Search This Blog

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Looking for an apartment in Copenhagen?

Rentals
Finding a rental place to stay in Copenhagen is not so easy.
Rentals are expensive and often quite disappointing, plus the real estate agencies do not deal with any rentals, but luxurious. Usually apartments stay on the market three days top.
You can find ads in schools, university buildings, supermarkets and even some popular shops, but most likely you are going to find most ads over the internet.
Remember to move quickly and do no hesitate much.

Boligportalen.dk - 295 kr. for 2 month service*
Bolignu.dk - 349 kr. for 3 month service*
Den Blå Avis - DBA - 50.95 kr. for 1 year service*
Boligfinder.dk
Bolibasen.dk
Lejebolig.dk
Lejebolig.it
Hulgaards Have Apartments
KAB
EG Bolig
*Note: prices date back to 2008.


Purchases
Finding a place to buy in Copenhagen is not complicated, just very expensive.
There's one website that compares all the available offers from major real estate agencies in the city.

Boliga.dk


Generic useful sites when moving to Denmark
Traevarer.dk - woodware store
Dba.dk - blue pages, ads and second hand offers
Krak.dk - yellow pages and maps


Housing dictionary
Here's a short dictionary with words and confusing abbreviations you are likely to come across during your search.
This was found on a very useful site, www.ungdomsinformationen.dk (a.k.a. www.ui.dk), which ran until 2008 and then has been completely removed from the internet. The same goes for the helpful www.useit.dk website. Why have they been canceled?

Afhøvlede (afhøv.)/afsyrede (afsyr.) gulve/døre = sanded/stripped floors/doors
Altan = balcony
Amager (Kbh.S) = a small island area connected to Copenhagen by bridge, on which the airport is situated. Many green areas, many built-up areas.
Andelsboliger = co-operative accommodation
Andelslejlighed = co-operative flat

Bad = bathroom (usually refers to a shower room)

Badekar = bath (tub)
Bruse = shower
Byttes = Want to swap. This is where people want to trade their place for something else.

Christianshavn (Chr.) = nicknamed "Little Amsterdam" due to its charm, this is a pretty, trendy, expensive part of town, over the bridge on Amager.

Cykelkælder (cyk.kæld.) = bike cellar

Dørtelefon (dørtelf.) = door intercom system

Ejerlejlighed = owner-occupied apartment

Fjernvarme (fj.varm) = central heating


Frederiksberg (Fr.berg.) = a pretty exclusive/ pricey and green area close to central Copenhagen

Fremleje(s) (fr.) = Subletting
Fælles (fæll.) = communal

Gårdmiljø/gårdanlæg/grøngård = access to backyard/ backyard facilities /green backyard

Have = garden

Hus = house
Hybrid = cable TV in apartment
Hyggelig (hygg.) = cosy
Hårde hvidevarer (HH) = white goods (usually refers to fridge, freezer, oven, washing machine)

Indflytningsklar = ready to move in to (in good condition) 
Inklusiv (inkl.) = included

Kvinde/kvinder = woman/women

Kvistlejlighed (kv.lejlighed) = top floor flat (usually with slanting walls)
København (Kbh.) = Copenhagen

Købes = wanted to buy (in a housing context)

Køkken (køk.) = kitchen

Lejelejlighed = rented apartment

Lejer = tenant

Lille = little
Loftrum = attic storage space
Lejlighed = flat/apartment
Lys = light, meaning plenty of sunlight

Mand/mænd = man/men

Med (m.) = with/including
Måned (md.) = month
Møbleret (møbl.) = furnished (delvis = partly)

Nær = close to

Nørrebro (Kbh.N) = a lively quarter, close to the centre, north of the city, some would say "a place to die for" ...

Rækkehus = terraced house

Skråvægge = slanting/angled walls 

Soveværelse (sovevær.) = bedroom
Små = small
Spisekøkken = large kitchen/dining room
Stor(t) = large
Stue = ground floor 
(høj stue = usually means above pavement level)
Stue = living room
Sælges = for sale
Søges = looking for/wanted

Termovinduer/termoruder = double glazing

Uden (u.) = without/not included

Udlejes = for rent

Udlejer = landlady/landlord
Udsigt = view
Umøbleret (umøbl.) = unfurnished

Valby = an area which is almost a small town in itself, 20 minutes bus ride from the centre of Copenhagen

Varme = Heating
Vaskemaskine = washing machine
Vaskekælder = washing facilities in basement
Vesterbro (Kbh.V) = a more run-down area of the city, undergoing development, starts behind Central Station
Værelse (vær. or v.) = room. 3v. = three rooms

Ønskes (Ø.) = wanted

Ønskes til leje = wanted for rent
Østerbro (Kbh.Ø) = up-market, more expensive area at the end of the lakes

No comments:

Post a Comment