Skip to main content
HalloKit
Back to lease signing scenario

Lease signing prep

German phrases for signing a Mietvertrag

A practical sheet for lease signing: Kaltmiete, Nebenkosten, Kaution, Kündigungsfrist, and keys on move-in day.

By HalloKit Editorial Team · Published · Internally reviewed by HalloKit Editorial Team on

Interactive practice

Rehearse this conversation with choices, feedback, and grammar notes, not just the phrase sheet.

Preview scenario

Answer first

In short

A practical sheet for lease signing: Kaltmiete, Nebenkosten, Kaution, Kündigungsfrist, and keys on move-in day.

Have ready
Ausweis or passport; Proof of income if requested
You may hear
Sind Sie bereit, den Mietvertrag durchzugehen? · Die Kaltmiete beträgt …
Start with
Könnten wir die wichtigsten Punkte gemeinsam durchgehen?

Checked against Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, Make it in Germany. Full references appear below.

Bring

  • Ausweis or passport
  • Proof of income if requested
  • Bank details for Kaution transfer
  • Pen for signing both copies

Expect

  • Sind Sie bereit, den Mietvertrag durchzugehen?
  • Die Kaltmiete beträgt …
  • Die Kaution beträgt drei Monatsmieten.
  • Die Kündigungsfrist beträgt drei Monate.
  • Der Einzug ist am …
Useful phrases

Read before you sign

Landlords respect tenants who ask about Nebenkosten and Kündigungsfrist without rushing the signature.

  • Könnten wir die wichtigsten Punkte gemeinsam durchgehen?

    Could we go through the most important points together?

  • Sind Heizung und Warmwasser in den Nebenkosten enthalten?

    Are heating and hot water included in the utilities?

  • Ich möchte die Kaution in drei gleichen monatlichen Raten zahlen.

    I would like to pay the deposit in three equal monthly instalments.

  • Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?

    How long is the notice period?

Rescue phrases
  • Könnten Sie das bitte noch einmal erklären?
  • Was bedeutet Kündigungsfrist?
  • Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
Preview scenario
Complete dialogue

Hear the full conversation before you rehearse it

Read both sides once, then cover the English and say your lines aloud. The real appointment may use different wording, but the sequence is predictable.

  1. 01

    Landlord

    Sind Sie bereit, den Mietvertrag durchzugehen?

    Are you ready to go through the rental contract?

  2. 02

    You

    Ja. Könnten wir die wichtigsten Punkte gemeinsam durchgehen?

    Yes. Could we go through the most important points together?

  3. 03

    Landlord

    Die Kaltmiete beträgt 890 Euro. Die Kaution beträgt drei Monatsmieten.

    The base rent is 890 euros. The deposit is three months' rent.

  4. 04

    You

    Sind Heizung und Warmwasser in den Nebenkosten enthalten?

    Are heating and hot water included in the utilities?

  5. 05

    Landlord

    Heizung ja, Strom nicht. Die Kündigungsfrist beträgt drei Monate.

    Heating yes, electricity no. The notice period is three months.

  6. 06

    You

    Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?

    How long is the notice period?

  7. 07

    Landlord

    Drei Monate zum Monatsende. Der Einzug ist am 1. September.

    Three months to the end of the month. Move-in is 1 September.

  8. 08

    You

    Ich möchte die Kaution in drei gleichen monatlichen Raten zahlen.

    I would like to pay the deposit in three equal monthly instalments.

  9. 09

    Landlord

    In Ordnung. Die erste Rate ist zu Beginn des Mietverhältnisses fällig.

    All right. The first instalment is due at the start of the tenancy.

  10. 10

    You

    Könnten Sie das bitte noch einmal erklären: die Nebenkosten?

    Could you please explain that once more: the utility costs?

Useful vocabulary

Words you are likely to hear

Learn the noun with its article and notice the short grammar pattern attached to it.

die Kaltmiete
base rent without utilities
This is not the amount you pay in total each month.
die Nebenkosten
utility / additional costs
Ask what is enthalten: heating, water, building costs.
die Kaution
deposit
For a residential cash deposit, § 551 BGB caps it at three net cold rents and allows three equal monthly instalments.
die Kündigungsfrist
notice period
Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist? before you sign.
der Einzug
move-in
Confirm the date and when you get the keys.
der Mietvertrag
rental contract
Ask to go through the important points before you unterschreiben.
Common mistakes

Small fixes that make the conversation clearer

  • Signing before asking about Nebenkosten

    Kaltmiete is not the full monthly cost. Ask what heating and water include.

  • Confusing Kaution with the first month

    The deposit is separate from the first rent payment. Ask how and when to pay it.

  • Skipping Kündigungsfrist

    This is language practice, not legal advice. Still ask Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist? and read the clause.

Common questions

FAQ

Short answers for the questions people ask before this appointment.

What should I ask before signing a Mietvertrag in Germany?+

Ask about Nebenkosten, Kaution timing, Kündigungsfrist, and when you receive Schlüssel.

How do I ask about the deposit in German?+

For a cash deposit on a residential lease, say Ich möchte die Kaution in drei gleichen monatlichen Raten zahlen. Section 551 BGB gives tenants that payment option.

What is Kündigungsfrist?+

The notice period you must give before moving out — often three months to the end of a month.

Should I sign without reading?+

Ask Könnten wir die wichtigsten Punkte durchgehen? — it is normal and expected.

Take it with you

Print or save the offline pocket card with the key lines for appointment day.

Open pocket card
Keep preparing

Related German practice

The phrase guide is the key sheet for what to say. Use the checklist and rehearsal to practice it, then continue to the next situation.

Related phrase guide

German phrases for an apartment viewing

Arrive confidently, ask about rent, and close with the paperwork question landlords expect.

Continue preparing

Related phrase guide

German phrases for calling your landlord

Report a repair, agree on timing, and stay polite on the phone with your Vermieter.

Continue preparing

Related phrase guide

German phrases for an internet contract

Compare tariffs, ask about Mindestlaufzeit, and understand fees before you sign.

Continue preparing

Was this accurate?

Help us keep phrases aligned with real appointments in Germany.

Was this accurate?

Sources and references

Authoritative references used to verify the preparation details in this guide. Local requirements can still differ.