Every deadline at move-in and move-out
Which deadlines apply to you as a tenant, how long each one is, and the day it starts.
Most deadlines start on one of three days: the day your notice arrives, the day you move in, or the day you return the flat. The landlord then has six months for damage claims (§ 548 Abs. 1 BGB). Court rulings usually give the landlord three to six months to check the Kaution (deposit).
How to use the table
Write down three dates and you can work out every deadline yourself.
- 1
The day your notice arrives
What counts is the day your notice reaches the landlord, not the day you send it.
- 2
The day you move in
The two weeks for registering your address, and for the landlord's confirmation, run from this day.
- 3
The day you return the flat
The landlord's six months run from this day. Get a dated receipt for the keys.
- 4
The day the Nebenkosten statement arrives
Note the day the statement for your Nebenkosten (service charges) arrives. You have twelve months from that day to object.
- 5
When to ask for the Kaution
Wait until the landlord's review period is over. Then ask for the Kaution back in writing and set a deadline.
- 6
The condition on both days
Record the condition of the flat at move-in and on the day you return it. That condition is what matters for the deadlines after you move out.
Every deadline at a glance
This table is for an open-ended lease on a flat. It shows how long each deadline is, when it starts and which law it comes from.
| Deadline | Length | Runs from | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your notice | 3 months | Must arrive by the 3rd working day of a month. The lease ends at the end of the month after next | § 573c Abs. 1 BGB |
| Registering your address | 2 weeks | Move-in | § 17 Abs. 1 BMG |
| Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (the landlord's confirmation of your move-in) | 2 weeks | Move-in | § 19 Abs. 1 BMG |
| Deregistering, only if you have no new flat in Germany | 2 weeks | Move-out | § 17 Abs. 2 BMG |
| Reporting a defect during the tenancy (Mängelanzeige) | without undue delay | As soon as the problem appears | § 536c Abs. 1 BGB |
| Landlord's Nebenkosten statement | 12 months | End of the billing period | § 556 Abs. 3 BGB |
| Your objections to the statement | 12 months | The day the statement arrives | § 556 Abs. 3 BGB |
| Landlord's damage claims | 6 months | The day you return the flat | § 548 Abs. 1 BGB |
| Your claims for expenses and removing fixtures | 6 months | End of the tenancy | § 548 Abs. 2 BGB |
| Landlord's review period for the Kaution | usually 3 to 6 months | The day you return the flat | Court rulings. § 551 BGB sets no deadline |
| Your claim to get the Kaution back | 3 years | End of the year in which it became due | §§ 195, 199 BGB |
Why this matters
Under § 548 Abs. 1 BGB, the landlord has six months from the day you return the flat to pursue damage claims. The condition of the flat at move-in and on the day you return it decides whether damage happened during your tenancy.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
When do the six months under § 548 BGB start?
The six months under § 548 BGB start on the day the landlord gets the flat back, which is usually the day you return the keys. The day the lease ends does not matter for this deadline.
When does my claim to the Kaution expire?
Your claim to get the Kaution back expires after three years, counted from the end of the year in which it became due (§§ 195, 199 BGB). The claim becomes due when the landlord's review period is over.
What if the landlord does not give me the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?
If the landlord does not give you the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, tell the registration office without delay (§ 19 Abs. 2 BMG). The landlord must confirm your move-in within two weeks. If they do not, they commit an administrative offence (§ 54 BMG).
Also in this topic: Who pays for an expert at the flat handover?No Übergabeprotokoll at move-in: what tenants can do nowDamage found after moving in: is there a deadline?Scratches in the parquet at move-out: what tenants payAll guides: Handover & viewings
Do you know when you are moving?
Write down the day you move in and the day you return the flat, and record the condition of every room on both days. BildProof guides you through the flat and creates a structured condition report.
Create your proof