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Legal topics
Clear information about the most common legal problems in Denmark — and what you can do next.
Know your rights as a tenant in Denmark — deposits, rent, leases, moving out and disputes with landlords.
Understand insurance disputes, rejected claims, and whether your policy covers legal costs.
Your rights as an air passenger when a flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked.
Your rights when buying products, services or subscriptions in Denmark — online and in store.
What you can do when you receive a private parking charge or want to appeal a parking fine.
Your rights at work in Denmark — dismissal, salary, contracts and disputes with your employer.
Frequently searched
Many Danish home and contents insurance policies include legal expenses cover (retshjælpsforsikring), which can cover part of your lawyer's costs in certain private disputes. There is usually an excess and a maximum amount, and some case types are excluded — so check your policy terms or ask your insurer directly.
Ask in writing for an itemised statement of what the deposit was used for, and compare it against your lease and your move-in and move-out reports. If you still disagree, the case can usually be brought before the rent tribunal (huslejenævnet) in the municipality where the property is located.
Possibly. Denmark has several routes to free legal advice — including legal aid offices (retshjælpskontorer), the volunteer lawyer service (Advokatvagten), publicly subsidised legal advice, and free legal aid for court cases (fri proces). Access usually depends on your income, the case type and your circumstances.
On journeys covered by EU Regulation 261/2004, you may be entitled to care, rerouting and in some cases cash compensation. It depends on the length of the delay, the flight distance and the reason for the disruption.
Start with a clear written complaint to the company and keep the correspondence. If it isn't resolved, many sectors in Denmark have a complaints board (klagenævn or ankenævn) you can escalate to — for example in consumer, insurance or housing matters.
Ask your insurer for the specific reason in writing, check it against your policy terms, and gather supporting documents. If you still disagree, you can complain to the insurer's complaints officer and then, if needed, to the relevant insurance complaints board.
It depends on the case type. Housing, insurance, consumer and employment matters are typically handled by different boards or authorities.
See the overview: where to complain in DenmarkRead next
Step-by-step information to help you understand what to do next.
What you can do, the evidence you usually need, and where to complain in Denmark.
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TRAVELTravel · 8 min readWhen you may be entitled to compensation after a delayed or cancelled flight.
INSURANCEInsurance · 7 min readYour options, the documents to collect, and how to challenge the decision.
In depth
Updated Reviewed by a legal professional
Your rights depend on the specifics of your situation: what happened, what was agreed between the parties, and what evidence you hold. In Denmark, most private disputes are governed by a combination of the agreement between the parties and the legislation covering that area — for example the Danish Rent Act in housing matters, the Sale of Goods Act in consumer matters, and employment legislation and collective agreements at work.
So the first step is rarely to find a specific section of law. It is to establish clearly what happened, what was agreed, and when. From there it becomes much easier to see which rights may be in play.
Most cases start in the same place: gather the relevant documents, contact the other party clearly and in writing, and check whether a complaints body exists for your type of case. A written approach serves two purposes — it gives the other side a chance to put things right, and it creates evidence you can rely on later.
A typical sequence
Depending on your case, useful evidence may include contracts, emails, receipts, photographs, letters, payment records and previous communication. The more precisely you can document the sequence of events, the stronger your position — both with the other party and before a complaints board.
Good to gather
You may have access to free or low-cost legal help. Denmark has legal aid offices (retshjælpskontorer) and the volunteer lawyer service Advokatvagten, where you can get an initial conversation; schemes offering publicly subsidised legal advice; and fri proces, where the state may cover the costs of a court case in certain matters.
Access typically depends on your income, the nature of the case, and whether the case is considered to have a reasonable prospect of success. Income thresholds and conditions change over time, so always check the current rules with the relevant authority.
Many Danish home and contents insurance policies include legal expenses cover that can pay part of your lawyer's costs in certain private disputes. There is normally an excess (selvrisiko) and a maximum amount, and some case types are excluded.
It is worth checking your policy before paying for a lawyer yourself — and asking whether your lawyer can apply for cover on your behalf.
Some cases you can handle yourself with good information and a complaints board. Others — particularly complex cases, high-value claims, cases with conflicting accounts, or cases heading to court — will often benefit from advice or representation from a lawyer.
Consider a lawyer if the other side already has legal representation, if short deadlines are involved, or if losing the case would have significant financial consequences for you.
Which body can handle your case depends on the type of dispute. This overview is a starting point — always check each body's own conditions, deadlines and fees before you file.
More than one path forward
Legal help in Denmark doesn't necessarily mean paying a lawyer entirely out of pocket.
Depending on your income and case type, you may qualify for free or subsidised legal assistance in Denmark.
Learn about free legal aidYour home or contents insurance may include legal expenses cover that pays part of the costs.
Learn about insurance coverSome situations need advice or representation from a lawyer — many in Denmark work in English.
Find legal helpEvery legal situation is different. Tell Retsguide what happened in your own words and get help understanding your rights, preparing your case and finding the right type of legal help in Denmark.
No legal knowledge required. Start by simply explaining what happened.
"My landlord is keeping part of my deposit and won't explain why..."
The process
Describe your situation in your own words.
Get a clearer picture of the legal issues involved.
Understand what information and documents may be relevant.
Explore whether free legal aid, insurance cover or a lawyer is relevant.
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