Ending your lease correctly and getting your deposit back.
How to terminate a German rental contractTenants can terminate an open-ended contract with three months' notice — but only in writing with a real signature. Email and WhatsApp terminations are legally void.
Getting your deposit back after moving outLandlords may take a reasonable period — commonly up to six months — to settle the Kaution, and can retain a portion for a pending Nebenkosten reconciliation. A clean move-out protocol speeds everything up.
The move-out admin checklistMoving in Germany triggers a cascade of contract changes. Missing one — especially the address re-registration — creates fines and lost letters.