Everything you need to know about housing swaps with Byt og Flyt — in one place.
56 spørgsmål og svar — senest opdateret april 2026
A housing swap means two tenants swap homes with each other. Instead of waiting years on a list, you find another tenant who wants to swap. Legally, it's a move-out followed by a new move-in — you get a new lease with the other landlord. Housing swaps are a statutory right under Danish rental law (§ 161-162).
Your landlord can only refuse with reasonable cause. Under rental law § 161, the landlord may object if: you've lived there less than 3 years, the apartment would become overcrowded, the landlord lives in a building with fewer than 7 apartments, or there is other reasonable cause. If you believe the refusal is unjustified, you can file a complaint with the Rent Board (Huslejenævnet) for 367 DKK.
There are no broker fees or commission. You will need to pay a new deposit to your new landlord (up to 3 months' rent per § 59) and receive your old deposit back after the move-out inspection. Byt og Flyt is free to use incl. unlimited messages to matches. Ad-free costs 19 DKK/month, and Premium with contact without match costs from 29 DKK/month (limited-time launch price).
In a housing swap, there's a normal move-out settlement with your current landlord — you get your deposit back (minus any renovation costs). At the same time, you pay a new deposit to your new landlord — up to 3 months' rent. The two settlements are independent of each other.
A circular swap involves 3 or more parties: A swaps with B, B swaps with C, and C swaps with A. All three parties end up with the home they want, even though none of them wanted each other's home directly. Byt og Flyt automatically finds these opportunities — something practically impossible to do manually.
It varies depending on your preferences and area. Many users find relevant matches within 1-2 weeks of creating their listing. The swap process itself — including landlord contact and signing new contracts — typically takes 1-3 months.
Yes, there are no restrictions on what type of home you can swap to. You can swap between social housing, private rentals, and cooperative housing — provided both landlords approve the swap.
We always recommend visiting the home in person before agreeing to the swap. Take photos and make a written agreement about the home's condition. Byt og Flyt encourages mutual viewings and open communication through the platform.
Yes. Housing swaps are a statutory right described in Danish rental law (§ 161-162). It's not a loophole — it's a right designed to give tenants mobility in the housing market. Many landlords view swaps positively as they ensure stable tenancies.
Yes! Byt og Flyt covers all of Denmark. You can swap from Copenhagen to Aarhus, from Odense to Aalborg, or from a large city to a smaller town — and vice versa. There are no geographic restrictions.
Housing swaps are governed by Rental Act § 161-162 for private rentals and Social Housing Act § 69 for social housing. The law gives tenants the right to swap homes, and landlords can only refuse with reasonable cause. Note: older sources may reference §§ 73-74 — that is the old numbering from before 2022.
A housing swap is permanent — you move out and a new tenant takes over with a new lease. Subletting is temporary (max 2 years) — you keep your lease and rent your home to someone else. Swaps fall under Rental Act § 161-162, subletting under § 155-160. Subletting requires a reason for absence (e.g. living abroad), while a swap requires at least 3 years of residency.
Under Rental Act § 161, subsection 2, a landlord may refuse in four cases: 1) You have lived there less than 3 years. 2) The home would have more than 1 person per habitable room. 3) The landlord lives in the building and it has fewer than 7 apartments. 4) There is another reasonable cause — e.g. the new tenant has previously breached a lease with the same landlord.
You must send a written application for a housing swap to your landlord. The landlord then has the opportunity to object within a reasonable time. You do not need to formally terminate your lease — the swap is treated as a move-out followed by a new move-in without a notice period. We always recommend informing your landlord early in the process.
Yes. If you believe your landlord's refusal is unjustified, you can bring the case before the Rent Board (Huslejenævnet). It costs 367 DKK (2026) and is non-refundable. Processing typically takes 3 months, but can be 8-10 months in Copenhagen. If the board rules in your favour, the landlord must pay a fee of 7,027 DKK. For social housing, you instead complain to the Tenant Complaints Board (Beboerklagenævnet).
Yes. Legally, a housing swap is a move-out followed by a new move-in. A normal move-out inspection takes place, and the new tenant gets their own lease with the landlord. You do not take over the previous tenant's lease — you get your own under the applicable terms.
Yes, it is possible. Since a new lease is created, the landlord can set the rent according to the applicable rules for the tenancy. The landlord may also choose to renovate the home in connection with the move-out and thereby achieve a higher rent. However, general rent regulations still apply — the landlord cannot set an arbitrary price.
The rules are largely parallel, but there are important differences. Private rentals are governed by Rental Act § 161-162, while social housing follows Social Housing Act § 69. Complaints about private landlords go to the Rent Board (Huslejenævnet), while complaints in social housing go to the Tenant Complaints Board (Beboerklagenævnet). Both require at least 3 years of residency.
Take at least one photo of each room in good natural light. Include the kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom(s) and any balcony or shared areas. Tidy up first — clutter-free spaces and natural light give the best results. A wide shot from the doorway into the room works best. Photos are the first thing potential swap partners will see.
Start with the basics: number of rooms, size in m², location and rent. Describe what makes the home special — proximity to transport, shops, schools, green spaces or any renovations. Be honest about any downsides like traffic noise or no elevator. An honest description attracts the right swap partners and saves everyone time.
Check for damp, mold, windows, taps, electrical installations and the general state of upkeep. Ask about neighbors, noise, laundry facilities and storage. Take photos and note any defects or issues. We recommend drawing up a written agreement about the condition of both homes before the swap is finalized.
No, that's not a requirement. The handover date is agreed between the parties and the landlords involved. In practice, most people arrange an overlap of a few days or weeks so everyone has time to move. What matters is that all landlords and tenants agree on the date.
Register your new address with the municipality within 5 days of moving in via borger.dk. Arrange mail forwarding with PostNord. Contact your electricity, water and heating providers to notify them of your move. Cancel or transfer your internet subscription. Update your address with your bank, insurance, doctor and Skat.
It's not legally required, but strongly recommended. A condition report documents the state of the home at handover and protects both parties. Take photos of every room, note any damage, and prepare the report together with the other party. This prevents disputes after the swap is completed.
Yes, in most cooperative housing associations. This is governed by the association's bylaws — not the Tenancy Act. Standard bylaws typically allow housing swaps, but the boards of both associations must approve the swap. Note that legally this involves two transfers (purchase/sale of the cooperative share), and your bank may also need to approve. Always check your association's bylaws first.
Yes, but legally it's two separate property transactions (a purchase and a sale). There's no statutory right to swap as there is with rental properties — it's a free agreement between two owners. Both transactions require registration with the land registry and you should have legal assistance. Byt og Flyt focuses primarily on rental properties, but you're welcome to create a listing.
Yes, there's no requirement for the homes to be the same size, price or number of rooms. You can swap a 2-room flat for a 4-room flat or vice versa — it's entirely up to what you and your swap partner agree on. Bear in mind that the rent in your new home will follow your new landlord's terms.
Yes, the housing swap itself isn't affected by pets. But you need to make sure your new tenancy agreement allows pets. Check the landlord's pet policy in the home you're swapping to before signing anything. We recommend mentioning pets in your listing so potential swap partners are informed from the start.
It depends on the hall's rules. Many student halls have specific requirements for residents (e.g. that you must be enrolled at a particular institution). Social housing student rooms are governed by Section 69 of the Social Housing Tenancy Act, but the new resident must also meet the hall's eligibility criteria. Contact your hall for the specific rules.
Yes, pensioners have the same right to swap as any other tenant. For senior and sheltered housing there may be specific rules about age requirements or municipal referral that the new resident must also meet. A housing swap can be a great option for pensioners looking for a smaller home or a more central location.
Yes. You can swap between different housing associations, from social to private rental, or from Copenhagen to Aarhus. Both landlords must approve the swap, but there's no legal restriction on swapping across organisations, municipalities or regions.
No, a housing swap is permanent — you vacate your home for good. If you're looking for a temporary solution, subletting is more relevant. With subletting you keep your tenancy agreement and can return within 2 years. See Sections 155-160 of the Tenancy Act for the rules on subletting.
The typical costs in a housing swap are: a new deposit (up to 3 months' rent), a removal company or van hire (DKK 3,000–15,000 depending on distance and volume), any restoration costs for your old home, and address changes. In return you save on waiting-list fees, estate agent commissions and the long search time.
Yes, usually significantly. A normal house move in Copenhagen can cost: waiting-list fees at KAB/AAB/3B (DKK 100–500/year for up to 10–20 years), a new deposit (DKK 30,000–60,000), and lost time. With a housing swap you still pay a new deposit, but you skip the waiting list and find a home much faster. You also save on paying double rent during any overlap period.
Your contents insurance typically covers moving during a short transition period, but check with your insurer. Remember to update your contents insurance with your new address after the move. A housing swap is no different from a regular move in insurance terms — there are no special insurance requirements.
Byt og Flyt's free version costs nothing, so there's nothing at risk when you try it. If you have a Premium subscription you can cancel at any time and keep access until the end of the paid period. We don't offer refunds for periods already paid, but you can always downgrade to the free version.
The quality score shows how complete and attractive your listing is. It's calculated based on the number of photos, description length, filled-in fields and verification status. A higher score makes your listing more visible in search results and increases your chances of finding a swap partner.
When you show interest in a home, you mark it as something you're interested in. A match happens when both parties have shown interest in each other's home — mutual interest. Once you match, you can start messaging each other. Byt og Flyt shows you the match percentage from both sides, so you can see how well you fit together.
Make sure your listing is complete with good photos and a detailed description. Broaden your search criteria — consider more neighbourhoods or home sizes. Enable notifications so you're alerted when new homes match your wishes. The more flexible you are, the faster you'll find a match. New listings are added all the time.
Yes. You can show interest in and match with multiple homes at once and have conversations with several potential swap partners. We recommend exploring multiple options in parallel — it increases your chances of finding the right swap. The swap is only agreed once both parties and all landlords are on board.
Yes. You can filter search results by number of rooms, home size in m², rent, area and housing type. You can also search by specific city, neighbourhood, postcode or street name. The more precise your filters, the more relevant matches you'll get.
With Premium you can see all engagement on your listings: who has visited them, who has shown interest (want to match), and who has saved them as a favourite. You can also show interest back with a single click. On the free plan you can only see aggregate numbers, not who they're from. When both parties have shown interest in each other, a match is created — and you can message each other regardless of subscription.
Go to your profile and select 'What are you looking for?'. Here you can update your preferred area, home size, number of rooms and desired rent. Your preferences are used to calculate match percentages, so keep them up to date for the best results.
Yes. You can deactivate your listing temporarily from your profile so it doesn't appear in search results. Your existing matches and conversations are preserved. When you're ready again, just reactivate your listing and it becomes visible immediately.
The home swap itself is free — no agents, no commission, no new deposit. Byt og Flyt's core features (listing, search, two-way matches, unlimited messages to matches) are free. Ad-free costs 19 DKK/month, Premium with contact without match costs from 29 DKK/month (limited-time launch price).
Under Danish tenancy law, tenants in social housing have the right to swap after 3 years of residence, and the landlord can only refuse with reasonable grounds. For private rentals, it depends on your lease. We always recommend contacting your landlord early in the process.
All users can verify themselves with MitID and SMS. All communication happens via the platform. You can report inappropriate behaviour, and our moderation team handles all reports.
Yes! Byt og Flyt covers all of Denmark. You can swap from Copenhagen to Aarhus, from a big city to a small town, or the other way around.
Yes! You can create a listing, search for homes and see your matches completely free. We offer paid plans with extra features, but core features are and will remain free.
Absolutely. There is no commitment period. You can cancel your subscription anytime, and you keep access for the rest of the paid period.
Your listing and profile remain active even without a paid subscription. You only lose the extra features like ad-free experience, contact without match, and match boost.
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