Check Deadlines: Tenant Rights in Germany 2025
As a tenant in Germany, deadlines are often decisive: whether rent reduction, housing benefit application or termination — if you miss deadlines, you can quickly lose rights. This guide explains in a clear and practical way how to check claims in a timely manner, find required forms and meet deadlines. We show typical deadlines (e.g. repair periods, objection deadlines, eviction deadlines), how to document records and which authorities are responsible. Examples, checklists and a step-by-step guide help you calculate deadlines correctly and avoid formal mistakes. The tips apply nationwide in Germany; for regional questions we name the competent courts and official laws as sources. Read on for practical templates, deadline checks and evidence preservation tips. Use the guide to react quickly to defects, apply for housing benefit in time and prepare legal steps if necessary.
Typical Deadlines for Tenants
Many deadlines arise from the lease, from the Civil Code (BGB) or from administrative regulations. Check letters quickly and note the date of receipt, because deadlines often start with the delivery of the letter. You can support your rights with evidence (photos, emails, witnesses).[1]
- Repair deadline after reporting a defect: typically within 14 to 30 days, depending on urgency.
- Objection to the service charge statement: object within 12 months after receipt of the statement.
- Tenant notice periods: usually 3 months for ordinary termination; special rules for fixed-term leases apply.
- Deadlines for rent reduction: from knowledge of the defect; document the timing and extent of the failure.
Forms and Authorities
For housing benefit, objections or a termination there are official forms and local contacts. You can get a housing benefit application from the competent housing benefit office of the city or district; forms and lists of responsibilities are usually available on municipal portals. For legal action, the local Amtsgericht (local court) is the first instance for rental disputes, the Landgericht for appeals and the Federal Court of Justice for precedent-setting cases.[2]
Important official legal bases are the BGB (tenancy duties) and the ZPO (procedural rules). In special cases, the Housing Promotion Act (WoFG) and ordinances such as the Heating Costs Ordinance apply.[1][3]
How to check deadlines in a timely manner
Check systematically: date of the letter → start of the deadline → end of the deadline → required form (written, by registered mail). Use a short checklist and name a deadline and contact person for queries. If in doubt, file a short, deadline-preserving objection or a precautionary notice to secure your rights and clarify details later.
FAQ
- What should I do if the landlord does not carry out repairs?
- Report the defect in writing, set a reasonable deadline for remedy and document all steps; if there is no response, you may reduce the rent or consider replacement performance.
- How do I apply for housing benefit and what deadlines apply?
- You submit the housing benefit application to the local housing benefit office; submit the application as early as possible because approval periods vary and deadlines for submitting documents apply.
- Where do I file an eviction claim?
- An eviction claim is filed at the competent local court (Amtsgericht); check the formal requirements of the ZPO before filing.
How-To
- Check the letter immediately: note date of delivery, start of the deadline and end of the deadline.
- Document defects or payment requests with photos, messages and witnesses.
- Fill out required forms (e.g. housing benefit application or objection) and keep copies.
- Submit documents to the local court or responsible office if necessary; use registered mail for deadline-critical declarations.
Help and Support
- Civil Code (BGB) — Gesetze im Internet
- Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) — Gesetze im Internet
- Housing Promotion Act (WoFG) — Gesetze im Internet
