Tenants Residential Letting Guide

for Germany

Legend Tenants
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contract
In general, German landlords prefer tenants who are willing to rent an apartment for a longer period of time, meaning that contracts are often fixed for three or four years, usually to be extended into an unlimited period if not cancelled a fixed number of months in advance.
Tenants should be aware that a typical rental contract cannot be simply cancelled by giving three month notice. Usually the initial contract cannot be broken at all. 
 
 

Rental Payments
Rental payments are due in advance, in accordance with previously made agreements. Such payments can be made by standing order, bankers draft or cheque. 
 

Deposit
The deposit, which normally equals 3 month rents, is held for the duration of the tenancy, to offset any costs which may incur due to the terms of the tenancy agreement at the end of the renting period, for cleaning, repairs or replacements.
 

Utilities
The terms of most tenancies require the tenant to take responsibility to pay for the use of gas, electricity, telephone and water.
 

Inventory
Before a tenancy is initialized, comprehensive details of the interior condition of the premises and its contents will have been prepared by the landlord. These are referred to as an "Inventory" and will not only include the condition of the decoration, but also list ervery item of contents down the last teaspoon. On the day you move in you will be met at the premises by the inventory clerk who will carry out the "inventory check in" with you and asks you to sign a declaration, confirming the state and the condition of the property, and that all listed items have been inspected. It is indispensabel to check the inventory with the inventory clerk carefully, in order to avoid disagreements later on. 
 

Insurance
It is advisable to take out a personal liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) and a household and personal effects insurance (Hausratversicherung). In case of a burglary, you, as the tenant, are liable to pay any caused damage if you are not insured. 
The personal liability insurance will protect you from any damage that you may cause accidentally to others. The household insurance will protect your belongings against theft and burglary, and also covers your furniture and personal property against fire, water and storm damage.
 

Commission fees
In Germany it is common that the commission fee is paid by the tenant. 
The regular commission fee for residential lettings is limited to the amount of two month rents by german law. The commission is due at the conclusion of the rental agreement.
 

Legend Tenants
 

1- ZKB  2- ZKBB 3- ZW Abstand DG EB EBK EG KM möbl. NB NK U/Kt. warm	1 room, kitchen, bathroom 2 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony 3 -room appartment outlay for added fixtures and fittings attic first letting fitted kitchen ground floor basic rent without heating furnished new building extra charges (electricity, gas and other charges) extra charges / deposit heating included