Rental Contract Termination Letter

Properly terminating a rental contract in writing is essential in Germany. Without a written notice, the termination is not legally valid.

You can generate a free rental contract termination letter on LetterKrieg.

You must send the rental agreement cancellation letter by registered post. This acts as a legal proof that your landlord received the rental contract termination letter.

Create Rental Contract Termination Letter

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FAQs About Terminating Rental Contract in Germany

How much notice do I need to give to terminate my rental contract?

Under normal situations, you (the tenant) must provide three months’ notice to terminate a rental contract. The notice period starts at the end of the month when your landlord receives your written rental contract termination letter.

If you (the landlord) want to terminate the rental contract, different notice periods apply. The length of the notice period depends on how long the tenant has been living in the property.

3 months for a tenancy period of 0 to 5 years
6 months for a tenancy period of 5 to 8 years
9 months for a tenancy period of longer than 8 years

Can I terminate my rental contract early if it’s fixed-term?

Fixed-term rental contracts (befristete Mietverträge) can only be terminated early if both you and your landlord agree or if the rental contract includes a specific clause allowing it (e.g., a break clause). Without this, you’re bound until the term ends.

What happens if my landlord wants to terminate my contract?

Landlords can only terminate the rental contract for “legitimate reasons” (e.g., personal use, significant breaches of the contract like unpaid rent, etc.). If that’s not the case, landlords cannot terminate the rental contract.

How do I properly submit my rental contract termination notice?

Termination must be in writing (a signed letter, not email or text) and sent to your landlord. It’s wise to use registered mail (Einschreiben) to prove delivery. Include your address, the termination date, and a request for confirmation. You can use our sample rental contract termination letter.