If you’re planning to move to a new apartment or preparing to leave Germany for your next assignment, our real estate expert explains how to properly terminate your rental contract and ensure that your notice is legally valid.
1. What do you need to consider as a tenant?
Before terminating your rental agreement, you should review your rental agreement and its termination clause.
This usually provides information about the actual notice period and how you, as the tenant, should hand over the apartment when you move out.
The statutory notice period for tenants is usually three months from the end of the respective month.
2. Termination of a rental agreement is only valid in writing
According to German law, the termination of a rental agreement is only legally valid in writing. This means that you must print your letter of termination on paper and sign it by hand. Better said, the termination letter must include an original signature; scanned- or e-signatures are not legally accepted. Termination of a rental agreement by email, fax, WhatsApp, telephone, or verbal notification is also invalid.
In addition, make sure that your letter of termination is correctly worded and contains all the necessary information to ensure that the termination of the tenancy runs smoothly.
3. To whom should the tenant send the notice of termination?
Normally, the tenant sends the notice of termination to the landlord of the apartment. However, landlords or apartment owners sometimes hire a property management company to handle such rental matters. If this is the case, be sure to send the notice of termination directly to the property management company. In this instance, the landlord is still noted in the termination letter.
4. What information must be included in my letter of termination?
A legally valid ordinary termination of a rental agreement must contain the following information:
1. The tenant’s full address
2. The address of the landlord or property management company
3. Subject line: Termination of rental agreement: [Address of rental property with floor number]
4. The desired date of termination (last day of the tenancy) in compliance with the notice period
5. Make sure the letter includes the signatures of all tenants named in the rental contract, as well as the city and date of signing.
6. Send the cancellation of your rental agreement by registered mail (per Einschreiben mit Einwurf in German) or deliver it in person with confirmation of receipt.
7. In your termination letter, it is also advisable to request a written confirmation of the termination and to ask to be contacted or to make an appointment for the handover of the apartment.
5. Send or submit the notice of termination of the lease within the specified period.
In order for the termination of your rental agreement to be considered timely, it must be received by your landlord or property manager no later than the third business day of the month.
Important: The date of receipt is decisive, not the postmark.
Example: If you want to terminate your lease as of 31 October, and the notice period is three months, your landlord must receive your letter of termination by 3 August.
Contact the Local Worldwide Relocation team-we’re always happy to support you with a smooth termination of your rental agreement.