“We are moving away from Denmark, and it is too expensive to ship our furniture.”
That sentence arrives in our inbox most weeks. In July 2026 it came from a family in Tuborg Bakkedrag, Hellerup, who had lived in Denmark for a little over eighteen months and were leaving. Their apartment had to be handed back on the 17th.
Their furniture was not old. It was bought new when they arrived, with barely a year and a half of use on any of it, and in genuinely good condition. Shipping it home cost more than it was worth. Throwing it away felt wrong.
They asked us two questions. Both are worth answering properly, because almost everyone leaving Denmark asks the same two.
“Is there anything you don’t clear?”
Very little. We take furniture, appliances, electronics, kitchenware, textiles, bicycles, garden furniture, books, toys, and general household contents. Full apartments, single rooms, basement storage, and lofts.
What we cannot take is short and specific:
- Hazardous waste—paint, solvents, chemicals, gas bottles, and similar. These need separate handling under Danish regulation. We will tell you where they go.
- Anything that cannot legally be transported on Danish roads.
That is essentially it. If you are unsure about something specific, send a photo — we will give you a straight answer rather than a maybe.
“Do you work in July?”
Yes. Monday to Saturday 07:30–18:00 and Sunday 10:30–17:00, right through the summer.
This matters more than it sounds. Denmark largely closes in July. Many Danish companies run skeleton staff or shut entirely for several weeks, precisely when international residents are leaving—because leases end in summer, school years end in summer, and postings end in summer.
If you are handing back an apartment in July or August and struggling to get anyone to answer the phone, that is why. We are open, and we plan our capacity around exactly this period.
Second life, not landfill
The family in Hellerup did not want their furniture destroyed, and they were right to ask. Eighteen-month-old furniture in good condition is not waste.
Everything we collect is assessed for reuse before anything is disposed of. Furniture, appliances, kitchen equipment, and household goods in usable condition are routed to Danish charity organizations and genbrugsstationer, where they go to households that need them. Only what genuinely cannot be reused goes to ARC (Amager Resource Center) for certified processing, where materials are separated rather than sent as a mixed load.
This costs you nothing extra. It is simply how we work, and it is the part of the job our crews take most seriously.
If particular items matter to you—a sofa you would like to see rehomed, a bicycle, a child’s furniture—tell us when you book and we will prioritize those.
The timing problem nobody warns you about
Leaving Denmark has a hard deadline built into it: the apartment handover. Danish tenancy agreements typically require the property to be returned empty and cleaned, inspected by the landlord or administrator, on a fixed date.
Miss it, and the cost is not theoretical. Deposits are withheld, cleaning is charged at the landlord’s rate, and disputes are handled after you have already left the country.
Most people underestimate two things:
- How long a full clearance takes. A furnished two-bedroom apartment is a full day’s work with a proper crew—not an afternoon with a friend and a hired van.
- That the flat must also be cleaned. Emptying it is only half of what the handover requires.
We do both, usually on the same visit: clear the apartment, then complete the end-of-tenancy clean (flytterengøring) so the property is handed back ready for inspection. One appointment, one invoice, one less thing to coordinate from another country.
You do not have to be there
A large share of our clearance work is done for people who have already left Denmark. If your flight is before your handover date, that is not a problem.
We can work from keys left with a neighbor, a landlord, an administrator, or a lockbox. We photograph the completed work and send it to you, along with written confirmation of clearance and disposal for your records—which is often exactly what a landlord or relocation manager wants to see.
Who we do this for
- International professionals at the end of a Danish posting
- Families relocating abroad who cannot justify shipping costs
- Students and researchers leaving at the end of a programme
- HR and relocation managers handling departures on behalf of employees
- Landlords and administrators with a property to turn around between tenants
We work across Copenhagen and the Capital Region—Hellerup, Gentofte, Charlottenlund, Østerbro, Frederiksberg, Nordhavn, Lyngby, Gladsaxe, Hillerød, and the whole Greater Copenhagen area—and travel further across Denmark for larger clearances.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full apartment clearance cost in Copenhagen?
It depends on the volume of contents and the access—floor, lift, or parking. Room, apartment, and house clearances are quoted individually rather than from a price list. Email info@giaservice.dk with your address, the apartment size, and a few photos, and we will confirm a fixed price, usually within two hours on business days.
Can you also clean the apartment for the handover?
Yes. End-of-tenancy cleaning is our most commonly added service on clearances, and doing it the same day we empty the property means one appointment instead of two.
What happens to our furniture?
Anything usable is assessed for donation to Danish charities and genbrugsstationer before disposal is considered. Only what cannot be reused goes to ARC for certified recycling.
Can you do it after we have left Denmark?
Yes, regularly. We work from keys left with a neighbor, landlord, or administrator and send you photographs and written confirmation once the work is complete.
How much notice do you need?
A week is comfortable, particularly in summer when demand from departing residents is highest. Shorter notice is often possible—call +45 9384 1333 and we will tell you honestly whether we can reach your date.
Do you speak English?
Our entire team works in English. You are welcome to write to us in Danish, and we will reply in English.
Leaving Denmark? Start here
Email info@giaservice.dk with your address, your handover date, and a few photographs of the rooms. We will come back with a fixed price and a plan that fits your deadline.
Or call +45 9384 1333. We are open seven days a week, including July.