Your rental contract explained

Since 1 July 2024, landlords must in principle offer a contract for an indefinite period. This applies to rooms too.

A temporary contract of at most two years is only allowed for specific groups, for example students who need a place for their studies, or people who temporarily need to live elsewhere for work.

• A deposit may be at most two months' base rent.
• The landlord must pay it back within 14 days after the contract ends.
• If the landlord deducts costs, the rest must be paid back within 30 days.
• Only unpaid rent, unpaid service costs, damage you are responsible for and an energy performance fee may be deducted.

• The rent and the service costs, listed separately
• Whether the contract is permanent or temporary, and why
• The notice period
• The deposit, and how and when you get it back
• Whether you can register at the address

The landlord must also give you written information about your rights and obligations, the deposit and the service costs.

An agent may only charge you when they work for you alone. If an agent works for the landlord, they may not also charge you. We only ever work for renters.