Melanie Haynes offers her best tips for the first or next place to live in the Danish capital. qatar real estate
It can often be a long and difficult process to find a home while you first move to Copenhagen – especially if you do it without professional assistance. Expat forums are currently full of people trying to find a place to live, be it a common room or a place to live.
There are a number of steps that can help you find a house in the increasingly difficult housing market in Copenhagen.
No. 1: Your budget
You need to be honest about how much you can actually spend on your rent and other associated costs for your monthly budget. It is helpful to carefully think about your ideal amount and then how much you can afford if you cut otherwise.
Remember, it's usual for renters to ask for a deposit of three months in advance, and a rental of three months in advance. Looking closely at the advertisements, you will see this.
Number 2: Your anti-reality expectations
Once you have settled on the budget you must determine whether the types of places you want to live are realistic and the way of life you hope to live once you have settled down. I strongly believe that the best compromise when you first move to a new city is a medium-sized apartment in a large area.
If you look around at what is available on your budget, the parts of the city in which you hope to live are too costly or not realistic.
You have to think clearly how you see your new life. Would you like real city living in a central flat or a more suburban feeling in a house? We have downsized from a four-bedroom detached house in the UK to just over 100sqm 4-bedroom apartment (except kitchen and toilet) but we really enjoyed it.
You have to think about the number of rooms you need. We wanted a second room for only a few weeks of the year when we would have visitors, which could work as an office and a guest room. But you have to consider how important extra room is and whether extra money is worth renting.
Many expatriates moving to European towns want a lifestyle and home similar to what they had in their homelands, but city life is not the same worldwide and some expectations have to be adjusted.
Number 3: Your energy and time
I'm the first to admit that looking for a home in a busy rental market can quickly destroy soul if landlords and agents ignore your phone calls or messages, apartments appear to be hired as soon as they're listed and open houses are a zoo. Home searches can just add to the stress of relocation and settling, if you have already started working or have a family juggling.
This is when you may have to call someone to help you. Relocation consultants who help you find a place can save you time and money on a long-term basis and my varied experience is worth speaking of, to find out at least what they can do for you.
Number Four: See your choices
It's easy, so don't limit your search to a small area. Photo: Alex Berger.
At the beginning of your search, you can either refuse to be 'too pokey' or 'too noisy' or you do not have a lift (truly unusual here in Copenhagen) or you don't know exactly what you were looking for. I have many customers who have finished renting a lovely place that is smaller than they had hoped for, not at first in the neighborhood with no elevator and are delighted with it. Copenhagen is a very small city and most of the places you live in are easy to reach, so too close research is not only unnecessary, it is counterproductive.
If your options are realistic, you should at least have places, but if you still have no options, you should have an honest reassessment of your expectations and search criteria. Make sure that you know what the real breakers are.
Number Five: At last, success, but be careful!
Finally (or so it feels) you beat the competition and found a place to rent. You feel that your life can start here, but now is the time to be careful with the small print. Make sure the lease is satisfactory and never transfer any money prior to the signing of documents. If you are lucky enough to be able to look over paperwork by a Danish friend, it's great but you can find a professional who can translate and advise you at a reasonable cost — it is really worth it.
Do not ever take a rental that does not enable you to register at your address for your personal ID number (CPR number) – it's illegal, no matter how desperate you are.
Make sure you understand all the rental agreement stipulations – will they expect you to paint the walls and repair the floors, for example if you move out (a normal thing here)?
Number Six: Open the bubble and start enjoying your new home!