are negotiated through the agent.
- Sign the purchase agreement with lawyer's and financing clauses.
- The withdrawal period runs for six business days. Your adviser reviews the purchase and lifts the approval clause.
- Pay the down payment into escrow or provide a bank guarantee for the price.
- The deed and mortgage deeds are registered digitally.
- Handover day: keys, meter readings and the final settlement statement.
The agent and your own adviser
The estate agent is engaged by the seller. Buyers therefore often hire a buyer's adviser, usually a lawyer who specialises in property, to review the agreement, registered documents, reports and financing, and often to handle the deed.
A lawyer's approval clause gives your adviser a few days to review the purchase. The clause and the withdrawal right are different: a clause that is not approved normally costs you nothing, while the withdrawal right costs 1 per cent.
The right of withdrawal
A person buying a home to live in may withdraw within six business days after both parties have signed. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count. The withdrawal must be in writing and reach the seller in time, and the buyer pays the seller compensation of 1 per cent of the price.
Deed, registration and handover
Ownership is protected by registering the deed digitally with the land registry. Mortgage deeds for the loans are registered at the same time. The registration fee for the deed is DKK 1,850 plus 0.6 per cent of the price.
On handover day you take over the home, read the electricity, water and heating meters, and a final settlement divides taxes, charges and consumption between you and the seller.
Questions to ask
- Are the condition report, electrical report and energy label available, and how old are they?
- Is the seller paying half the change-of-ownership insurance premium?
- Which easements and covenants are registered on the property?
Red flags
- You are asked to sign without conditions before your adviser has seen the documents.
- The condition report is missing or older than six months.
- The seller will not provide an energy label or electrical report.
Sources
- Act on consumer protection when acquiring real property (Retsinformation)
- Rates under the Registration Fees Act (Skatteministeriet)
- The Danish land registry (Tinglysningsretten)
- Using the home inspection scheme when buying and selling a house (Sikkerhedsstyrelsen)