The decommissioned oil tank in the garden
In older houses we often come across an emptied and decommissioned oil tank — an old, buried tank that's been sealed off but not removed. Even an empty tank can corrode over time, and in some cases the rules can require actual removal, not just decommissioning.
How to check: the tank is typically listed in the property data report (ejendomsdatarapport). Ask for documentation of the decommissioning date, and ask the municipality whether physical removal is required.
What it costs: simple decommissioning (the tank is sealed and filled, but stays in the ground) typically costs 2,500–8,000 kr. Full physical removal (excavation) typically costs 15,000–30,000 kr, depending on the tank's size, location, and whether soil samples are required.
Easements with "financial obligations"
On plots from the first half of the 1900s we regularly see a registered easement (servitut) with the text "contains financial obligations, see deed". This can mean payment obligations for a road, utilities or sewer — and it refers to a deed almost no one actually reads.
How to check: request the full deed document (a title registry extract), not just the line in the sales particulars. Don't treat it as a formality until you've read it.
Private water supply — not the municipal mains
In the countryside we see homes with a "private water supply system" — water from your own borehole or well, not the municipal waterworks. That means you're responsible for the pump, periodic water-quality testing and potential future repair or new-borehole costs.
How to check: ask about the system's age, the pump's condition, and when the water quality was last tested.
Upcoming separate sewer requirements
Many older houses share one drain for rainwater and wastewater. Municipalities increasingly require separate sewer systems (separatkloakering) — splitting the two — and when the requirement lands, the bill lands on the property owner. The sales particulars sometimes mention it as something the agent considers "not their concern", i.e. outside their responsibility.
How to check: ask the municipality whether there's a timeline for separate sewer requirements on that specific road.
"Newly renovated" — but not in BBR
A home is marketed as fully renovated, but the official BBR building register shows "year of significant renovation: not stated". Updating BBR after a renovation is the owner's responsibility and sometimes gets postponed. It's not a problem in itself — but it can affect future registration and certain tax matters, and an "end-to-end" renovated impression can in practice turn out to be partial.
How to check: compare the listing's stated renovation year with the BBR registration, and ask whether a BBR update has been submitted.