Discovering Germany

Departure Departures can be quite challenging in Germany, in particular regarding the condition of the property. In Germany, landlords expect the property to be returned in such a condition that they can immediately rent out the property to the next tenant. Landlords can pass the responsibility of repairs and painting on to tenants. The costs for such repairs are not included in the rent. The lease includes a clause on the condition the property should be returned in a cleaned and sometimes painted condition. This is individually agreed upon in the lease and has to be checked individually to ensure the property is returned according to the lease contract. Returning a Property The lease termination period in Germany is normally three months for tenants, however, the specific termination period is always mentioned in the lease. The monthly rent, utilities, and all property-related expenses must be paid until the end of the lease. It is advisable to have a pre-inspection with the landlord or landlord’s representative around six to eight weeks before lease-end/moving out to determine which items need to be completed (cleaning, painting, etc.) Be aware that a pre-inspection is not final, as furniture may still be in the property and so possible damage may not be seen. Please also note that only the final return of the property is binding. When you return the property to the landlord, the property must be in its original condition, minus normal wear and tear. Cleaning, repainting if you changed wall color, and repair of any damaged items during this period will be your responsibility. Also, the property may have to be returned in a painted condition, depending on the individual lease or possible part payments towards renovation costs may be required. Avoid hammering nails or screws into wall, tiles, wooden doors, or any surface that can’t be easily repaired. This is one of the most important details when returning a property. The documents guiding what needs to be done before returning the keys include the lease contract and the inventory list made at the beginning of the lease period. The checklist of the property condition at move-in is very important. It is a document amended to the contract and should be provided to the tenant when moving in, and again before vacating the property, both with the landlord present. To leave the rental in the same condition it was found, you should follow the checklist and make any appropriate changes. Make sure that the list is created on move-in day to avoid misunderstandings, and to give an accurate account of any damage present. A great way to keep track of previous damage is to take photos of the damage with a time stamp as physical evidence. Having an accurate and detailed checklist will make moving out much easier, and protect you from incurring any fees or damage costs.

Helpful Hint: It is recommended that, roughly six to eight weeks to the expatriate’s departure, the property should be checked with the presence of the expatriate and the company’s representative to have an idea of what will be expected when final check is made together with the landlord. This way, you have time to fix any changes before the final walkthrough.

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Discovering Germany