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4. Moving – Terminating the Rental Agreement: Notice Periods & Tips

Moving – Terminating the Rental Agreement: Notice Periods & Tips

Terminating the Rental Agreement: Moving Out Properly Prepared

When moving, tenants usually need to terminate their existing rental agreement. To ensure the termination is valid and to avoid unnecessary costs, notice periods, formal requirements and contractual rules must be carefully observed.

You can find more helpful moving-related topics in our moving service overview.

Calculating the Notice Period Correctly

In most cases, tenants must observe a notice period of three months. What matters is the date on which the termination reaches the landlord. If the notice is received too late, the rental agreement is extended by another month.

Example: If the termination is received on May 4, the rental agreement usually ends on August 31.

The Correct Form of Termination

Termination of the rental agreement must be submitted in writing and signed personally. All tenants listed in the contract must sign the notice.

Electronic terminations by email, fax or messaging services are not legally valid.

Ordinary and Extraordinary Termination

Ordinary termination takes place in compliance with the notice period. Extraordinary termination is only possible in exceptional cases, such as serious defects that make the apartment unusable.

In such cases, seeking legal advice is recommended.

Special Termination Rights

Special termination rights apply only in specific situations, for example in the case of rent increases or major modernization measures. A planned move alone does not constitute a special right to terminate.

Always check carefully whether a special termination right applies in your situation.

Avoid Common Mistakes When Terminating

Common mistakes include:

• missing or incorrect signatures
• late receipt by the landlord
• termination in the wrong form
• unclear end date of the lease

A carefully prepared and timely termination helps prevent disputes later on.