It is one of the most common questions when a rental ends in Denmark, and one of the most misunderstood: do you actually have to paint the apartment before handing it over? The answer is not yes or no. It depends on when your contract was signed, what your contract says about maintenance, and what condition the walls are genuinely in. Getting it wrong in either direction costs money: paint when you did not have to, and you paid for nothing. Skip it when you should have painted, and the landlord paints at your expense, at professional rates, deducted from your deposit.
What the law actually requires
For leases signed after July 1, 2015, the landlord can only demand normalistandsættelse at move-out: necessary painting or whitewashing of walls and ceilings, and treatment of floors. The key word is necessary. If the walls genuinely need refreshing after your tenancy, painting can be required. If they are in fine condition, painting for the sake of painting cannot be demanded. The rules are laid out at lejeloven.dk.
For older contracts signed before July 2015 where the apartment was newly renovated at move-in, the landlord may require it handed back newly renovated if the contract says so, which usually includes full painting.
When you do NOT have to paint
You never pay for normal wear and tear. Slightly faded paint after years of normal living, small marks where furniture stood, minor scuffs in hallways: that is the landlord's cost of doing business. You also owe nothing if the landlord missed the legal deadlines, since a landlord with multiple properties who skips the move-out inspection or the 2-week claim window generally loses the right to demand refurbishment at all. And if you painted recently and the walls present well in neutral colours, there is often simply nothing necessary to do.
When you probably DO have to paint
Painting becomes your responsibility when your contract gave you the interior maintenance duty and the walls genuinely need it: darkened paint, visible patches, drill holes and filled spots, nicotine or cooking film, or strong personal colours. Colour matters more than people think: an apartment painted deep blue or forest green will almost always be required back in neutral tones, because a landlord cannot re-let it as it stands.
The trap that catches DIY painters
Here is the detail in the rules that surprises the most people: if you paint yourself and the result is not håndværksmæssigt korrekt, professionally adequate, the landlord can have the work redone by professionals at your cost. Visible roller edges, drips, missed corners, wall paint on the ceiling trim, or the wrong sheen can turn your weekend of work into paying for the painting twice. If you are a confident painter with time, doing it yourself is legitimate. If not, the maths often favours doing it properly once.
How to decide, practically
Walk the apartment in daylight and be honest: would a stranger notice the walls, or are they simply lived-in? Check your contract for the maintenance clause. Look at your move-in report to compare the condition you received. And weigh the numbers: a professional handover paint job is a known, fixed cost, while a failed inspection means the landlord chooses the painter, the price and the standard, and you have no control over any of it.
Painting and cleaning in one handover
If painting does need to happen, order matters: painting first, cleaning after, so the handover is done once and done right. We offer end-of-tenancy painting in Copenhagen with neutral rental-standard finishes, coordinated with our move-out cleaning so both are completed in one planned handover. For the full picture of your rights and deadlines when moving out, our complete moving-out guide covers the whole process. Get a combined quote here with your room count and move date.
FAQ
Can the landlord demand the whole apartment repainted?
On contracts after July 1, 2015, only necessary painting can be required, not blanket repainting. On older contracts with a newly-renovated clause, full repainting can apply.
I painted the walls a dark colour. Do I have to paint them back?
Almost certainly yes. Strong personal colours go beyond normal wear, and returning walls to neutral is a standard requirement at handover.
Who chooses the painter if I do not arrange painting myself?
If required painting is left undone, the landlord arranges it and deducts the cost from your deposit, and you have no influence on the price or provider.
Is it cheaper to paint myself?
In materials, yes. But if the result is not professionally adequate, the landlord can have it redone at your cost, which means paying twice. Be honest about your skill and time before choosing.
This guide is general information based on official sources about the Danish Rent Act, not legal advice. Key rules can be verified at lejeloven.dk.
