What is the maksimalpris?

The maksimalpris is the legally mandated price ceiling on an andelsbolig — the maximum a seller may charge. Selling above it is illegal and punishable by up to 4 months' imprisonment. Buyers can reclaim any overpayment, no matter how small, and this right cannot be waived in the purchase agreement.

Watch out for attempts to circumvent the rule: requiring buyers to purchase furniture or fixtures at inflated prices is a known workaround and equally illegal.

What is the andelskrone?

The andelskrone is the key figure used to calculate what a single share may cost. It is calculated by dividing the cooperative's total net assets (property value minus total debt, plus any other assets) by the total number of shares.

Your unit's maximum price is then: Andelskrone × your unit's allocation fraction + value of documented individual improvements − depreciation on those improvements

The three valuation methods

One of the most important and underappreciated factors when buying an andelsbolig is which valuation method the cooperative uses to set the property value. Three methods are legally permitted, and they produce dramatically different results:

1. Acquisition price (anskaffelsespris) The property is valued at what the cooperative originally paid for it. For long-established cooperatives this is typically very low — producing a low andelskrone, low share prices, and low monthly fees. The safest method but may significantly undervalue the property.

2. Public property valuation (offentlig ejendomsvurdering) The property is valued at the official assessment issued by Skattestyrelsen. Reflects market conditions more closely than the acquisition price but is based on official estimates.

3. Professional valuation (valuarvurdering) A certified valuer assesses the property's current market value. Typically produces the highest share prices. Must be updated regularly — and if property values fall, so does the valuation, the andelskrone, and the value of your share.

Find the valuation method in the cooperative's accounts under "Nøgleoplysninger, Note C1" or ask the board or administrator directly.

What if the andelskrone falls?

Cooperatives using professional valuations are most exposed to market movements. If property prices fall, the valuation falls, the andelskrone falls, and your share loses value. In extreme cases the cooperative's debt can exceed the property value — potentially forcing a switch to acquisition price accounting, which can cause dramatic write-downs in share values.

This is the key financial risk of andelsbolig ownership that a lower purchase price does not eliminate.