For me as a German who has already been through several tenancies, it sounds like the landlord took advantage of you and that withholding the deposit would have been illegal. It is absolutely unusual that you have to repaint doors when you move out - not even in Germany. Many rental contracts in Germany are illegal. That's why you often don't even have to paint the walls when you move out, even if it says so in the contract. I don't recommend joining the tenant association - they often have bad lawyers as these lawyers are badly paid. I recommend taking out legal protection insurance, which can also help you with other problems.

@AsifSaifuddinAuvipy

9 ай бұрын

Good advice

From a landlord's perspective your description sounds reasonable. Documentation is king when renting. Take Pictures of everything when moving in and out and write down even the tiniest damage on both occasions...even if you feel ridiculuous when doing so... Beware of swapping any cellars without written permission by your landlord. That opens a whole can of potential problems otherwise. Checking your rental agreement is crucial. There are basically two common ones... one from the "Mieterbund", which is pro tennant and one from "Haus und Grund", which favors the landlord. The landlord friendly rental agreements often have outdated or invalid clauses, which is worth checking.

Concering that doors in the cellar no Mieterverein or Rechtsschutzversicherung would have saved your life. It's in your responsibiliy what happens, if you put doors in the cellar or what you arrange with your neighbours.

@bz09034

2 жыл бұрын

This door issue is obviously very frustrating but you would have been in the US in the same situation. If these doors were actually installed in your apartment and you took it upon yourself to remove them and store them in the basement you are still responsible for the water damage. Did you have renters insurance? By all means, join the Mieterverein but definitely get insurance.

Ich bin 4 mal umgezogen in meinem Leben und hatte eigentlich nie ein Problem 👍Ich habe immer alles davor fotografiert und auch danach und meine Kaution wurde immer anstandslos zurückerstattet!

@monsieuregal5573

Жыл бұрын

Ja, so kenn ich das in der Regel auch. Wir haben trotzdem eine Rechtsschutzversicherung abgeschlossen.

Be careful: You basically stated publicly that you switched cellars intentionally in order to keep the state in the future when you leave. They are directly linked to the apartment usually ("Sondernutzungsrecht"). I'd check if that wouldn't cause any damage to the owner of your former flat and the next person living in there that you'd have to pay for in the future.

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

This was all agreed upon of course by the landlord before I allowed them to trade cellars with me 🙃

They got me once, when I moved out of my second flat here- I had to repaint because I had used a colour instead of white. I never expected that I would get so good at interior decorating as I have in the meantime, because I learned my lesson back then grrrr! (But they did get me on a garden later on, I hadn’t realised that was a thing)

Very good advice. 👍 Twice we had problems. But never like yours. We got a Rechtsschutzversicherung.

Information for the future: In Germany every conversation witch related with money has to be on letter/ written down then you're safe.

@robertocalo3559

2 жыл бұрын

leider richtig, denn vor Gericht zählt nur das geschriebene Wort

@marcelwin6941

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertocalo3559 nein, vor Gericht gilt, was man beweisen kann. Das ist bei Schriftform natürlich einfacher, aber auch mündliche Abreden können ggf. durch einen (glaubwürdigen) Zeugen bestätigt werden. Aber gerade beim Mietvertrag würde ich auch alle Vereinbarungen schriftlich fixieren.

Regarding the painting of the rooms: depending on the signed contract (if stated so) your landlord can demand a repaint „to certified painter‘s standard“. That does not mean that you can not do it yourself (or someone who does not qualify as a painter), but the work has to be of a comparable standard (as if done by a professional painter). And yes, ceilings are to be painted too regularly. With the (installed) doors it depends on their condition before and after, it might be necessary, it might not. With the doors you took out of your apartment it is a lot trickier. You should have asked for approval in advance, it would have been much better (in writing). However if you or your partner have a Privathaftpflichtversicherung, they usually should cover the cost (depending on the terms of the insurance however). By taking the doors out of the apartment you did it at your own risk. I obviously can see your point, but your landlord’s point is not totally unreasonable either. In fact you damaged his property. Exactly for this scenario the deposit is intended. .BTW your landlord did not fine you at all. He just did not refund your deposit due to unsolved damage / not correctly executed repaint issues (his point of view). He just is entitled to hold back the money until these issues are solved. If these issues are unjustified, he has to pay you the amount plus interest . No fine involved.

@MrMojo271

Ай бұрын

If they take your money, it’s a fine

🌷Thank you for valuable information !

just the info i was looking for. btw, the first comment!

Actually the maximum caution a landlord can ask for is 3 month rent. What happened to you is reasonable common. Sadly I think at least for the flood damage on the doors you will be liable as the door weren't meant to be in the cellar. I also wonder if you were even allowed to switch cellar with a different tenant. In many buildings not all flats would belong to the same landlord and then changing cellars would be impossible as your landlord would have bought a flat with a corresponding cellar. I agree that taking photos and maybe even sending them to the landlord or the agent is very sensible.

I'm not getting it... how did you not inspect the apartment together with the landlord to note all the damage.. I just rented an apartment,and the hausmeister came and we went trough every single problem and scratch the apartment and wrote it down,along with other observations like the heating meters etc

Take Pictures of everything when moving in and out and write down even the tiniest damage on both occasions. if the color on the doors is ancient when you move in just take a picture.

When my son had those cry-attacks at 2 a.m. it helped taking him out in his baby carriage. He fell asleep again within 5 min.

I was moving several times in Germany and never ever had a problem with caution. I always document before moving in and when I leave. You always have to check the contract and read it carefully and if something is missing you have to reclaim it in time.

@MA-zg2pz

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I do this too. “Walk through pictures” the day before we move in so that we can document the condition/issues. That way they can not blame us for those things.

As you regret being part in Mieterschutz, make sure you be part of Haus- und Grundbesitzer Verein concerning your house

Also keep a proof of the payment of the deposit. You might have to proof when you leave that you actually paid it. Learned that the hard way when I had to cancel my parents contract after almost 30 years. The ownership changed several times in that 30 years, and the current owner had no records of the payment of the deposit, and my parents did not keep a copy. So as a nice gesture the landlord paid back the deposit, but not the interest that was accumulated in 30 years...

@sns4748

Жыл бұрын

Ich kenn einen Fall da hat die Wohnungsbaugesellschaft die Kaution mangels Zahlungsbeleg eben nicht zurück gezahlt - ziemlich dreist

Hi. Am very sorry to learn about your predicament with the landlord. I live in Nürnberg and we moved from our previous apartment in 2018 after having lived there for about 8 1/2 years. All we needed to do was to leave the walls painted white as we found them. Of course that was clearly indicated in the contract. There were some minor damages on the floor but the landlord said we dont need to worry about it since the apartment was due for major renovation and modernization which of course is the work of the landlord. So we got all our 'Kaution' back together with the accrued interests over time. However I must point out that it all depends on the landlord and luck. I guess we were just lucky to have a considerate landlord.

@DoodleDoo

Жыл бұрын

plus you lived there continuously for 8 years so he/she definitely got their money's worth.

Hello good evening 🌆 please I have a question 🙋‍♂️ when someone cancel a WG contract for three months, can the person able to move out on the second month, do you have to pay for the third month when you already move out from the second month after the contract was be canceled, And how can someone get back is Kaution 💸 even if the landlord refused to give it’s back, please can someone give me good answer’s thanks 🙏

Yeah this is so amazing

Dang what a mish Jen. We took photos of our apartment before we signed the contract and said we're leaving the apartment in the state we received it. Is it possible you could send him an invoice for all the cleaning you guys provided? Maybe that'll get him to shut up haha I dont know but man what a mish it is here hey.

As a real estate agent on this matter, it is always good to do a so-called "Vorabnahme", a pre-acceptance (in writing!) and to discuss things that need to be done. This avoids minor surprises like the unpainted doors. In addition, it is always important to write down the handover and acceptance of an apartment (!). If the landlord - as described here - accepts the apartment and the apartment acceptance is in writing, he cannot claim any new costs afterwards. Defects must be noted here, the tenants must be given a deadline for follow-up. If he does not do this, he cannot claim any costs. Professional housing companies usually have well-prepared forms for this.

@MA-zg2pz

2 жыл бұрын

+

@sns4748

Жыл бұрын

Hidden defects can still be claimed afterwards

Never happened to me. Used Airbnb to find some special monthly rentals or vacation rentals. This was done while researching for a house to purchase. There are alternatives to renting.

@marcelwin6941

2 жыл бұрын

She has lived in that apartment for 7 years - I would say this is just a bit too long for AirBnB.

That's bad... All the best of luck.

Ich bin bisher 5 mal umgezogen und habe die Kaution auch ohne Beanstandungen stets zurückbekommen.

I am from India and having lived in the US for over 7 years and now living in Germany for a year. I have a rule of thumb. And that is to consider myself lucky if I dont have to pay anything above the deposit. We have had horrible experiences in the US but fortunately in Germany I have been lucky so far. Again as a rule of thumb, I always forget about my deposit. I consider it as money lost and if I get it back its bonus else it was never mine.

@lifeingermany_

Жыл бұрын

Hahaha I think your rule of thumb is a brilliant one! I had that in mind the entire time… but somehow was still so adamant about getting it back 🙈

If the doors were destroyed by the flooding, that I can understand. Storing those in the cellar was your risk. The number of keys: If the rental contract says that you got 7 but you only got 2, you should have complained and clarified this in the beginning. Pretty hard to proof after 7 years that you never recived those keys. That I would file under "shit happens" and an (expensive) lesson learned. But with the painting of the walls or the doors (that had remained in the apartment / were not destroyed), I would agree that it sounds like the landlord (or the administrator) is trying to screw you. Obviously hard to judge from a distance. As for the deposit having to be invested in an interest bearing (savings) account: Yes, that is correct, but the landlord does not have to chase for an "optimal" rate, they just need to achieve "market standard" conditions. Which at the moment / for the last few years means zero interest (theoretically potentially even negative, but not for the amount that applies for an apartment deposit).

Saludos desde Buenos aires

Iam so lucky my landlord sold the apartment after I quit the contract and bought a house. I guess that saved me 1000-2000€ because the new owner wanted to do everything new so I could skip all the stuff mentioned in the contract. And iam happy with my new home. After one year I used way less electricity because warm water is running via solar and gas now and I was refunded gas and water bill around 300€. Electricity will also be a lot cheaper because the warm water is not running on that anymore and I was playing way less on the pc because I had other stuff to do.

Are there institutions or agents that assist (speak with landlords and process contracts write up) people to rent apartments if one doesn't have German friends???

@XynxNet

2 жыл бұрын

You have basically two options in that case: Hire a rental agent or go to the "Mieterbund"/"Mieterverein". First one is more expensive but may offer more services (for cash). Mieterverein is usually more experienced with various renting pitfalls.

@bettybeatrice6046

2 жыл бұрын

@@XynxNet Thanks

In Canada lots of thing much much easier to deal with. I came from Toronto and I want to go back. We came a year ago and started to live with the family and still trying to get an apartment. we have no German at all and just started to work half year ago. I dont feel this country as u. I just might go back

Hello i rent one apartment i Walfucht withot contract, and the landlord wanted me more money than we had agreed and i refused to pay the last payment. Can she do sent me to court for that? Thank you in advance!

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

Not that I believe! You had no contract. However, I would always advise you to make a contract anytime you rent somewhere - even if it’s a small contract! Better safe than sorry!

I recommend that you consult a lawyer. Ask for a free First consultation. Sure your friends can help you and recommend someone.

In case of painting the walls your landlord defenitely tried to screw you. Concerning the doors that's a different story. Here you had bad luck with the doors being damaged by the flood. They were in your responsiblity. Unfortunately since you signed that you received 7 keys the landlord can insist on getting 7 keys back. Do you have a Private Haftschutzversicherung? They only cost a few € a month and pay if you have damaged someone else's property (doors) or if things in your care (leased, rented or borrowed) got lost (keys). But it must be stated in your insurance policy.

Hi. Maximum debt by law are 3 cold rents. For single key system 7 are nonsens. But for a multi key system it's possible. (Front door, flat door, letter box) x2 + basement key. Brushing over the ceiling is normal. Yellowish doors should be cleaned with sponge and cleaner, not more. 2 flooded doors. Over all, they became wet, cause you removed them from normal place of use. So your wallet or your personal liability insurance will loose some €. If the londlord is goodwilling and has an natural damage insurance he could possibly be paid from there. As you mentioned, a apppointment at the Verbraucherzentrale is always a good start. Sorry for your experience. Ciao

Frankly, it's much much worse in Canada and to a lesser extend in the U.S. In Canada you cannot just walk away and think you see your safety deposit back! What you said is not true across the board. The deposit can practically be written off. In Germany you, as the renter, have certain rights. Landlords cannot just keep the deposit. If you lived there for 7 years, painting is written off and you are not required to pay, at least not in full. Maybe, you signed a nonstandard contract. The flooded basement doors are an issue for the landlord's building insurance and not your "Hausratversicherung". After 7 years the same policy applies to carpets etc. Loosing a key is a big deal indeed, because Germany has real doors and locks and not the wobbly easy to kick open North American locks. The landlord must exchange the entire house locks. It can get expensive.

Never ever happened to us. We are in the end of our 50s and moved several times...

Tough break. But not unusual also for us Germans. Just remember it's not personal and learn to document everything in writing.... It's actually a lot like renting a car... if you sign the rental contract and it says you got seven car keys they will very probably make you pay for them... If the contract says the car is undamaged - you ll pay for any dents you return it with no matter what caused them. We just take the law very seriously and do not care if you're nice and do things on top or stuff... It's a cultural thing. Love it or leave it. Oh and as a landlord myself: please don't make any changes without checking with me first. Otherwise it's your risk.

2 жыл бұрын

@Mila Si Hi Mila, this sounds personal, like your landlord doesn't like you and is looking for ways to get rid of you. OK, best would be probably to invite him for coffee with your boyfriend and talk. Second: I'm not a lawyer just a landlord myself so you learn stuff. Legally you have the right to invite whoever you want to your flat. No one can forbid you that quite surely not the landlord. In Germany your boyfriend can even enter your rental contract no matter what your landlord wishes. The water damage liability on your part would have be proven in court the landlord. If you have insurance you could file a claim and they would investigate and pay your damage if it's really your fault. You should pay your rent on time naturally legally he can cancel your contract if you owe more than 2 months total. But it's hard to pull that off actually. The penalty is very likely illegal even if it should be be in the contract. Try to relax and remember your landlord has to prove whatever he demands in court. And as a lawyer friend of mine told me recently it takes about 2 years at the moment to go to court not to mention cost when you lose. I would never sue my renter...it not worth it. To sum up: Try everything you can to get on his good side and convince him you're a nice person... Hope I could help.

Be sure you do have a Rechtschutzversicherung!!!

@marcelwin6941

2 жыл бұрын

Being a member in a Mieterschutzverein, which Jenna recommended, basically includes a specialised Rechtschutzversicherung (for English speakers: legal protection insurance - they will bear (most of) the legal cost when you need legal representation).

@Mister__Jey

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcelwin6941 wo man sich den Anwalt nicht aussuchen kann, und wo oftmals Vetternwirtschaft betrieben wird und man immer den Anwalt nehmen muss, der im Mietverein tätig ist, egal wie kompetent oder inkompetent dieser oftmals auch ist.

I love your vids, but I am not sure if I am keen on having you as a tenant :)

@hamhamjoarjoar3726

2 жыл бұрын

She is never wrong and when someone goes against her will EVERYBODY had the same experience and they are all racist 😂😂😂😂

I'm sorry to das this but I have the feeling that the landlords try to get much more Money from foreign people than they would from natives. I never had problems or even payed one Euro, nur a foreigner colleage also Had to pay a looot of Money wegen He moved out. Next time In will ask If I should bei part of the Last meeting with the landlord...

I had the same problem in France! and I think they are even worse, Please take pictures of everything during your contract signing, Any small damage that you inherit won't be mentioned to you beforehand but they will take a magnifying glass to show to you when you are moving and might cost you hundreds of euros in accumulation.

Do you documented the conditions of appartment bevor moving in? First foult - but your husband is german? So he must know how it works... in Düsseldorf. Read everything in the contract bevor moving in.... you are in excusive Düüüsseldorf!

I want you to help to study in Germany, please.

yeah, the same things same stories never change only applied to the same group of persons. Better to live in Airbnb without deposit 😁

@lifeingermany_

6 ай бұрын

So true 🙈🙈

Klar streicht man auch die abgeranzte Decke, wenn die Wohnung gestrichen zu übergeben ist. Ich habe es aber lieber, in eine Wohnung zu ziehen, die ich besenrein ohne streichen am Ende übergeben kann, da ich beim Einzug gerne streiche, um mich sauber und zuhause nach meinem Geschmack wohl fühle. Leider musste ich da auch schon mal viel tun. Eine orangene Küchendecke weißen und ebenso schwarz lackierte Heizungskörper.

Mind at least these words in case of rental contracts: * "besenrein" (the condition of the apartment you have to provide at moving out) * "Übergabeprotokoll" (at moving in and at moving out, written and signed by landlord and tennant, for e.g. the number of keys, the flaws of the apartment) * Rechtsschutzversicherung (get one, it is not expensive, and you have free access to their lawyers)

@karinland8533

2 жыл бұрын

* Privathaftpflicht (privat liability insurance, for damages caused by accident)

I used to love Germany after being stationed there for several years, but the more of these videos I watch, the more I don’t want to move there. Between the kafka-esque immigration process, to it’s ridiculous renting rules. Geez, I can’t believe people put up with this.

Tja, das ist das wahre Leben!

Mieterverein ... definitely ...

If the doors you removed and stored in the cellar were damaged in the flood, I can see how your previous landlord might have a _bit_ of a leg to stand on there, but the rest sounds _ridiculous._

@karinland8533

2 жыл бұрын

It is not ridiculous. If you sign for 7 keys you have to give 7 back. That why you have to sign it. Always read the contract closely!

@witty2u

2 жыл бұрын

... Up to now no one noticed that using washable paint is a reason to keep the Kaution, since it seals walls, which will cause mold problems, besides from now on no regular paint can be used anymore. It will pearl off and won't stick, so she damaged the substance of the apartment, even if it was unintentionally done, but the landlord now has to take down the wallpaper with that paint.

That was certainly all in the contract, otherwise it would just have to be handed over swept clean.

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

One would think, right?

You just have to read the contract you sign.

Why are you in Germany still? It looks like you have so many adversities.. Canada is not better? I am just wondering..

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

Every country has its pros and cons! I love living in Germany 🥰 .. but also think it’s important to share all the ups and downs

@jessicagoedert8727

2 жыл бұрын

@@lifeingermany_ I lived in Germany but after covid it was so hard. I am thinking to go Canada.. That's why I asked. I love your channel.

@EpicNova311

2 жыл бұрын

@@jessicagoedert8727 German in canada here. Go to Canada to travel around. For work and living, I can't wait to return to germany one day.

Same happened to me, my landlord is not so friendly, and although she could speak English but avoids it then she could present me as a guilty person, and I really dont know what is going on, Seems Germans government is inviting us to the country as experts, but people are not ready to accept internationals.

Why did they use such a fancy key? I thought Germany was safe.

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

Haha it’s safe, but break-ins on ground floors are quite common in larger cities.

The fact that you ruined historical doors sounds really terrible. And it’s especially terrible how you still treat this as if it’s some kind of trifle. If I were the owner, I would have been very angry and I understand that’s why he began to nitpick about every little thing after that. It's your own fault.

@lifeingermany_

6 ай бұрын

They were not historical doors by any means … the house was from the 60s and while I do love old doors, there were not of any value. Not to mention, we didn’t destroy them 🙈

Many landlords in Germany keep people's deposit

@lifeingermany_

Жыл бұрын

So sad but so true 😔

Renting property is a business, it is not a charity. It is obvious you don’t like Germany. Why are you still living in the country you despise??

Well, sweetie, you are nice person but shit happens and also to nice persons... if you sign for 7 keys, you have to deliver 7 keys.. that's the way things are, even if it is annoying to you...be glad that it is "only" 3000 Euro. If they change the whole locking system it can be more expensive.

Pictures...pictures before and after...

If hes going to keep your Kaution, I would tear up the place. I'd host a heavy metal party

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

😂 I wish I had of planned a big farewell party now...

Ha ha. I can’t imagine Americans surviving German standards. Seven years in an apartment and they expect perfection? 🤦‍♀️

@chrissmarz278

2 жыл бұрын

Because the next person renting the flat expects a very clean and perfect home. ;-)

@HuSanNiang

2 жыл бұрын

@@chrissmarz278 That is not correct. You pay rent and normal "usage" of the flat is paid with the rent. You dont need not to give it back exactly if you got it also not repaint. Only if you used some odd or bright colours. Small whole are also OK only if you have bigger damages. Take pictures before to proove the original state. I always got my money back upon saying I had the pictures.

@chrissmarz278

2 жыл бұрын

@@HuSanNiang Ich hatte auch noch nie Probleme mit der Kaution. Ich bin ziemlich oft umgezogen und in jedem Mietvertrag stand exakt, wie ich die Wohnung zu verlassen habe: Genauso, wie ich sie übernommen hatte. Frisch renoviert und ohne erkennbare Spuren wie Löcher in den Wänden etc. Ich komme aus dem Südwesten, vielleicht ist es dort, wo du wohnst, anders. Aber ich bin immer in saubere und frisch gestrichene Wohnungen gezogen und habe sie auch so verlassen. Fotos vor dem Einzug verstehen sich von selbst. Verschleiß an Schließmechanismen der Fenster o.ä. waren natürlich immer Vermietersache.

@HuSanNiang

2 жыл бұрын

@@chrissmarz278 Ich bin aus Wien - wie gesagt man zahlt Miete damit man die Wohnung nutzen kann. Man muß nach dem Auszug nicht die Wohnung im gleichen Zustand retour geben. Normale Abnützungen über die Jahre sind damit inkludiert. Das heißt es ist nicht mein Job als Mieterdie Wohnung so zu übergeben, daß der Vermieter gar nichts mehr machen muß. Bei meiner letzten Wohnung wollte der Vermieter über 1 -2 Sachen diskutieren und ich meinte, ich habe einen zusätzlichen Stromkreis einziehen lassen und habe die Fotos wie es vorher aussah , wir könnten das gerne gegenverrechnen. Schwupps war die Kaution nach 1 Woche am Konto.

So you got some property damaged, were asked to pay for it, and made a video with a catchy title about it ? No thank you.

D.E.C.E.P.T.I.O.N, modern robbery

Complaints about child screaming. It is shameful.

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

I know 😔😣 unfortunately, that’s city life 🤷🏽‍♀️

Der Vlog sollte auf Deutsch sein! Ich habe es satt, englischen Sprechern zuzuhören, die kommentieren, wie toll Deutschland ist, ohne sich wirklich Mühe zu geben, auf Deutsch zu sprechen oder zu vloggen! Das ist der Grund, warum ich NICHT nach Deutschland ziehen will!

@lifeingermany_

2 жыл бұрын

Ich spreche Deutsch (wie viele andere Vlogger wie ich) und ich habe ein paar Videos, wo ich Deutsch gesprochen habe, aber vergessen Sie nicht, diese Videos wurden erstellt, um Ausländern zu helfen, die nach Deutschland ziehen, und für Deutsche, die gerne Englisch sprechen und Englisch hören außerhalb ihres täglichen Lebens. 🤷🏽‍♀️ aber diese Videos sind natürlich nicht jedermanns Sache! 🙃

@proudlycanadian3023

2 жыл бұрын

Sehr gute Antwort! Ich liebe es, Ihre Videos zu sehen! Ich freue mich darauf, mich mit Ihnen in perfektem Deutsch zu unterhalten!

@MrLuddis

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, I - as a German - prefer to watch Englisch videos because I can keep my English skills up. I would not watch German videos.