Insurance when renting out your apartment in Copenhagen: what does your contents insurance cover, and what is missing?

Insurance when renting out your apartment in Copenhagen: what does your contents insurance cover, and what is missing?

Renting out your apartment in Copenhagen, whether to long-term tenants or as short-term rental via Airbnb, can be a lucrative way to earn extra income. But many landlords discover too late that their ordinary insurance does not cover the risks that come with renting out at all. When a tenant steals your TV, vandalises your furniture or causes water damage to the flat below, you suddenly face a bill that your contents insurance refuses to cover.

In this guide we go through what your current insurance actually covers, where the gaps in cover are, and exactly which insurance you need in place as a landlord, both as the owner of an owner-occupied flat (ejerlejlighed) and if you rent out a co-op apartment (andelsbolig) or a rented flat. We look at concrete situations, typical examples of damage and what it costs to be properly insured as a landlord in Copenhagen in 2026.

Why does my ordinary contents insurance not cover me when I rent out?

Your standard contents insurance (indboforsikring) is designed to protect you and your household, not paying guests or tenants. Insurance & Pension Denmark (Forsikring & Pension) (in Danish) stresses that once you have given a tenant access, the insurance company no longer considers theft or vandalism by that person to be covered. The basic principle is that your contents insurance only covers theft by burglary, where the thief broke in without your permission, not when you have voluntarily handed over the key.

This applies if a long-term tenant vandalises the apartment or disappears with your furniture. Insurance companies see it as your own risk when you have actively chosen to rent out to strangers.

There are, however, some situations where your contents insurance still applies. Fire and water damage are typically covered whether or not the apartment is rented out. The same applies to burglary where the thief actually broke in without the tenant’s knowledge. But if your tenant “forgets” to lock the door and a theft then happens, the insurance company can refuse to pay, because the home was not properly locked.

It is also important to understand that many insurance companies require you to tell them about commercial rental. If you do not, you risk losing all your cover, including for damage that would normally be covered. Forsikringsoplysningen (in Danish) always recommends contacting your insurance company before you start renting out, so you know exactly what your policy covers.

The difference between short-term and long-term rental

For insurance purposes, there is a significant difference between renting out your apartment in Copenhagen as short-term rental (for example via Airbnb) and as long-term rental with a regular lease. With short-term rental, you usually cannot demand a larger deposit, you rarely have thorough screening of the guests, and people change more often in the apartment.

With long-term rental, on the other hand, you typically have a written lease and a deposit of up to three months’ rent. If the tenant has contents insurance with liability cover, that cover applies if the tenant accidentally damages the tenancy or fixed installations. But even here there are gaps: the tenant’s contents insurance does not cover deliberate acts, vandalism or theft by the tenant themselves.

If you rent out furnished, whether short-term or long-term, you should always have separate rental cover, because your own furniture and fittings are not covered by the tenant’s contents insurance. Only the tenant’s own belongings are covered by their policy.

Which insurance do I need in place as a landlord in Copenhagen?

As a landlord in Copenhagen, there are three key types of insurance to consider: owner-occupied flat insurance (if you own), extended contents insurance or separate rental cover, and liability insurance. Let us take them one at a time.

Owner-occupied flat insurance (ejerlejlighedsforsikring) covers the parts of the building and installations in your flat that are not covered by the owners’ association’s joint buildings insurance, typically improvements such as your new kitchen, bathroom, floors and fixtures. If you plan to rent out, you must tell your insurance company, as many standard policies require a special add-on or permission to cover commercial rental. If you do not, you risk losing cover for damage that happens during the rental period, even if the damage would otherwise be covered.

According to Husforsikring-priser.dk (in Danish), you should always check whether your owner-occupied flat insurance covers commercial rental without a special add-on. Many standard policies do not, so you must inform your insurance company and possibly extend the policy.

Rental cover (udlejningsdækning) is an add-on to your contents insurance that covers theft, vandalism and sudden damage to your belongings while your home is rented out. Several large Danish insurance companies offer this cover as an add-on. With Tryg and TJM Forsikring (both in Danish), you can add rental cover that specifically covers damage and theft by tenants while the home is rented out, for example via Airbnb or other platforms. This cover is essential if you rent out furnished, because, as mentioned, your ordinary contents insurance does not cover these situations.

Liability insurance (ansvarsforsikring) is part of your contents insurance and covers your liability if you cause damage to others, for example if a poorly maintained installation in your flat causes water damage to the flat below. But be careful: your liability insurance only covers damage you are responsible for yourself. If your tenant causes damage that affects others (for example the neighbour), it must be reported to the tenant’s own liability insurance, not yours. Many landlords misunderstand this and wrongly believe their own liability insurance covers everything that happens in the apartment.

To be fully covered as a landlord in Copenhagen in 2026, the following set-up is recommended:

• Owner-occupied flat insurance with the rental disclosed (if you own)
• Contents insurance with a rental add-on (covers your furniture and fittings against theft and vandalism)
• Asking the tenant to have their own contents insurance with liability cover (for long-term rental)
• A written lease and a deposit (as security for long-term rental)

Airbnb’s AirCover: real security?

Many Airbnb hosts rely on the platform’s damage protection, AirCover for Hosts (formerly the Host Guarantee), which according to Airbnb covers damage to the home and belongings up to 3 million dollars. But as several sources (in Danish) point out, this protection is not actual insurance and has many exceptions.

AirCover does not, for example, cover cash, securities, jewellery, collections or works of art. It only applies if all communication between host and guest has taken place on Airbnb’s platform, and it does not work as a replacement for insurance, but as a supplement. Airbnb itself points out that hosts should still have their own insurance.

It can also be hard to get compensation paid through AirCover. Many hosts experience long processing times, demands for extensive documentation, and refusals based on the small print. So you should never see AirCover as your main security, but instead make sure you have proper rental cover on your own insurance.

What does the right insurance cost as a landlord?

The price of insurance for landlords in Copenhagen varies considerably depending on the type of home, the value of the apartment, how much you have in contents, and which add-ons you choose. Here is an overview of typical costs in 2026.

A standard owner-occupied flat insurance policy for a Copenhagen apartment typically costs between DKK 1,500 and 4,000 a year, depending on the size of the flat and the value of your improvements. If you have a newly renovated kitchen and bathroom with a total value of DKK 300,000, expect to be at the upper end of the range. The sum insured must at least match the replacement value of all your improvements and fixtures.

Rental cover as an add-on to your contents insurance typically costs an extra DKK 300-800 a year, depending on the insurance company and the total sum insured. Some companies calculate the add-on as a percentage of your total contents insurance premium, others have a fixed price. It is worth comparing, as there are significant price differences between companies.

An ordinary contents insurance policy for a furnished apartment in Copenhagen typically costs DKK 2,000-4,500 a year for a single person, while a family can expect to pay DKK 3,500-6,000. The price depends on your postcode (central Copenhagen is more expensive than the outer districts), the sum insured, your excess and any add-ons such as bicycle, electronics or travel luggage.

Overall, as a landlord in Copenhagen you should budget DKK 2,500-6,000 a year for insurance, depending on whether you rent out furnished or unfurnished, and whether you own or rent the apartment yourself. That may seem a significant expense, but compared with the risk of having to replace a stolen or ruined kitchen worth DKK 150,000, or pay for water damage at the neighbour’s worth DKK 80,000, it is a necessary investment.

Comparing insurance companies and cover

Not all insurance companies offer rental cover, and the terms vary considerably. Some companies require a written lease and a deposit, others accept short-term rental via platforms such as Airbnb without special requirements. It is important to read the terms carefully and compare both price and cover.

Insurance companies such as TJM Forsikring, Tryg and Topdanmark offer rental cover as an add-on. At TJM, the rental cover specifically covers “theft, damage and vandalism to your belongings while your home is rented out”, which is exactly what your ordinary contents insurance does not cover. Pay attention to the excess: it is typically the same as on your ordinary contents insurance, often DKK 2,500-5,000.

If you rent out through several platforms or have several apartments, it can be an advantage to choose a company with experience of commercial landlords that can offer a combined solution. Some insurance brokers specialise in rental properties and can put together a tailored package.

What insurance should my tenant have, and can I require it?

As a landlord, you have a natural interest in your tenant being properly insured. A tenant without insurance is a risk, because you may end up with the bill if the tenant causes damage and cannot pay compensation. But can you actually require a tenant to have insurance?

According to Dansk Lejeret (in Danish), a landlord cannot as a rule require a tenant to have contents insurance, as the Danish Rent Act (lejeloven) does not make it compulsory. There are, however, some exceptions. If the tenant wants to install extra equipment, for example a washing machine, you as landlord can require security, typically in the form of contents insurance or an extra deposit.

Even though you cannot require it by law, it is strongly recommended to include a clause in the lease where the tenant states whether they have contents insurance, and to encourage them to take out a policy if not. Most modern leases include such a clause, and many tenants are already covered.

At a minimum, a tenant should have contents insurance with liability cover. From your point of view as a landlord, the liability cover is the most important part, because it covers damage the tenant accidentally causes to the tenancy or to others, for example if the washing machine overflows and ruins your newly laid parquet floor, or if the water runs down to the neighbour below.

Most contents insurance policies in Denmark automatically include liability cover, but it is worth asking the tenant to confirm that the cover is active. Liability cover, however, only covers negligence and accidents, not deliberate acts or gross negligence. If the tenant deliberately breaks something, or if the damage is due to years of neglecting basic maintenance, the insurance company can reject the claim.

With short-term rental via Airbnb, it is unrealistic to require every guest to have Danish contents insurance. Here you have to rely on your own rental cover, possibly with Airbnb’s AirCover as a supplement. Some hosts choose a higher sum insured on their rental cover and a lower excess to minimise the financial risk.

Documentation and preventing damage

Whether you rent out to long-term or short-term tenants, documentation is the key to getting compensation from insurance. Always take photos of the apartment before and after the rental, keep all agreements and communication in writing, and do a thorough review at move-in and move-out.

With long-term rental, you must prepare a move-out report documenting any damage. This report is crucial if you need to make a claim against the tenant’s insurance or deduct from the deposit. With short-term rental, you should have a checklist that is filled in after each guest, and take photos if there is visible damage.

Keep all communication with the insurance company. If you have disclosed the rental and had it confirmed that your policy covers it, you must be able to document this if doubt arises later. It is a good idea to email your insurance company describing how you rent out and ask for written confirmation of the cover.

Looking ahead

The insurance industry is developing fast when it comes to renting out. More and more Danes rent out their homes, either as a supplement to their pension or as part of a portfolio of investment properties, and insurance companies are continuously adapting their products to this new reality.

In the coming years, we can expect more flexible insurance solutions tailored specifically to short-term rental. Some international insurance companies already offer dynamic pricing, where the premium is adjusted to the number of rental days and guest profiles. These products are not yet widespread in Denmark, but interest is growing.

At the same time, we see a trend for platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com to partner with insurance companies to offer integrated insurance solutions. This can make it easier for hosts to get the right cover, but it is still important to read the small print and compare with traditional insurance.

For landlords in Copenhagen, this means you should keep up to date with developments and review your insurance regularly, at least once a year, to make sure it still covers your needs. The insurance market is competitive, and it pays to compare prices and terms, especially if your situation changes, for example if you go from renting out to a single long-term tenant to running short-term rental full time.

A professional property management company such as BY Administration, a property management and Airbnb management company in Copenhagen, can help you navigate the insurance requirements, make sure the documentation is correct and advise on which cover is needed for your rental situation.

Calculate your price and get a no-obligation quote for professional rental management. We make sure insurance, contracts and day-to-day operations are in place.

Mainly doing short-term rental? Read about short-term rental with BY and how we handle all the practical and legal aspects.

Thinking about long-term rental? Get your home listed for long-term rental with professional screening, a lease and ongoing management.

Frequently asked questions

Does my contents insurance cover me if an Airbnb guest steals my things? No, your ordinary contents insurance does not cover theft or vandalism by people you have given access to your home. You need separate rental cover as an add-on to your contents insurance to be covered in this situation. Rental cover specifically covers theft, vandalism and sudden damage to your belongings while the home is rented out to paying guests.

What does it cost to add rental cover to my insurance? Rental cover as an add-on to your contents insurance typically costs DKK 300-800 a year, depending on the insurance company and the total sum insured. Some companies calculate the add-on as a percentage of your total contents premium. It is a modest cost compared with the risk of having to replace stolen or ruined belongings worth many thousands of kroner without cover.

Do I need to tell my insurance company that I rent out my apartment? Yes, it is essential that you inform your insurance company before you start renting out. Many standard policies do not cover commercial rental, and if you have not disclosed it, your insurance company can refuse to cover damage, even damage that would normally be covered by the policy. Email your company, describe how you rent out, and get written confirmation of the cover.

Does Airbnb’s AirCover cover the same as insurance? No, AirCover is not actual insurance and has many exceptions. It does not cover cash, securities, jewellery, collections or works of art, and it only applies if all communication has taken place on Airbnb’s platform. Airbnb itself stresses that AirCover is a supplement to your own insurance, not a replacement. You should never rely on AirCover alone.

As a landlord, can I require my tenant to have contents insurance? As a rule, no: the Rent Act does not make contents insurance compulsory for tenants. But if the tenant wants to make installations (for example a washing machine), you as landlord can require security in the form of insurance or an extra deposit. It is, however, strongly recommended to include a clause in the lease where the tenant states whether they are insured, and to encourage them to take out a policy with liability cover.

What is the difference between owner-occupied flat insurance and contents insurance? Owner-occupied flat insurance covers the parts of the building and fixed installations in your flat that are not covered by the owners’ association’s joint buildings insurance, typically improvements such as the kitchen, bathroom and floors. Contents insurance covers your movable belongings such as furniture, electronics, clothes and personal items. If you own and rent out furnished, you will usually need both, plus rental cover on the contents insurance.

What happens if my tenant causes water damage to the neighbour below? If the tenant caused the water damage through negligence (for example forgetting to turn off the water), the damage must be reported to the tenant’s own liability insurance, which is part of their contents insurance. Your own liability insurance only covers it if you as owner are responsible, for example through a lack of maintenance of pipes or installations. It is important to document the cause of the damage so the right insurance is involved.

Written by Mohamed-Nour Yousif.

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