Checklist: Tenant First Consultation in Germany

As a tenant in Germany, a well prepared first consultation is often decisive to clarify rights and meet deadlines. This checklist leads you step by step through the most important documents you should bring, which questions to expect and which official forms are relevant. The goal is to help you use the consultation efficiently, present evidence in an orderly way and discuss the next steps — for example rent reduction, protection against eviction or a possible lawsuit at the local court — with a solid basis. Use the list as a worksheet: cross out what is done and add notes about appointments, contacts and deadlines.

Vorbereitung für die Erstberatung

Bring complete documents and a short chronological overview of the problem. Note the exact dates of defects, landlord letters and your responses. The clearer the documentation, the faster the advisor can give an assessment.

Wichtige Unterlagen

• Copy of the lease agreement (document)
• Hand-over protocol / move-in record (document)
• Photos and videos of defects (photo)
• Correspondence with the landlord, e‑mails, SMS (document)
• Bank statements and rent payment receipts (rent)
• Receipts for deposit and service charge statements (deposit)

Was Sie notieren sollten

• Date and time of each incident or failure (deadline)
• Who was present or informed (document)
• Which written requests you have already sent (notice)

Wichtige Formulare und rechtliche Grundlagen

For many steps there are no uniform private forms, but there are official templates and model letters, useful statutory provisions and guidance from courts. Relevant laws are regulated in the German Civil Code (BGB) §§ 535–580a.^[1] Procedural rules for lawsuits, such as eviction suits, are set out in the Civil Procedure Code (ZPO).^[2]

Examples of official templates

• Termination letter (template from the Federal Ministry of Justice) — for termination for owner use or ordinary termination; example: you terminate at the end of the month because of relocation.
• Reminder / request for defect remedy — request a deadline in writing for remediation.
• Filing a lawsuit at the local court (forms and guidance at the competent local court) — when out-of-court resolution fails.

What a first consultation typically clarifies

• Whether a rent reduction is justified and how large it may be.
• Whether and how to respond to a termination.
• Which steps before a lawsuit at the local court are sensible.

FAQ

Which documents are absolutely necessary?

Valid lease agreement, hand-over protocol, photos and correspondence with the landlord as well as payment receipts are the most important evidence.

How quickly must I react if the landlord terminates?

Check the notice period stated in the letter and seek legal advice as soon as possible; if unclear, an immediate objection or response strategy may be advisable.

Can I reduce the rent if the heating fails?

In case of considerable impairment of living quality, a rent reduction may apply; document the extent and duration of the outage precisely.

Anleitung

1. Collect all relevant documents in one place (document).
2. Create a chronological timeline of events with dates (deadline).
3. Arrange an appointment with a tenant advice centre or legal office (call).
4. Bring any template forms or drafts you intend to use (notice).
5. Note desired goals of the consultation and clarify next steps.

Key Takeaways

• Written documentation significantly improves your negotiation position.
• Observe deadlines, especially termination and response periods.

Help and Support

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — gesetze-im-internet.de
• Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — gesetze-im-internet.de
• Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) — bundesgerichtshof.de

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — gesetze-im-internet.de
2. [2] Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — gesetze-im-internet.de
3. [3] Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) — bundesgerichtshof.de
4. [4] Federal Ministry of Justice — bmj.de