German for everyday life › Rental contract
German rental contract vocabulary: 30 terms
A German rental contract, or Mietvertrag, uses a compact vocabulary with real financial consequences. Learn these common terms first, then check every amount and clause against your own contract.
Four amounts to separate
Kaltmiete is the basic rent. Warmmiete combines that rent with the service charges listed in the agreement. Nebenkosten are those service charges; electricity, internet or some heating costs may still be separate. Kaution is the security deposit. Your contract determines the exact scope.
Contract and rent
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| derMietvertrag | die Mietverträge | tenancy agreement, rental contract |
| dieKaltmiete | — | basic rent, excluding service charges |
| dieWarmmiete | — | rent including listed service charges |
| dieMiete | — | rent |
| dieNebenkosten | — (normally plural) | service charges, ancillary costs |
| dieBetriebskosten | — (normally plural) | operating costs |
| dieKaution | die Kautionen | security deposit |
| dieKündigungsfrist | die Kündigungsfristen | notice period |
| dieUnterschrift | die Unterschriften | signature |
| derVertrag | die Verträge | contract |
People and management
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| derVermieter | die Vermieter | landlord |
| derMieter | die Mieter | tenant |
| dieHausverwaltung | die Hausverwaltungen | property management company |
| derHausmeister | die Hausmeister | caretaker, building superintendent |
| derMakler | die Makler | estate agent, broker |
The flat
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| dieWohnung | die Wohnungen | flat, apartment |
| dasZimmer | die Zimmer | room |
| dieKüche | die Küchen | kitchen |
| dasBad | die Bäder | bathroom |
| derBalkon | die Balkone | balcony |
| derKeller | die Keller | cellar, basement storage |
| derAufzug | die Aufzüge | lift, elevator |
| dasErdgeschoss | — | ground floor |
| derQuadratmeter | die Quadratmeter | square metre (m²) |
| dieMöbel | — (normally plural) | furniture |
Handover and moving in
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| derMietbeginn | — (normally singular) | start of the tenancy |
| dieWohnfläche | die Wohnflächen | living area, floor space |
| dieWohnungsübergabe | die Wohnungsübergaben | handover of the flat |
| dasÜbergabeprotokoll | die Übergabeprotokolle | handover record |
| dieHausordnung | die Hausordnungen | building rules |
Useful phrases for a viewing
- Wann ist die Wohnungsbesichtigung?When is the viewing?
- Welche Nebenkosten sind in der Warmmiete enthalten?Which service charges are included in the total rent?
- Wie hoch ist die Kaution?How much is the deposit?
- Darf ich die Wohnung möbliert mieten?Can I rent the flat furnished?
- Ich möchte den Vertrag bitte noch einmal lesen.I would like to read the contract again, please.
Source and scope
The rent and tenancy explanations were checked against the German government's Make it in Germany guide to housing and registration. This page helps with language learning; it is not legal advice. Check your contract and seek qualified advice for a tenancy decision.
Photograph an unfamiliar word in your own contract and turn it into a German card with pronunciation and an example sentence.
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