Moving out of a German apartment involves more than packing boxes and handing over keys. From the moment you give notice to the day you receive your deposit back, there are legal requirements, practical steps, and potential pitfalls to navigate. A smooth move-out protects your deposit and avoids disputes with your landlord.

This guide walks you through everything: when and how to give notice, what to do in the months before moving, how to handle the apartment handover, and what happens to your Kaution (deposit) after you leave.

Timeline: when to give notice (Kündigung)

German rental law gives tenants the right to terminate their lease with three months' notice. This is a legal minimum that cannot be shortened by your rental contract, even if your contract says something different.

The notice must be received by your landlord by the third working day of a month to be effective from the end of that month plus three months. For example, if your landlord receives your notice by January 3, your lease ends on April 30.

If you miss that deadline by even one day, your termination shifts to the next month. Notice received on January 4 means your lease ends on May 31, not April 30.

Your notice must be in writing. A paper letter with your handwritten signature is the safest method. Email is not legally sufficient unless your rental contract explicitly allows it. Send the letter by registered mail (Einschreiben) so you have proof of delivery.

The notice should include your name and current address, a clear statement that you are terminating the rental contract, the date you intend to move out, your signature, and the date of writing.

Month-by-month checklist before moving

Three months before moving: Send your Kündigung immediately if you have not already. Confirm receipt with your landlord. Begin researching moving companies or organizing help from friends. Start decluttering and selling or donating items you will not take.

Two months before moving: Inform utility providers about your move date. Your electricity and gas providers need notice to create a final meter reading and bill. If you are staying in Germany, arrange transfers to your new address. Check your rental contract for any specific move-out requirements. Begin deep cleaning or book professional cleaners.

One month before moving: Schedule the apartment handover (Wohnungsübergabe) with your landlord. A weekday morning with good daylight is ideal so both parties can inspect thoroughly. Make minor repairs: fill small nail holes, touch up scuff marks, replace any lightbulbs you removed or broke. Read your contract's Schönheitsreparaturen (cosmetic repairs) clause if there is one.

Two weeks before moving: Cancel or transfer internet and phone contracts. These often have their own notice periods. Inform the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee) office of your move. Notify banks, insurance companies, and subscriptions of your address change. Do a thorough cleaning if you have not hired professionals.

The week before moving: Gather all keys including copies you made. Prepare all meters for final readings (electricity, gas, water if applicable). Take photos of the apartment in its final clean state. Check that everything mentioned in your move-in protocol is present and functional.

Understanding Schönheitsreparaturen

Schönheitsreparaturen are cosmetic repairs like painting walls, refinishing floors, or fixing wallpaper. German rental contracts historically required tenants to perform these when moving out, but court decisions have invalidated many such clauses.

The current legal position: if the apartment was not freshly renovated when you moved in, you generally cannot be required to renovate when leaving. Clauses requiring repairs on fixed schedules (repaint every three years regardless of condition) are typically unenforceable.

If your contract has a Schönheitsreparaturen clause, check whether the apartment was freshly renovated at move-in, whether the clause uses flexible wording rather than rigid timelines, and whether the required work matches actual wear from your tenancy.

Consulting a tenant association (Mieterverein) before doing expensive work can save money. Many tenants repaint unnecessarily because they do not know the clause in their contract is invalid.

However, this does not mean you can leave the apartment damaged. Schönheitsreparaturen refers to cosmetic refreshing, not damage repair. Holes bigger than nail holes, significant stains, or broken fixtures are your responsibility regardless of any clause.

Cleaning expectations

German standards for cleanliness at move-out are high. The apartment should be ready for the next tenant to move in immediately.

This means all rooms swept and mopped or vacuumed, kitchen thoroughly cleaned including inside oven, refrigerator (if included), and cabinets, bathroom fully cleaned (toilet, shower, sink, tiles, mirrors), windows cleaned inside, all fixtures and outlets wiped down, balcony swept, and storage areas (basement, etc.) emptied and swept.

Professional cleaning is worth considering if you lack time or want to avoid disputes. Costs range from 100 to 300 euros depending on apartment size. Keep the invoice as proof.

Leaving the apartment dirty gives your landlord grounds to hire cleaners and deduct the cost from your deposit. Professional cleaning arranged by the landlord often costs more than if you had done it yourself.

The Übergabeprotokoll (handover protocol)

The Übergabeprotokoll is a document created during the apartment handover that records the condition of the apartment when you leave. Both you and the landlord sign it, creating a shared record that prevents later disputes.

The protocol should note the date and time of handover, names of everyone present, meter readings for all utilities, condition of each room, any damage or issues observed, number and type of keys returned, and any agreements about repairs or deductions.

Walk through every room systematically with the landlord. Open all closets and cabinets. Test lights, outlets, faucets, and appliances. Check windows open and close properly. Note everything, even minor issues.

If the landlord claims damage, do not simply accept it. Compare against your move-in protocol and photos. Normal wear and tear is not damage. Faded paint, minor scuffs, small nail holes, and worn carpet in traffic areas are expected after years of living.

Take photos during the handover with timestamps. If a dispute arises later, these prove the apartment's condition at transfer.

Key handover

Returning keys properly matters for your deposit. The landlord may withhold money if keys are missing or you cannot prove you returned them.

Gather all keys: the original set provided at move-in plus any copies you made. This includes apartment door keys, mailbox keys, basement or storage keys, and building entrance keys.

Count the keys in front of the landlord and have them confirm receipt in the Übergabeprotokoll. If you mail keys instead of handing them over in person, use registered mail with tracking and declared value.

Never just drop keys in the mailbox without documentation. If the landlord later claims they never received them or a key is missing, you have no proof.

Getting your Kaution (deposit) back

The deposit return process can take several months. German law does not set a specific deadline, but courts generally consider three to six months reasonable for the landlord to identify any claims and return the remainder.

The landlord can retain part or all of your deposit for damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, outstanding utility costs (until the final Nebenkostenabrechnung is issued), and costs of repairs you were obligated to make but did not.

For the final Nebenkostenabrechnung, the landlord may hold back a reasonable portion of your deposit (often one or two months' Nebenkosten) until the utility reconciliation is complete. This can take up to 12 months after the billing period ends.

The deposit must be returned with interest earned during your tenancy. German law required landlords to keep deposits in separate, interest-bearing accounts.

If your landlord refuses to return the deposit or makes unreasonable deductions, respond in writing with specific objections. Request itemized explanations and receipts for any claimed costs. If necessary, contact a tenant association or consider small claims court for amounts the landlord wrongfully withholds.

For complete details on deposit rules, see our guide on how the rental deposit works in Germany.

Meter readings

On your last day, document final readings for all utility meters. This includes electricity, gas, and water if your building has individual meters.

Write down the meter location and number, the final reading with date, and take photos of each meter showing the reading.

Report readings to your utility providers immediately. This ensures you are billed only for your actual consumption and prevents disputes about usage during the transition.

If the landlord handles utility contracts directly (common with heating and water in multi-unit buildings), the meter readings go into the Übergabeprotokoll and will be used for your final Nebenkostenabrechnung.

Canceling contracts

Several contracts need attention when you move.

Electricity (Strom): Give notice according to your contract terms, usually two weeks to one month. Arrange a final reading and bill. If staying in Germany, transfer the contract to your new address.

Internet/Phone: These often have longer notice periods, sometimes three months. Check your contract carefully. Some providers allow transfers to new addresses.

Insurance: Update addresses with your health, liability, and household insurance. If leaving Germany, determine whether to cancel or maintain coverage.

Rundfunkbeitrag: Submit a change of address or deregistration. If you are leaving Germany entirely, provide proof (flight tickets or new foreign address) to stop billing.

Bank accounts: Update your registered address. If closing German accounts, ensure all automatic payments and incoming transfers are redirected first.

Mail forwarding: Deutsche Post offers mail forwarding (Nachsendeauftrag) for a fee. This redirects mail from your old address to your new one for 6 to 12 months.

Abmeldung: deregistering when leaving Germany

If you are leaving Germany permanently, you must deregister (Abmeldung) at the local Bürgeramt. This officially removes you from the German population register.

You can do the Abmeldung up to one week before departure or within two weeks after leaving. If you wait until after departure, you can submit the form by mail with a copy of your ID.

Bring or send your passport or ID, the Abmeldung form (available online or at the Bürgeramt), and proof of departure (flight ticket, new foreign address).

You receive an Abmeldebestätigung (deregistration certificate). Keep this document. You may need it for tax matters or if you return to Germany later.

Failing to deregister can cause complications: continued tax obligations, problems with future visa applications, or issues registering again if you return.

What your tenant rights protect

German tenant protection law applies throughout the move-out process. Key protections relevant to leaving include:

Your landlord cannot enter the apartment without your permission until your tenancy officially ends, even after you have moved your belongings out.

Deductions from your deposit must be documented and justified. You have the right to challenge unreasonable claims.

You cannot be charged for normal wear and tear. Paint fading, minor floor wear, and small nail holes are expected.

Invalid Schönheitsreparaturen clauses cannot be enforced. If your contract requires cosmetic work under circumstances that German courts have ruled unenforceable, you do not have to do it.

For a complete overview, see our guide on tenant rights in Germany and details about rental contract terms.

Common mistakes to avoid

Giving notice too late: Missing the deadline by one day adds an entire month to your rental obligation.

Not documenting the handover: Without a signed Übergabeprotokoll and photos, disputing damage claims becomes difficult.

Accepting verbal agreements: Promises to return your deposit quickly or not charge for specific issues mean nothing without writing.

Leaving without proper key handover: This gives landlords reason to withhold deposit money.

Not canceling contracts in time: Internet and phone contracts with long notice periods can cost you months of unnecessary payments.

Skipping the Abmeldung: This creates bureaucratic problems that can follow you for years.

Summary

Moving out of a German apartment requires attention to detail and good documentation. Give written notice three months in advance. Clean thoroughly and handle any legitimate repair obligations. Document the apartment condition during the Übergabeprotokoll handover. Return all keys with written confirmation. Cancel or transfer utility contracts on time.

Your deposit should return within a few months, minus any justified deductions. If the landlord makes unreasonable claims, know your rights and dispute them formally.

A well-executed move-out protects your money and closes this chapter cleanly, letting you focus on what comes next.