Boligstøtte for Students in Denmark: Complete Guide to Housing Benefits (2025)

If you are a student renting in Denmark, you may be eligible for Boligstøtte — the Danish housing benefit that can reduce your monthly rent by several hundred kroner. This guide covers everything you need to know: eligibility conditions, the private kitchen requirement, how to calculate your benefit, and how to apply.

What Is Boligstøtte?

Boligstøtte is an individual economic subsidy for housing in Denmark. Under the Boligstøtteloven (Housing Benefit Act), all tenants — including students — may apply for a monthly benefit that partially offsets rent. Since 1 March 2013, Boligstøtte is administered and paid by Udbetaling Danmark (previously handled by municipalities).

Important: Boligstøtte is not a loan. It is a direct monthly payment that reduces your rent. You do not need to pay it back.

Boligstøtte comes in two forms:

• Boligsikring — for most tenants, including students
• Boligydelse — for recipients of folkepension or certain disability pensions

As a student, you will apply for Boligsikring.

Who Is Eligible?

To receive Boligstøtte as a student in Denmark, you must meet these conditions:

1. You Must Be a Registered Tenant

You need a valid rental contract (lejekontrakt) for a dwelling in Denmark. Subletting may also qualify.

2. Your Apartment Must Have a Private Kitchen

This is the most critical condition for student housing. Under the Boligstøtteloven, Boligstøtte can only be granted when the dwelling is equipped with a kitchen that has running water and proper drainage (køkken med indlagt vand og forsvarligt afløb).

What this means in practice:

• ✅ Apartments with a private kitchen → eligible
• ❌ Rooms with a shared/communal kitchen → not eligible
• ❌ Rooms without any kitchen access → not eligible

This is the single biggest reason many student dorm residents cannot claim Boligstøtte. If you are choosing between dorm options in Sønderborg (or anywhere in Denmark), prioritize apartments with a private kitchen if you want to qualify for housing benefit.

3. You Must Be Registered at the Address

Your CPR registration must match the address of the apartment.

4. EU/EEA Citizens and Non-EU Students

• EU/EEA citizens studying in Denmark can generally apply for Boligstøtte
• Non-EU students may be eligible if they hold a valid residence permit
• Check your specific situation at borger.dk

How Is Boligstøtte Calculated?

The benefit depends on several factors:

Household Income

The most important factor. Income includes:

• Wages from employment
• SU (Danish student grant)
• Income from self-employment
• Positive capital income

Students receiving only SU with no additional income will typically qualify for the maximum benefit rate.

Income threshold (2025): 151,900 DKK/year for a single person. For each additional household member, the threshold increases by 38,300 DKK.

If your income exceeds the threshold, the benefit is reduced by 18% of the excess amount.

Rent Amount

• Only the base rent (excluding utilities/a-conto) counts
• Maximum eligible rent: 96,252 DKK/year (approximately 8,021 DKK/month)
• If your rent exceeds this cap, the benefit is calculated on the capped amount

Apartment Size

• Maximum: 65 m² for a single person
• Each additional household member adds 20 m² to the limit
• If your apartment exceeds the limit, the eligible rent is reduced proportionally

Benefit Rate

The base benefit is 15% of the eligible annual rent. After income-based reductions, the final monthly amount is calculated.

Minimum Threshold

The monthly benefit must be at least 300 DKK. If the calculation yields less than 300 DKK/month, no benefit is paid.

Maximum Annual Benefit

Boligstøtte (Boligsikring) can be at most 33,036 DKK/year (approximately 2,753 DKK/month). This maximum can be increased by 25% if there are 4+ children in the household, or by 50% for severely mobility-impaired residents.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Student with Private Kitchen

• Rent: 4,500 DKK/month
• Apartment: 38 m²
• Income: 0 DKK (student on SU)
• Household: 1 person

Calculation:

• Annual rent: 54,000 DKK (below the 96,252 cap ✅)
• Size: 38 m² (below the 65 m² limit ✅)
• Base benefit: 54,000 × 15% = 8,100 DKK/year
• Monthly benefit: 675 DKK/month
• Effective rent: 4,500 − 675 = 3,825 DKK/month

Example 2: Student Without Private Kitchen

• Same conditions as above, but with a shared kitchen
• Result: Not eligible (no private kitchen)

Example 3: Student with Higher Income

• Rent: 5,000 DKK/month
• Apartment: 42 m²
• Income: 200,000 DKK/year (part-time work)
• Household: 1 person

Calculation:

• Annual rent: 60,000 DKK
• Excess income: 200,000 − 151,900 = 48,100 DKK
• Income reduction: 48,100 × 18% = 8,658 DKK/year
• Base benefit: 60,000 × 15% = 9,000 DKK/year
• Final benefit: 9,000 − 8,658 = 342 DKK/year → 28.5 DKK/month
• Below 300 DKK/month minimum → Not eligible

How to Apply

1. Go to borger.dk and log in with MitID
2. Navigate to Boligstøtte → Ansøg om boligsikring
3. Fill in your details: rent, apartment size, income, household size
4. Submit the application
5. Udbetaling Danmark will process your application and notify you of the result

Processing time: Typically 2–4 weeks.

When to apply: Apply as soon as you move in. Boligstøtte is paid from the first of the month after your application is approved — it is not retroactive for months before you applied.

Tips for Students in Sønderborg

If you’re looking for student housing through StudieBolig Syd in Sønderborg:

• Check the facilities list for each apartment on our website — look for “Private Kitchen: Yes”
• Use our Boligstøtte Calculator to estimate your benefit before choosing an apartment
• Apartments with private kitchens typically cost more in rent, but the Boligstøtte benefit can more than offset the difference
• On our search page, toggle “Consider Boligstøtte” to see adjusted prices

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Boligstøtte if I live in a kollegium (dorm)?

Yes, if your room has a private kitchen. Many kollegium rooms have shared kitchens, which disqualifies them.

Does SU count as income for Boligstøtte?

Technically yes, but students receiving only SU with no other income typically remain under the income threshold and qualify for full benefits.

Can I apply online?

Yes. All applications go through borger.dk using MitID.

How often is the benefit recalculated?

Udbetaling Danmark automatically adjusts your benefit when your income changes (based on annual tax data). You should report significant changes yourself.

What if I move to a different apartment?

You must submit a new application for the new address. The benefit does not transfer automatically.

Is the 300 DKK minimum per person or per household?

Per household. If the total calculated benefit for your household is below 300 DKK/month, no payment is made.

Common Myths: SIRI and Subletting

Myth 1: “If I get Boligstøtte as an EU student, SIRI will revoke my residence permit.” False. This is the most common misconception. As an EU student, you signed a declaration of self-support, meaning you cannot receive “social assistance” (like Kontanthjælp). However, under Danish law, Boligstøtte is evaluated under the Individual Housing Assistance Act, not the Active Social Policy Act. The official Ny i Danmark portal explicitly lists housing benefit as an exempt subsidy. EU students do not need to work 10-12 hours a week just to claim Boligstøtte—you can claim it safely strictly as a student.

Myth 2: “You can’t get Boligstøtte if you are subletting.” False. If you are subletting (fremleje), you are legally entitled to Boligstøtte, provided you meet all standard rules. You must have a formal written sublease contract, the apartment must have a private kitchen, and you must register your CPR at the address. Crucially: The main tenant cannot also be claiming Boligstøtte for the apartment at the same time.

Summary

Requirement	Details
Private kitchen	Required (running water + drainage)
Max eligible rent	96,252 DKK/year
Max apartment size	65 m² (single person)
Income threshold	151,900 DKK/year (single)
Benefit rate	15% of eligible rent
Minimum benefit	300 DKK/month
Max annual benefit	33,036 DKK/year
Where to apply	borger.dk

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This article provides estimates based on 2025 rates published by Udbetaling Danmark. Actual amounts depend on your individual circumstances. Always verify with the official Boligstøtte calculator or contact Udbetaling Danmark directly.