Law & rules
Landlord Refuses Housing Swap? How to File a Complaint With the Rent Board
Published 7 April 2026
3 min read
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Short Answer: You Can Appeal — and You Often Win
If your landlord rejects your housing swap request, you do not have to simply accept it. Danish rental law (Lejeloven § 161) gives tenants a statutory right to swap apartments, and the landlord can only refuse under very specific circumstances. If you meet the conditions, you can file a complaint with the Rent Board (Huslejenævnet) — and statistically, tenants win the majority of cases involving unjustified refusals.
In this guide, we cover exactly when a landlord may legally refuse, when a refusal is invalid, and how to file a step-by-step complaint to get your rights enforced.
When Can a Landlord Legally Refuse?
A landlord may only reject a housing swap in a limited number of situations.
Valid vs. Invalid Grounds for Refusal
| Valid Grounds (Legal) | Invalid Grounds (Illegal) |
|---|---|
| You have lived in the apartment for less than 3 years | The landlord wants to find a new tenant themselves |
| The apartment would become significantly overcrowded | The landlord dislikes the new tenant |
| You have already swapped within the last 3 years | The new tenant has a lower income |
| There are other reasonable grounds (e.g., documented abuse) | The landlord wants to renovate and raise rent |
| The swap attempts to circumvent waiting lists | General reluctance without justification |