Apartment Termination Letter Generator for Germany (Kündigung Mietvertrag)

Last updated: 2026-01-18

How to terminate your apartment lease in Germany

Terminating a rental contract in Germany ("Kündigung des Mietvertrags") must be done in writing. A simple email or text message is usually not valid. The letter must be signed by all tenants listed in the contract.

Key Rules

• Notice Period: For tenants, the statutory notice period is usually 3 months to the end of a month. The letter must arrive by the 3rd working day of the first month for that month to count.
• Signatures: All tenants on the contract must sign.
• Delivery: Send it via "Einwurfeinschreiben" (registered mail) or hand it over personally with a receipt.

Use the form below to generate your letter. The preview updates automatically.

Termination Letter Generator

You can now also generate a complete Apartment Handover Protocol (Wohnungsübergabeprotokoll) at the bottom of this page to document the condition of your flat during handover.

Detailed Guide: Notice Periods & Tips

1. Notice Periods (Kündigungsfrist)

As a tenant, you usually have a 3-month notice period (gesetzliche Kündigungsfrist), regardless of how long you lived there.

• Calculated to the end of a month.
• Letter must arrive by the 3rd working day of a month for that month to be included in the notice period.
  • Example: To terminate for April 30th, the landlord must receive the letter by February 3rd (approx).

2. Delivery Proof

Always send your termination via Registered Mail (Einwurfeinschreiben) or hand it over personally and get a signature on a copy. This is your only proof if the landlord claims they never sought it.

3. "Nachmieter" (Replacement Tenant)

You usually cannot just leave early by finding a "Nachmieter" unless your contract explicitly says so or the landlord agrees voluntarily.

4. Cosmetic Repairs (Schönheitsreparaturen)

• Check your contract: Many older clauses requiring you to renovate (paint walls/frames) are invalid by modern court rulings.
• If your apartment was unrenovated when you moved in, you generally do not have to renovate when moving out.
• Tip: Don't rush to paint everything white. Check if your renovation clause is actually valid first.

5. Deposit Return (Mietkaution)

• Landlords are not required to return the deposit immediately at handover.
• Common timeline: 3-6 months is considered "reasonable" to check for hidden damages.
• Utility Buffer: They can withhold a part of the deposit (e.g. 20%) for up to 12 months until the final utility bill (Nebenkostenabrechnung) is done.
• Interest: The landlord must pay out any interest earned on the deposit account.

Ideally, the handover goes smoothly. But if the landlord withholds the deposit claiming you caused damages (like scratched floors or broken tiles), private liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) is designed for exactly this: it covers accidental damage to rented property (Mietsachschäden) and defends you against unjustified claims (e.g., AXA). If the dispute escalates to a lawsuit, legal protection insurance (Rechtsschutz) covers your legal costs (consider providers like KS/AUXILIA).

6. Handover Protocol (Übergabeprotokoll)

• Essential: Always do a formal handover appointment when returning keys.
• Document: Write down all meter readings (electricity, gas, water) and the number of keys returned at that exact moment.
• Damages: Only sign for damages you actually agree you caused. If unsure, sign "under reserve" or refuse to sign that specific part.
• Photos: Take photos of every room, including walls and floors, to prove the condition later.

To help you with this, we have prepared a professional Handover Protocol template that matches the details entered above. You can generate and print it directly:

Print Handover Protocol

7. Joint Tenants (WG / Wohngemeinschaft)

• All Must Sign: If multiple people are listed as tenants (Hauptmieter), all of them must sign the termination letter. One person cannot terminate the contract alone.
• Moving Out: If one person wants to leave but others stay, you generally need a "termination agreement" (Aufhebungsvertrag) with the landlord, or everyone must quit and sign a new contract.

8. Special Termination Rights (Sonderkündigungsrecht)

You can terminate with a shorter notice period in specific cases:

• Rent Increase: You can terminate by the end of the 2nd month after receiving the increase notice (e.g., receive increase in March -> terminate by May 31st -> move out June 30th).
• Modernization: Similar rights apply if the landlord announces major modernization work.
• Death: Heirs have a special right to terminate within 1 month.

9. Hardship Clause (Sozialklausel)

• You can object to a termination (even if valid) if moving out creates "unjustifiable hardship" (§ 574 BGB).
• Examples: Advanced pregnancy, severe illness, old age, or imminent homelessness.
• Action: You must file an objection formally and in time.

10. Delivery Proof (Bonus Tip)

• Courier/Messenger: For 100% proof, use a courier or a friend (as a witness) who drops the letter in the landlord's mailbox and signs a protocol stating what was inside the envelope.
• Einwurfeinschreiben is generally sufficient, but a witness is safer for court cases.

Note/Disclaimer: This tool is for demonstration purposes only. The documents are not legally binding. Please consult a lawyer.