Renting an Apartment
DEFINE YOUR SCENARIO
Active steps: …
Bewerbungsmappe: Rental Application Documents
PDF application folder for apartment viewings: SCHUFA credit report, pay slips, tenant self-disclosure. Prepare before viewings — good apartments go on the day they are listed.
Mietvertrag: Reviewing the Rental Contract
Quick scan for illegal clauses before signing: warm/cold rent split, contract type, renovation obligations that German courts routinely strike down.
Mietkaution: The Rental Security Deposit
Maximum three months' net rent. The landlord must hold it in a separate account and return it within 6 months of moving out.
Übergabeprotokoll: Apartment Handover Documentation
Record the apartment's condition when moving in and out. Without a protocol, disputing deposit deductions is nearly impossible.
Nebenkostenabrechnung: Annual Utility Bill Audit
Check your annual service charge settlement. Landlords must issue it within 12 months of the accounting period. Learn which costs are illegal and how to contest them.
Mängelanzeige: Formally Reporting Defects
Send a written defect notice with a repair deadline. After the deadline passes, you have a legal right to rent reduction (Mietminderung) under §536 BGB.