Landlord confirmation
Do you want to move to a new apartment in Germany? Then you always have to register at the residents’ registration office of the city or municipality. For registration, you will need a valid ID card or passport and the landlord’s confirmation. You can find all the important information on this page.
The landlord confirmation: What?
Basically, the landlord’s confirmation is a mandatory document from the landlord to the residents’ registration office and is proof that you, as a tenant, are allowed to live in the landlord’s apartment and you are actually at home there. The landlord’s confirmation must be given to you along with the rental agreement. Some people also call it a landlord’s certificate or move-in confirmation. No official form is required for verification, but it must contain the following information:
- The landlord’s name, address, and handwritten signature
- The names of all people in the household who must register
- The address of the rented apartment
- The date of arrival or departure
Who is the landlord?
A landlord, in other words, is a person who lets someone else use an apartment. This is often the landlord, but real estate agents and property managers can also play the role of landlord. The owner of the apartment is not necessarily the landlord. There are some special cases:
-
Sie können uns anrufen unter:
How does it work with subtenants or family members?
Do you live with your partner or family? Then these people are not necessarily mentioned in the rental agreement. The tenant acts as a landlord in a way. Even if a sub-tenant lives with you, you do not need to register a landlord confirmation. The main tenant is then the landlord and must inform and confirm the arrival and departure of the sub-tenant to the residents’ registration office.
How is the landlord confirmation transmitted?
You can choose how you want to send the confirmation to the landlord. The tenant can have the landlord fill out the form and hand it over in person at the residents’ registration office. The landlord can also send it by post and give it to the tenant in writing. Electronic transmission (online) is also possible. You will then receive an identification code from the landlord, which you should provide when re-registering
Kontaktieren Sie uns jetzt
Erhalten Sie noch heute günstige Angebote – kostenlos und unverbindlich. Egal ob Umzug oder Transport, wir packen alles!
When do you need such a landlord confirmation?
If you have just moved to a new apartment, you must submit the landlord’s confirmation to the residents’ registration office or citizens’ registration office within 14 days. This means that you are required to register. If you leave your old address permanently and move somewhere else, you are legally required to register at this new address.
Do you also need to confirm that you are moving out? No. A few years ago, registration was required for both moving in and moving out, so today only moving in needs to be reported. An exception to this is moving abroad. If you want to deregister in Germany, you will also need the landlord’s confirmation of your move.
Caution: Severe penalties are threatened without landlord confirmation
Landlord confirmation was actually introduced as a means of combating crime. The main tenant cannot register with a specific address without this document. He needs explicit permission and confirmation from the landlord that he is allowed to live in the apartment and will stay there. The landlord has an obligation to inform the authorities about the current resident. This way he can assure the authorities that it is not a fake address.
Attention! In the case of late registration, incomplete or incorrectly filled forms, and fraudulent registration, landlords face fines ranging from €1,000 to €50,000. If you have not received the landlord confirmation in time, you must inform the registration authority.
If you have any further questions about the landlord confirmation, we at the Schwalbe Removal Company will be happy to help you.
Suggestions for further moves on the topic of residence, termination of tenancy, and GEZ.