Handing over a furnished flat: furniture, appliances, small items
How to hand over a furnished flat so that, at move-out, there is no doubt about what was there and how it looked.
Go through the flat room by room with the Inventarliste (inventory list), test the appliances and count the small items. Both of you sign, and photos of every room show the condition.
What to cover at the handover
In an empty flat you check walls, floors and meters. In a furnished flat you check all the furnishings as well.
- 1
The rooms themselves
Check walls, floors, ceilings, windows and doors, as at every handover.
- 2
Every piece of furniture
Tick off every item, and note any marks and where they are.
- 3
Every appliance
Switch each appliance on once and write down “works” or the fault.
- 4
Small items, counted
Count the crockery, glasses, cutlery and remote controls, and write down the quantities.
- 5
Meters and keys
Note all meter readings and the number of keys you hand over.
- 6
Both signatures
Both of you sign the Übergabeprotokoll (handover record) and the Inventarliste, and each keeps a copy.
Why this matters
Under § 548 Abs. 1 BGB, you have only six months after you get the flat back to claim compensation. In that time you have to be able to show how the flat and the furniture looked at move-in.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the tenant have to be at the handover?
The tenant does not have to be at the handover, but only an Übergabeprotokoll signed by both of you binds both sides. Without the tenant, you have to prove the condition some other way, such as with photos and a witness.
What if an appliance is already broken at move-in?
If an appliance is already broken at move-in, note it in the Übergabeprotokoll and repair or replace it. You must provide the appliances let with the flat in the condition agreed in the lease (§ 535 BGB).
How long after move-out can I claim for damage to furniture?
You can claim for damage to furniture for six months from the day you get the flat back (§ 548 Abs. 1 BGB). So check the furniture and appliances right at move-out.
Also in this topic: Wohnen auf Zeit: how to set a valid fixed termWear on furniture: what landlords may deduct in GermanyInventarliste template for furnished flats
Is a handover coming up?
Bring the Inventarliste and record every room with its furniture. BildProof guides you through the flat and creates a structured condition report.
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