Apartment handover
Short definition
The apartment handover refers to the formal return of a rental apartment by the tenant to the landlord upon termination of the tenancy. It includes a joint inspection, the documentation of the property's condition in a handover protocol, and the return of all keys. The objective is to record the state of the apartment in a legally secure manner.
What do tenants need to keep in mind during the apartment handover?
Tenants must hand over the apartment completely cleared and swept clean. Self-installed fixtures must be removed unless an agreement exists. Normal signs of wear and tear are considered contractual use and do not need to be rectified. Damage caused by improper use, on the other hand, must be repaired by the tenant.
When does an apartment handover take place?
The apartment handover usually takes place at the end of the tenancy, mostly on the last day of the rental period or shortly before. The prerequisite is that the apartment is completely cleared and all keys can be handed over.
Practical context
The apartment handover is the final step in the tenant turnover and often determines the return of the rental deposit. Incomplete documentation or unclear conditions quickly lead to disputes between tenant and landlord.
Example
Damage is recorded in the handover protocol and additionally documented photographically to avoid later ambiguities.
Further links
→ Glossary article: Apartment handover
→ Glossary article: Handover protocol
→ Blog article: Apartment handover for tenants: moving out without hassle
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More terms
Full glossary
Apartment handover
The handover of the apartment refers to the formal process of transferring a rental apartment between landlord and tenant – both when moving in and when moving out. It includes the inspection, the recording of meter readings, and the documentation in the handover protocol.
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Change of tenant
The tenant changeover describes the entire process from a tenant moving out to a new tenant moving in. It includes termination, marketing, selection, and handover of the apartment.
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Handover protocol
The handover protocol is a written document that records the condition of a rental apartment at the time of handover. It documents defects, meter readings, keys, and agreements between the tenant and the landlord.
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