Most landlords ask for a deposit (Kaution) before you move in. It covers unpaid rent or damage when you leave. On a flat with €700 cold rent that can be €2,100, due at the moment you're also paying for flights and the first month's rent.
The rules
- The deposit can be at most three months' cold rent (Kaltmiete), not counting Nebenkosten (§ 551 BGB).
- You may pay it in three equal monthly instalments. The first is due when the tenancy starts.
- The landlord must keep it in a separate account, apart from their own money, and it earns interest for you.
- After you move out, the landlord may hold back part of it until the next Nebenkosten statement. The rest is normally returned within a few months.
A deposit guarantee instead of cash
With a deposit guarantee (Kautionsbürgschaft), an insurer gives the landlord a certificate promising to pay if you owe money at the end. You pay the insurer a yearly fee instead of handing over the full deposit. On a €2,100 deposit that's roughly €80 to €110 a year.
Get a deposit guarantee
Kautionsfrei issues a guarantee certificate for your landlord online. Your landlord has to accept it.
Go to KautionsfreiTrack Deposit Guarantee in HomeSettled
HomeSettled reminds you before key handover and shows whether your housing option accepts a guarantee.
Common questions
Is the guarantee fee refunded?
No. It's the price of not tying up cash. If the landlord claims against the guarantee at the end, the insurer pays them and then claims the money from you.
My landlord wants the deposit in cash. Is that allowed?
Cash is allowed, but always get a signed receipt. A bank transfer to a named account is safer and leaves a record.
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Sources
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.