Moving out of a rented flat in Germany: the checklist
Every step from giving notice to getting your Kaution (deposit) back, in the order you do them.
Give written notice three months ahead, check your Schönheitsreparaturen (cosmetic repairs such as repainting) clause and cancel your contracts. Record every room on handover day. If you leave Germany, deregister within two weeks. Ask for the Kaution once the landlord's review is over.
What to have ready on handover day
The handover is the one appointment you cannot repeat. Have these six things ready.
- 1
A record of every room
Record the walls, floor, ceiling, windows and doors of each room on the day itself.
- 2
The meter readings
Note the readings for electricity, gas, water and heating, each with its meter number.
- 3
All the keys
Hand over every key, including copies you had made, and get a written receipt.
- 4
The Übergabeprotokoll
Read the Übergabeprotokoll (handover record) before you sign it, and keep a copy.
- 5
Your new address
Give the landlord your new address in writing, so they can reach you about the Kaution.
- 6
Your IBAN
Tell the landlord which account the Kaution should be paid into, also in writing.
What to do when
This timeline assumes an open-ended lease and an ordinary move-out. Your own lease can add steps.
| When | What to do | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months before | Send your notice, signed by hand by everyone on the lease. It must arrive by the third working day of the month. | §§ 568, 573c BGB |
| Right after notice | Read your lease: is there a Schönheitsreparaturen clause, and is it valid? | Only a valid clause binds you |
| 6 weeks before | Cancel electricity for your move-out date. | § 41b Abs. 5 EnWG |
| 1 month before | Cancel internet if the provider cannot serve your new address. Agree the handover date with the landlord. | § 60 Abs. 2 TKG |
| Last week | Do any work you owe, clean the flat and set up mail forwarding (Nachsendeauftrag). | Besenrein (swept clean) is the standard |
| Handover day | Record every room, note the meter readings, hand over all keys, give your new address and IBAN. | Your record of the condition |
| Within 2 weeks after | Deregister (Abmeldung) if you leave Germany. Register at the new address (Anmeldung) if you stay. | § 17 BMG |
| After the Abmeldung | Deregister from the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee) with your Abmeldebestätigung (deregistration certificate). | rundfunkbeitrag.de |
| 3 to 6 months after | The landlord pays back the Kaution with interest, or tells you what they are deducting. | § 551 Abs. 3 BGB, court rulings |
Why this matters
After you return the flat, the landlord has six months to claim for damage (§ 548 Abs. 1 BGB). The landlord also usually takes three to six months to settle the Kaution. During all that time, what matters is how the flat looked on the day you left.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I have to give on my flat in Germany?
You have to give three months' notice on an open-ended lease. The signed letter must reach the landlord by the third working day of a month (§ 573c Abs. 1 BGB).
Do I have to deregister when I leave Germany?
Yes, you have to deregister within two weeks of moving out if you are not moving into another flat in Germany (§ 17 Abs. 2 BMG). Keep the Abmeldebestätigung you are given. You need it for the Rundfunkbeitrag, for example.
Do I have to repaint the flat when I move out?
You only have to repaint if your lease contains a valid Schönheitsreparaturen clause. Many clauses are invalid. Without a valid clause, you return the flat swept clean, with normal wear.
Also in this topic: Balcony, cellar, garden: what counts at handoverBesenrein handover: what tenants owe at move-outEinzugsprotokoll: what tenants should record on move-in dayMay I take photos at the flat handover?All guides: Handover & viewings
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