'How to Move Out of an Apartment in Germany: Kündigung,

Moving out of a rented apartment in Germany starts not with boxes, but with documents. You need to terminate the contract properly, prepare the apartment for handover, document its condition, and close your household contracts. A mistake with deadlines or the handover record can cost you part of your deposit (Kaution) or lead to a dispute with the landlord.

1. Check the rental contract

Before doing anything, open the Mietvertrag and note four things:

• the notice period for termination;
• who is named in the contract as the tenant;
• whether there is a clause about a Nachmieter or early termination;
• what it says about Schönheitsreparaturen, wall colors, drilling, cleaning, and key handover.

If the contract is fixed-term, has a minimum rental period, or contains special termination conditions, the standard approach may not fit. In disputed cases, it is better to show the contract to a Mieterverein or a lawyer specializing in Mietrecht before sending the Kündigung.

2. Send the Kündigung in writing

For a standard residential lease, the Kündigung must be in written form. Under § 568 BGB, terminating a Mietverhältnis requires Schriftform, so a messenger chat or a simple e-mail should not be used as the main method of ending the contract.

For tenants, the standard ordinary notice period under § 573c BGB is about three months: the Kündigung must reach the landlord no later than the third working day of the month for that month to count as the first month of the notice period. For example, if the letter is received in time in June, the contract usually ends at the end of August.

In the Kündigung, include:

• the apartment address;
• the names of all tenants listed in the contract;
• the desired end date of the Mietverhältnis;
• a request for written confirmation of receipt of the Kündigung;
• a request to agree on a date for the Wohnungsübergabe;
• a new correspondence address, if it is already known;
• the signatures of all tenants named in the contract.

In practice, the safest option is to send the letter in a way that lets you prove it was received, or hand it over in person with a signed receipt. Keep a copy of the Kündigung and the delivery confirmation.

3. A Nachmieter does not always help

Sometimes a tenant wants to move out earlier and offers a new tenant (Nachmieter). This can work if the landlord agrees or if the contract explicitly provides for it. But simply having a suitable candidate does not usually guarantee an automatic release from the contract.

If you are looking for a Nachmieter, prepare a basic package for the candidate: a Schufa-Auskunft, proof of income, a copy of the passport or ID, a Mieterselbstauskunft, and contact details. Before sharing documents, get the candidate’s consent and do not post someone else’s personal data in public chats.

4. Deal with repairs and the apartment’s condition

Schönheitsreparaturen are one of the most common sources of disputes. Not every repair clause in a contract is valid, and not every sign of living in the apartment counts as damage. In general, the tenant must return the apartment in the condition required by the contract, taking normal wear and tear into account.

Before handover, it is usually worth doing the following:

• clean the apartment to the standard agreed in the contract;
• remove your lamps, shelves, and furniture if they are not being passed on to the next tenant or the landlord;
• carefully fill drill holes if required;
• return the walls to a neutral condition if you painted them in bright or unusual colors;
• fix damage that happened through your fault;
• distinguish normal wear from actual defects.

If the landlord demands a full renovation of the entire apartment, first check the contract and the exact wording. Strict automatic requirements such as repairs at fixed intervals can be questionable.

5. Prepare for the Wohnungsübergabe

The apartment handover (Wohnungsübergabe) should be documented as thoroughly as possible. A few days before the handover date, check:

• all sets of keys, including the mailbox, basement, garage, and duplicates;
• the water, electricity, gas, and heating meter readings, if available;
• the condition of the walls, floors, sanitary fixtures, windows, doors, and built-in kitchen;
• the cleanliness of the apartment, balcony, basement, and storage room;
• any furniture or appliances that remain by agreement;
• all open agreements with the landlord in writing.

Take photos or videos of the apartment before the handover, especially of disputed areas and meter readings. It is best to take the pictures in normal lighting and keep them together with the date.

6. Sign the Übergabeprotokoll

At the handover, an Übergabeprotokoll is prepared. It records the condition of the apartment and what exactly was handed over to the landlord.

The protocol should contain:

• the date and time of the handover;
• the apartment address;
• the names of the tenant and landlord or representative;
• the meter readings;
• a list of the keys handed over;
• a description of damage or a note that no visible defects were found;
• agreements on work, deadlines, and possible deductions;
• the signatures of both parties.

Do not sign wording you disagree with. If a dispute cannot be resolved on the spot, add your own note to the protocol or refuse the disputed phrase. An empty or overly general protocol is worse than a detailed document: later it will be harder to prove the condition in which the apartment was returned.

7. Close household contracts and payments

After sending the apartment Kündigung, check all related contracts:

• electricity and gas, if they are in your name;
• internet, mobile phone, and cable TV;
• Hausratversicherung and other insurance policies tied to the address;
• Dauerauftrag or Lastschrift for rent and Nebenkosten;
• postal forwarding (Nachsendeauftrag), if you need to receive letters at the new address.

Do not cancel payments too early if obligations still exist under the contract. It is better to close each contract in writing and keep the confirmations.

8. Do an Anmeldung or Abmeldung

If you are moving within Germany, you usually need to register at the new address with the Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt. The old registration is then usually removed through the new Anmeldung.

If you are leaving Germany and not keeping a home in the country, you need an Abmeldung. Under § 17 Bundesmeldegesetz, a person who moves out of a home and does not move into a new home in Germany must deregister within two weeks after moving out; the Abmeldung can be submitted no earlier than one week before departure.

The exact procedures, online forms, and available Termine depend on the city, so check the website of your local Bürgeramt.

9. Wait for the Kaution refund

The Kaution is usually not returned on the day the keys are handed over. The landlord is entitled to check the apartment’s condition, any claims, and the expected Nebenkostenabrechnung. There is no fixed universal date in the BGB for the full return of the deposit; in practice people often refer to an angemessene Prüfungsfrist, and if an additional Nebenkosten payment is expected, the landlord may keep a justified part for longer.

To reduce the risk of delay:

• provide your new address and bank details;
• ask for a written Abrechnung for the Kaution;
• clarify separately whether part of it is being withheld because of Nebenkosten;
• do not agree to unexplained deductions;
• in case of a dispute, contact a Mieterverein or a Mietrecht specialist.

Short checklist before moving out

• Kündigung sent in writing and received by the landlord.
• All tenants named in the contract signed the Kündigung.
• The Wohnungsübergabe date agreed in writing.
• Repairs and cleaning completed only to a reasonable extent under the contract.
• Photos of the apartment and meter readings taken before handover.
• Übergabeprotokoll completed in detail.
• All keys handed over and listed in the protocol.
• Electricity, gas, internet, and insurance transferred or terminated.
• Anmeldung or Abmeldung planned.
• New address and bank details provided for the Kaution refund.

The main principle is simple: it is better to document every important step in writing. Then moving out of an apartment becomes a structured procedure instead of a stressful dispute, where the deadlines, the condition of the property, and the money are backed up by documents.