When you buy a property, you'll come across the terms skøde (the deed) and tinglysning (land registration). They are essential in a home purchase because they ensure you become the rightful owner of the property. Read more about deed drafting and land registration below.
A home purchase always concludes with deed drafting and land registration. The deed is the official document confirming that the seller transfers ownership of the property to the buyer. Once the deed has been drawn up, you must submit it for land registration, which is the official register of rights over properties. Once your deed is registered, you are recorded and published as the new owner of your home.
Secure your home – let our experienced legal adviser handle the land registration, so you can be confidently registered as the owner.
What should the deed contain? While the purchase agreement contains detailed information about the terms and conditions the seller and buyer have agreed on during negotiations, the deed functions more like a public record of the purchase. The deed is not as detailed as the purchase agreement, but it is nonetheless an important document containing information about the transaction. A deed usually contains information such as:
- Name, address and civil registration (CPR) number of both seller and buyer
- The property's address
- Information about the home, e.g. its condition
- Purchase price and mortgage charges
- Easements
- The public property valuation
- Date of possession
At Bomae, we offer legal advice that can help you draw up and register the deed.
Do you need a deed? Yes, you do. It is required by law that a deed be drawn up when you buy real estate. Besides serving as official proof that you are the new owner of the home, the deed is also your protection against fraud. By registering the deed, the seller cannot, for example, sell the home to someone else.
Who should draw up the deed?
Anyone can draw up a deed, as there are no rules about who may or may not write it. However, that doesn't mean everyone should draw up their own deed. The deed is such an important document in a property transaction that we only recommend having a professional, such as a legal adviser, write the deed for you. That way, you can be sure the deed is drawn up correctly and contains all the necessary information.
It is usually the buyer who must arrange for the deed to be written and registered, unless otherwise agreed. If you use a buyer's agent, it's an obvious option to let the adviser write the deed for you.
What does it cost to draw up a deed?
Drafting and registering a deed, including preparation of a refusionsopgørelse (adjustment statement for shared costs), costs 5,000 kr. This price naturally does not include the cost of the registration fee, which is a separate charge payable to the state. When registering a deed for owner-occupied homes, it generally triggers a fee to the Land Registration Court of 0.6% of the purchase price plus a supplement of 1,850 kr.
So, if you buy a home for 4 million kr., the calculation would look like this:
4,000,000 x 0.6% + 1,850 kr. = 25,850 kr. in total fees to the state.
Registering a divorce deed
If you are going through a divorce and wish to take over your shared home, you may be exempted from the standard registration fee and only pay the base rate of 1,850 kr. to have the change made in the land register.
The above assumes, however, that there was a shared marital estate during the marriage and that you have a copy of the separation or divorce decree.
Should we help you write the deed for your new home? As part of our buyer advisory service, we naturally also offer deed drafting and registration of the deed. At Bomae, we work to give you a secure and manageable purchase process, so buying a home becomes a positive experience. All our advisers have many years of experience with the Copenhagen and Zealand property markets, and we use that knowledge to help you find your dream home.
