Renovation of your home in Gentofte.
Gentofte is one of Denmark's wealthiest municipalities and the country's most densely built villa municipality. Brick villas from 1900–1945, modernist houses from 1930–60 and large apartment buildings along Hellerup's Strandvej. Many of these houses are over 80 years old and are beginning to show their age in roofs, windows and installations. The challenge in Gentofte is not the trades prices — although those are high. It is heritage value.
Gentofte in brief — context for your renovation.
location_cityA villa municipality with 80+ year old houses
Gentofte urbanised from 1863 when the railway opened. In 60 years, a village grew into a suburb. The result is Denmark's most densely built villa municipality — brick houses from 1900–1950 dominate neighbourhoods such as Ordrup, Charlottenlund and Hellerup.
account_balance12,289 heritage-listed buildings
131 fully listed buildings and 12,289 registered heritage buildings. Gentofte carried out a full SAVE registration of all buildings erected before 1970 in 2004. If your house has a SAVE rating of 1–4, façade changes require the municipality's prior approval — and the municipality actively enforces this.
museumOrdrupgaard and Charlottenlund
The municipality is home to Ordrupgaard, one of the world's finest French Impressionist museums, and Charlottenlund Palace with the royal garden. Cultural heritage is not abstract here — it is part of daily life and the building culture. Renovating with respect for the architecture preserves the home's market value.
local_fire_departmentDistrict heating — partial coverage
Large parts of Gentofte are connected to the district heating network. If you are connected, it is typically the cheapest and most climate-friendly heating option. If not — for example in older villa neighbourhoods — an air-to-water heat pump is the best alternative to gas or oil.
Your housing type.
Brick villa from 1900–1945
37% of homes in Gentofte — approx. 13,300 dwellings (source: Statistics Denmark 2025)
Classic Gentofte villas in Ordrup, Charlottenlund and Hellerup — many with high heritage value (SAVE 1–4). These houses are over 80 years old and require respect for the original architecture in all renovation work. Gentofte Municipality is known for closely monitoring heritage value — unauthorised alterations may be required to be reversed.
What's typical?
- — Red or yellow brick, clay tile roof with hip or mansard design
- — 150–300 m² floor area, typically 2 full storeys + basement
- — Original timber windows with hinges and glazing bars
- — Solid brick internal walls and wooden floors
- — Little or no insulation in walls and roof
Common weaknesses
- — Roof: clay tile and slate roofs are typically 80–100 years old — they may hold, but check
- — Windows: original timber windows require painting and maintenance every 5–8 years
- — Insulation: almost no insulation in exterior walls from that era
- — Basement: uninsulated concrete floor and brick walls against soil
- — Electrical: installations from the 1950s–70s need updating
Typical costs
New clay tile roof (villa 150–250 m²)
150,000–350,000 kr
Including labour. The key: match original clay tiles on heritage buildings. Slate is more expensive: 200,000–450,000 kr. . Source: Bolius
New timber windows (whole villa)
100,000–200,000 kr
Original style with glazing bars, energy glazing. Requires approval for SAVE 1–4. Plastic and aluminium windows are rarely approved. . Source: Bolius
New bathroom
120,000–250,000 kr
Complete renovation including tiles, plumbing and optional underfloor heating. Gentofte villas typically have large bathrooms with high material expectations. . Source: Bolius
Heat pump (replacing gas/oil)
60,000–120,000 kr
Air-to-water heat pump. Apply for subsidy via the Danish Energy Agency heat pump scheme. . Source: SparEnergi
New electrical installation (villa)
50,000–100,000 kr
Modernisation of consumer unit and circuits. . Source: Bolius
Do you need an architect?
Probably not necessary for:
- — Interior renovation (no façade changes)
Architect recommended or required for:
- — All external renovation on heritage buildings
- — The municipality has high documentation and material requirements
- — Extensions and façade changes — SAVE 1–4 requires prior approval
Modernist house from 1935–1960
15% of homes in Gentofte — approx. 5,400 dwellings (source: Statistics Denmark 2025)
Characterised by flat or shallow pitched roofs, large window sections and white render — many in Ordrup and Charlottenlund. Many modernist houses have SAVE ratings of 2–4 and require municipal approval for façade changes.
What's typical?
- — White rendered façade, flat or shallow pitched roof
- — Large horizontal-format window sections
- — Open floor plan with large living spaces
- — Felt or felt-based covering on flat roof
- — Underfloor heating from the 1960s–70s (typically at end of life)
Common weaknesses
- — Roof: flat roof with felt, lifespan 20–30 years — check the age
- — Windows: large sections are difficult to energy-renovate without changing the character
- — Render: cracks and spalling in the render are costly to repair correctly
- — SAVE registration: many modernist houses have SAVE 2–4 — requires approval
Typical costs
New flat roof with felt (150–200 m²)
120,000–220,000 kr
Including insulation upgrade. . Source: Bolius
Render façade renovation
400–800 kr/m²
Removal of old render and application of new diffusion-open render. May require municipal approval. . Source: Bolius
Heat pump (replacing gas)
60,000–120,000 kr
Apply for subsidy via heat pump scheme. . Source: SparEnergi
Do you need an architect?
Probably not necessary for:
- — Interior renovation
Architect recommended or required for:
- — Façade changes and render façade work
- — Roof replacement on SAVE-registered modernist houses
Apartment — mainly in Hellerup
63% of homes in Gentofte — approx. 22,697 dwellings (source: Statistics Denmark 2025)
Surprising to many: Gentofte has more apartments than detached houses. Most are apartment buildings along Strandvejen and in Hellerup from 1900–1960. Many are owner-occupied flats in affluent buildings with high SAVE ratings.
What's typical?
- — Apartment buildings from 1900–1960 along Strandvejen and in Hellerup
- — Many owner-occupied flats with high SAVE ratings
- — Shared installations and owners' association management
Common weaknesses
- — Windows: require owners' association approval and matching of façade rules
- — Bathroom: older plumbing and tiles
- — SAVE: window replacement requires municipal approval with high heritage value
Typical costs
Do you need an architect?
Probably not necessary for:
- — Interior apartment renovation (no façade changes)
Architect recommended or required for:
- — Façade renovations and window replacement on SAVE-registered buildings
- — Extensions and balconies
Local conditions in Gentofte.
local_fire_department District heating — HOFOR (Gentofte)
Large parts of Gentofte are connected to the district heating network. If you are connected, it is usually the cheapest and most climate-friendly solution. Not connected to district heating — for example in older villa neighbourhoods — an air-to-water heat pump is the best alternative to gas or oil. Apply for subsidy via the Danish Energy Agency heat pump scheme.
account_balance Heritage value
Gentofte is one of Denmark's most regulated municipalities for renovation. 131 fully listed buildings and 12,289 registered heritage buildings — of which 1,570 have high heritage value (SAVE 1–3). Gentofte carried out a complete SAVE registration of all buildings erected before 1970 in 2004. Façade changes on buildings with SAVE 1–4 require approval: window type, roof material, colours and façade extensions. The municipality actively enforces this.
Look up your address at the Danish Heritage Agency's FBB register
assignment Building permit in Gentofte
Interior renovation normally does not require a building permit. SAVE 1–4: all external changes require prior approval. Extensions always require a permit. Check whether you need a permit: gentofte.dk/bolig-og-by/byggeri-og-byplanlaegning/kraever-dit-byggeri-en-byggetilladelse/
savings Grants for energy renovation
Subsidies for energy renovation are available via Sparenergi.dk. The 2026 heat pump scheme offers up to 15,000 kr towards a new heat pump. The energy renovation scheme provides subsidies for insulation and windows.
Gentofte in figures.
Data from Statistics Denmark (2025) and the Danish Heritage Agency — context for your property.
Dwellings total
6% vacancy rate
Listed buildings
Source: Danish Heritage Agency FBB
Social housing units
Source: Landsbyggefonden
CO₂ emissions by sector
Energy
92,099 tonnes CO₂
Transport
50,671 tonnes CO₂
Chemical processes
4,586 tonnes CO₂
Agriculture and land use
-857 tonnes CO₂
Waste disposal and biogas
5,209 tonnes CO₂
Wastewater
1,802 tonnes CO₂
Frequently asked questions
about renovation in Gentofte.
It depends on your SAVE rating. If your house has a SAVE rating of 1–4 (high heritage value), all external changes require Gentofte Municipality's prior approval — regardless of whether it constitutes a building permit in the legal sense. This applies to window type, roof material and wall colour. Check your SAVE rating at gentofte.dk/bolig-og-by/byggeri-og-byplanlaegning/bevaringsvaerdige-bygninger/
A villa with a 150–250 m² roof area costs 150,000–350,000 kr to re-roof with clay tiles including labour. Slate is more expensive: 200,000–450,000 kr. Source: Bolius (bolius.dk/udskiftning-af-tagbelaegning-17729). Remember: with SAVE 1–4, the roofing material must be matched or approved by the municipality.
Typically timber windows with glazing bars matching the original type and colour are required. Plastic and aluminium windows are rarely approved. You must apply via Byg & Miljø and include photos of the existing windows. Energy glazing can generally be approved in an original-style frame. Source: Gentofte Municipality (gentofte.dk/bolig-og-by/byggeri-og-byplanlaegning/kraever-dit-byggeri-en-byggetilladelse/)
The SAVE rating (1–9) measures the heritage value of buildings erected before 1970. 1–3 is very high, 4–6 is medium, 7–9 is low. In Gentofte, 1,570 buildings are in the high category (1–3). Look up your address at fbb.kulturstyrelsen.dk or via the Gentofte Municipality website.
Large parts of Gentofte are covered by the district heating network. If you are connected, it is usually the cheapest and most climate-friendly heating option. Not connected? An air-to-water heat pump is the best alternative to gas. Apply for subsidy via the Danish Energy Agency 2026 heat pump scheme at sparenergi.dk.
A complete bathroom in a villa costs 120,000–250,000 kr — depending on size and material choice. Prices are 30,000–40,000 kr per m². Gentofte villas typically have large bathrooms with high material expectations. Source: Bolius (bolius.dk/hvor-meget-koster-et-nyt-badevaerelse-17458)
Legally, not for interior renovation. But we always recommend an architect for work on heritage façades in Gentofte — the municipality has high documentation and material requirements, and cases involving unauthorised alterations are real. An architect navigates the application process and ensures the project is approved.
Yes, but it requires a building permit and must comply with the local plan's requirements on plot utilisation (typically 25–40%), materials and roof form. Many plots are close to the limit. Apply via gentofte.dk/bolig-og-by/byggeri-og-byplanlaegning/ansoegning-om-byggetilladelse/ and check the calculated plot utilisation in the building register.
Next steps.
Heritage value and the SAVE rating
Understand what the SAVE rating means for your renovation, and when the municipality has the final say.
assignmentBuilding permit
When is a building permit required in Gentofte — and what does the case processing cost?
energy_savings_leafEnergy certificate
What does the energy certificate tell you about your Gentofte villa — and what is needed to improve it?
Tell us about your project in Gentofte.
We help homeowners in Gentofte prioritise renovation and get started — from the first assessment to completed project.
Start your dream here