Your rental deposit in Germany is refunded based on how the apartment’s condition at move-out compares with its condition at move-in. To protect it:
Care for the apartment during your tenancy, and give written notice within your contract’s notice period.
Before you leave, clean the apartment and make any repairs your contract requires.
At the final walkthrough, record the apartment’s condition in a signed Abnahmeprotokoll.
If your landlord deducts money unfairly, your handover documents and photos are your main evidence.
How can I protect my rental deposit while I’m living in the apartment?
You protect your rental deposit during the tenancy by preventing damage and dealing with any damage as soon as it happens. Your deposit is settled by comparing the apartment’s condition at move-out with the condition recorded at move-in. What should I document when moving into an apartment in Germany to protect my deposit? explains how to record that condition. To keep the apartment in good condition:
Ventilate each room by opening the windows fully for a few minutes several times a day. This is known as Lüften, and it prevents mold.
Clean tiles, windows, bathroom fixtures, and appliances regularly so dirt and limescale don’t build up.
Put felt pads under furniture legs to protect the floors.
Use a mattress protector if the apartment is furnished.
Keep food scraps, hair, and grease out of drains to avoid blocked pipes.
Tell your landlord about any significant damage as soon as you notice it.
Submit a liability insurance claim as soon as you accidentally damage the apartment, rather than waiting until you move out.
Liability insurance doesn’t cover mold, wear and tear, cleaning, or cosmetic repairs. What personal liability insurance doesn’t cover lists everything that’s excluded.
How does my rental notice period affect my deposit?
Your notice period affects your deposit because a landlord can deduct unpaid rent from it. Give your landlord written notice within the notice period in your rental contract, which is commonly 3 months for tenants in Germany. If you give notice late, you can owe rent for the extra months, and your landlord can take that amount from your deposit.
Your contract may also include clauses for cosmetic repairs (Schönheitsreparaturen) or minor repairs (Kleinreparaturen). Not all of these clauses are valid, so check yours before you pay for any work. Does personal liability insurance cover painting or wall repairs when moving out of a rental apartment? explains when a repainting clause applies. What is wear and tear and why does liability insurance not cover it? explains minor repairs clauses.
How should I prepare the apartment before I move out?
You prepare the apartment for move-out by returning it in the condition your rental contract requires. Use the Übergabeprotokoll, the handover protocol you signed at move-in, as your reference. Before the final walkthrough:
Clean tiles, windows, bathroom fixtures, kitchen surfaces, and all appliances, including the oven and refrigerator.
Fill nail and screw holes if your contract has a valid cosmetic repair clause. Without one, a normal number of holes, such as from hanging pictures, generally counts as wear and tear.
Tighten loose door handles, cabinet doors, and fittings.
Repaint scuffed or marked walls if a valid clause in your contract requires it.
Replace any item listed in the Übergabeprotokoll that’s lost or damaged.
Remove all furniture and personal belongings, unless your landlord has agreed in writing that you can leave specific items. Leftover items may be treated as trash and billed as disposal fees.
When you finish, the apartment is ready for the final walkthrough.
How do I complete the final walkthrough and the Abnahmeprotokoll?
The Abnahmeprotokoll is a handover protocol that records the apartment’s condition when you return it to the landlord. It lists the state of each room, any damage found, the meter readings, and the number of keys returned. Together with your move-in Übergabeprotokoll, the signed Abnahmeprotokoll is the main evidence used to settle your deposit. To complete the walkthrough:
Empty and clean the apartment fully before the walkthrough.
Take date-stamped photos or videos of every room in its clean, empty state.
Attend the walkthrough in person with your landlord or rental agency, and bring a witness if possible.
Compare the apartment’s condition against the Übergabeprotokoll, so you aren’t charged for defects that existed when you moved in.
Read the Abnahmeprotokoll carefully, and check that the meter readings and the number of keys returned are correct.
Sign the Abnahmeprotokoll only if you agree with everything in it. If you disagree with anything, add your disagreement in writing.
Hand over the keys only after the protocol is signed, and keep a signed copy for yourself.
The handover is complete when both of you have signed the Abnahmeprotokoll and you have your own copy.
When will I get my rental deposit back?
Most landlords in Germany return a rental deposit within 1–3 months of move-out. There’s no fixed legal deadline. What is a rental deposit (Mietkaution) in Germany and how does it work? explains the timeline and what a landlord can use the deposit for.
What can I do if my landlord withholds my deposit?
If your landlord keeps part or all of your deposit for damage you didn’t cause, start with your own records:
Compare the Abnahmeprotokoll against your move-in Übergabeprotokoll and your date-stamped photos.
Ask your landlord in writing for a breakdown of every deduction, and check each item against your records.
A tenants’ association (Mieterverein) or legal insurance can help if the dispute continues. Liability insurance doesn’t cover deposit disputes. Legal insurance has a waiting period and can’t help with a dispute if you take it out after you’ve handed back your keys. Can I get legal insurance to help recover my landlord deposit after moving out? explains this.