Join the Danish Tenants Union!

• I am currently dealing with a dishonest person who offered me the opportunity to rent a room in an apartment with the option to buy (no termination date listed in the contract. If I was not buying I would at least pay the next month's rent). She violated the agreement by immediately pressuring me about buying before my decision deadline (I decided to buy), then did not give me the full papers I needed to start the purchase, until over 1.5 months from my decision date. Meanwhile she illegally tried to change the rent (double it). When I objected as it is illegal in DK to raise rent withoutat least 3 months notice, she then went to extraordinary lengths to try to lie, bluff and threaten me (she then refused to sell to me), telling me I was evicted in less than 7 days!Of course I am staying put because it cannot happen. No one can be put on the street -- I can give 3 months notice of leaving or if she agrees, less than that if at my leisure I find someplace else I wish to live.
  
  Please remember -- even if you have no contract, you come under basic Danish housing law and a landlord cannot evict you onto the street. There must be proper 3 months notice of termination of tenancy. According to the Danish Tenants Union, ALL evictions are done after a decision against a renter in the Boligretter (housing courts), and then enforced by the Fogedret (which will give you an eviction date and you will have plenty of time to leave before then. If you wait until the date, a court official comes, along with a representative of the landlord or the landlord, the police and sometimes, a locksmith to change the locks.
  
  Because I was able to consult the Danish Tenants Union in Denmark (Lejernes Lo i Danmark http://www.llo.dk) I was able to get all the information I needed about renting, contracts, lack of contracts, termination of tenancy, rent increases, legal housing court proceedings, and eviction processes). Tenants are well protected if they know the law. If costs only 600 DKK to be a member and get advice/information. I highly recommend that everyone who rents in Denmark become a member, especially non-Danes/foreigners. They will gladly speak with you in English.
  
  You also can get a free lawyer/legal assistance through Copenhagen Legal Aid.

  23 May 2009, 09:08 Elskede