SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

RENTING

Renting in Germany: What to know about the ‘Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung’

The German language is known for having exceptionally long words. And here is one that you need to know if you're applying to rent a home.

A flat searching sign in Eimsbüttel, Hamburg.
Eine Wohnungs-Suchanzeige hängt an einer Ampel im Stadtteil Eimsbüttel. +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

What is the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung?

We’re glad you asked. This absolute monster of a word – with nine syllables – translates to ‘certificate of freedom from rent debts’ or ‘rent debt-free certificate.’

Tenants in Germany usually have to prove to their prospective landlord that they reliably pay their rent. And one of the most popular ways of doing this is with a certificate that shows you are free from any rental debts.

It is essentially a piece of paper from your landlord explaining that you have paid all of your rent on time and you don’t have arrears. It has to be signed and can be included in your Bewerbermappe (application portfolio) when you’re applying to rent a flat or house.  

It acts as proof of the creditworthiness of the prospective tenant.

Why do I need this document?

You don’t need it (although some landlords may ask for it), however, it will give you an advantage over other tenants applying for flats. This is essential to know in places like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg where demand for affordable flats far outstrips supply. 

Who issues the certificate?

The rent debt-free document can be issued by the landlord or their property manager (Hausverwaltung). If you are living in a shared flat, it’s also possible to get it from the main tenant (Hauptmieter) who can sign the document for a sub-tenant on behalf of the landlord. 

However, German real estate and renting portal Immowelt says that your landlord is under no obligation to issue the rental debt-free certificate to tenants. 

READ ALSO: How much deposit do I have to pay when renting in Germany?

Flats in Frankfurt, Hesse.

Flats in Frankfurt, Hesse. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Gollnow

Can parents issue a rent debt-free certificate?

Parents cannot issue this document to their children. However, if the parents of a trainee or student vouch for their child, and live in rented accommodation themselves, they can have their landlord issue a rent debt-free certificate for the child.

However, this option doesn’t work if the parents live in their own property. In this case, an alternative could be to include the parents in the tenancy agreement as guarantors. 

What does a rental debt-free certificate say?

It usually contains the following information:

  • Name of the tenant
  • Address of the rented flat
  • Confirmation that there are no rent arrears or information on existing rent debts
  • Confirmation of regular, timely payment
  • Name, address and signature of the landlord/property manager/main tenant

Can I be charged a fee for this?

The question of whether and how much money a landlord can charge for issuing a certificate of freedom from rent debts has not been clarified by law. However, since it is a service that the landlord does not have to provide, there is some evidence to suggest that the landlord can charge for this service.

Since the document is no more than a single piece of paper, you would hope that landlords would oblige. 

READ ALSO: Six confusing things about renting a flat in Germany

But according to Immowelt, a fee of up to €50 would be considered a reasonable fee. Charges on the amount of fees for receipts and certificates may also be regulated in people’s tenancy agreements.

On the other hand, the landlord is free to issue the confirmation free of charge – especially if they are offered a fully completed form by the tenant and only need to check it and sign. 

You can find plenty of samples of a typical Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung online which you can download and adapt. 

If your landlord refuses to issue this certificate, there are ways to get around it. For instance, you can provide evidence of bank transfers paying for your rent every month. 

How current does the rent debt-free certificate have to be?

There are no legal regulations on how up-to-date the certificate has to be, and it depends on the prospective landlord’s requirements. Credit reports are usually valid for six to six months so this can act as a guideline. 

How important is this Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung anyway?

The certificate showing you have no rent arrears has no legal significance, and in many cases contains neither information about the duration of the certified period nor statements about the payment of operating costs.

The certificate also doesn’t provide any information about the current or expected future creditworthiness of the prospective tenant.

It serves to give a snapshot of how the tenant has behaved in their last apartment when it comes to paying rent on time. 

As is typical of German bureaucracy, the more documents you can give to a prospective landlord, the happier they will be. They are trying to get an overall impression of the potential tenant and want as much security as possible. 

What happens if I forge the document?

As with any forgery, we’d always advise: don’t do it! 

If the new landlord has any doubts about a a rental debt-free certificate, they can get in touch with the tenant and ask to contact the previous landlord (they can’t contact them without the tenant’s permission). But that could make things a little awkward…

If the certificate of freedom from rent debts is found to be forged by the new landlord, this is considered a breach of contract and is grounds for terminating the tenancy without notice.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

RENTING

What to know about changes to cable TV fees in Germany this July

Millions of people renting an apartment in Germany will have received letters in recent months about a significant change to cable TV connections happening from July. Do you have to take action?

What to know about changes to cable TV fees in Germany this July

Up to now, many tenants in Germany have been paying cable TV connection fees as part of their Nebenkosten – additional costs – in their rental contract. 

That’s due to a rule called the ancillary cost privilege (Nebenkostenprivileg) dating back to the 1980s which meant landlords in Germany could set up agreements with telecom companies to supply cable network to entire buildings and charge their tenants. 

It typically costs tenants around €5-€9 per month, depending on the contract. 

The law was abolished as part of an amendment to the Telecommunications Act (TKG) and came into force on December 1st, 2021. However, the transition period lasts until June 30th 2024. From July 1st, a new system applies where landlords will no longer be in charge of these contracts and fees. 

READ ALSO: The five weirdest and best German TV shows for improving your German 

Do I have to take action?

If you’re affected, you should have received notice from your landlord about the change. You may also have been contacted by service providers urging you to set up an individual contract to avoid losing your cable TV connection. 

If you want to continue having access to cable TV in your home, you might have to arrange a new contract – but remember that you can shop around to do so, you don’t have to stick with your current provider. 

Will the costs change?

A downside of this change is that your cable costs are likely to go up. An individual contract for cable TV could be a few euros more or even double what tenants currently pay (depending on their current deal with the landlord). 

That’s because landlords are generally able to negotiate better deals for a full building or set of apartments as part of ‘multi-user’ contracts.

READ ALSO: Why tenants in Germany could face higher costs for cable TV this year

However, consumer rights groups expect prices to fall in the long term due to more competition. 

Do I have to pay this new fee?

There’s no obligation. If you want to continue accessing cable TV channels, you can opt for alternatives such as DVB-T2 HD, which offers around 40 channels in high definition with an indoor or rooftop aerial, or satellite television. 

Meanwhile, experts say that if you only use your cable connection for broadband Internet and/or the telephone, you can stick with the contract. If the TV signal is not used, the provider should install a corresponding filter box on the connection. 

Around one in five households in Germany uses the Internet to stream TV rather than using a cable or satellite connection – and this figure has doubled in the past five years. 

It is also possible to take out a contract for cable TV and another for Internet and telephone with a different provider. 

If you have any queries, you should contact a service provider or consumer rights group for advice as soon as possible to look at your options. 

Be wary of salespeople trying to strike a quick deal

The consumer advice centre is warning against so-called media consultants visiting people at home or calling because they may at times put consumers under pressure to sign cable contracts.

Consumer protection organisations advise consumers taken by surprise not to act too hastily. 

If you have any doubts, take some time to think about your options and only conclude contracts after you’ve made a firm decision. 

SHOW COMMENTS