Guide

Tips and answers about renting out, rental agreements, and handovers.

Renting Out an Apartment in 9 Steps: The Process from Documents to Handover

Rental

Renting out an apartment: the complete process in 9 steps

Listing an apartment for free or paid: the three portal types and their cost mechanics for private landlords

Rental

Listing an apartment: free or paid, and what the costs consist of

Rental

Rogue Tenants: Spotting Warning Signs Before the Lease Is Signed

Renting Out a Furnished Apartment: Inventory List and Furnishing Surcharge as an Annex to the Lease Agreement

Rental

Renting Out a Furnished Apartment: Furnishing Surcharge, Contract, and Limits

Rejecting prospective tenants: Selection based on fixed criteria and fair rejections for applicants

Rental

Selecting and rejecting prospective tenants: fairly and transparently

Fixed-term lease: the three legal grounds that make a time limit valid

Rental

Fixed-term lease: when a temporary rental agreement is valid

Checking a Tenancy Agreement Template: An Overview of the Four Key Details and Five Clauses That May Be Invalid

Rental

Tenancy Agreement Template: Mandatory Content, Sample Text, and 5 Clauses That May Be Overturned

Writing an apartment ad: the structure of an apartment listing in six blocks, from the title to the contact details

Rental

Writing an Apartment Ad: Structure, Phrasing, and a Complete Example

Deposit account for private landlords: invest and return the rental deposit separately from your own assets

Rental

Security Deposit Account: How to Properly Invest and Return the Rental Deposit

Determining the Local Reference Rent: Rent Index, Evidence, and Rent Increase Limits for New Tenancies

Rental

Setting the rent: local comparable rent, rent index, and legal limits

Finding a replacement tenant or vetting a proposed tenant: the decision for private landlords

Rental

Replacement tenants: when you have to accept one, and when you don't

Deciding on subletting: an overview of the three scenarios (part of the apartment, entire apartment, short-term rental to tourists)

Rental

Subletting: when you have to agree, and when you can refuse

Checking the minor repairs clause in the lease agreement: the four requirements for a valid clause

Rental

Minor repairs clause: the four conditions that can invalidate it

Fill out the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung): Form with the four mandatory details according to Section 19 of the Federal Act on Registration (BMG) and signature field

Rental

Landlord Confirmation: Obligation, Deadline, Content, and Free Template