Danish islands struggle with empty homes and loopholes

Danish island municipalities are pressing the new housing minister to take action as more and more year-round homes sit vacant, threatening local communities’ cohesion and economies, DR reports.

Ærø mayor Peter Hansted (S) said empty homes reduce daily use of local shops, restaurants, schools, and district heating, harming the islands’ viability. A year ago, several island municipalities jointly urged the then-housing minister, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen (S), to allow stricter monitoring of homeowners bypassing full-time residency rules—such as by using year-round homes as holiday properties. The response was seen as a rejection, and little has changed since.

With Jacob Mark (SF) now in office as the new housing minister, municipalities hope for progress. Hansted described enforcing residency rules as difficult due to loopholes, citing cases where EU citizens register a Danish business ID without an actual business, then use the home as a holiday house.

Municipalities want permission to check water and electricity usage weekly when they suspect part-time use of homes subject to residency requirements. Currently, only monthly readings are allowed.

Ditte Brøgger, a researcher at the Center for Regional and Tourism Research, said the trend of vacant homes on islands is hard to reverse but argued the previous government underestimated the challenge when it dismissed the municipalities’ proposals. She urged the new minister to revisit the letter and consider long-term strategies, noting that many neighboring countries have dedicated island policies.

Jacob Mark acknowledged that life on Danish islands and in rural areas has long been politically neglected. While rejecting weekly consumption monitoring, he proposed significantly higher fines—up to 100,000 kroner—for violating residency obligations. He warned that converting too many homes into rental properties creates “ghost towns” and stressed the need for a comprehensive island strategy, pointing to targeted support in a recent housing package.