Leaving a flat: 3 months' notice, in writing
Kündigung
Tenants in Germany usually give three months' notice, on paper with a handwritten signature.
The rule
As a tenant you can usually end your rental contract with three months' notice. If the landlord receives your letter by the third working day of a month, that month counts.
Example: the letter arrives on 3 March (a working day) → the contract ends on 31 May.
The notice must be in writing with your handwritten signature. An email or WhatsApp message is not enough. Send it so that you can prove it arrived (for example by registered post, Einschreiben).
Some contracts exclude notice for the first months or years (Kündigungsverzicht). Read your contract.
Phone, internet and gym contracts have their own notice periods. Since 2022, most new contracts can be ended with one month's notice after the minimum period.
What it costs
| If you… | Fine or cost |
|---|---|
| Notice too late or by email | no fine, but you keep paying rent until the contract really ends |
India vs Germany
In India, a month's notice and a call to the landlord often settle it. In Germany, only the signed letter counts, and missing the third working day can cost you a whole extra month's rent.
German words for this
- die Kündigung · notice of termination
- der Mietvertrag · rental contract
- die Kündigungsfrist · notice period
- das Einschreiben · registered letter
- die Kaution · deposit
Official sources
Last checked: 8 November 2026, against the official sources named on each page. General information for learners, not legal advice: rules can change and some depend on your state or city. If something matters for you, check the official source or ask the office.
Learn the German for everyday life
DeutschKatha has short stories and real conversations about life in Germany, at the Bürgeramt, the bank or the doctor, with every word explained in English and Indian languages.