How to pay rent in Germany

Found your new home abroad? Find out all about paying rent in Germany safely and mistakes you should avoid.

Bas

4 minute read

·

Updated on 24 Sep 2024

·

Renting

Germany has some unique rules when it comes to paying for things. When you begin renting in Germany, you'll need to consider how to pay rent in Germany and find the method that suits you best. In this article, we'll walk you through the most common methods to pay rent in Germany, and talk about what happens if you can't pay rent or are late to pay.

The number 1 rule should remember when paying rent in Germany is to be on time with your rental payment. Once you've found a place to live in Germany, you want to ensure you maintain a good relationship with your landlord. The best way to do so is to ensure you pay your rent on time, and never miss a payment.

The due date for your rental payment is often outlined in your rental contract, so make sure you add it to your calendar. If it's not already in the contract, be sure to ask you landlord to include the rental payment date in the contract so you'll have a written and agreed upon date for paying rent.

German's love to pay with cash, you'll find some places still only accept cash payments! However when it comes to paying rent in Germany, not many people will pay using cash. Paying in cash leaves little to no paper trail to prove that you've paid. If your landlord is asking you to pay in cash, you should at the very least ask for written and signed confirmation for your rental payments. In general though, paying your rent with cash is unsafe and not recommended.

If you're new to Germany or have decided to move to Germany to study, chances are you'll need to pay your rent with a foreign bank account until you get settled and open your own German bank account. Most major banks are well-equipped to make an overseas bank transfer, just make sure to double check your landlord's bank account information before sending the payment.

If you decide to pay your rent using a foreign bank account, keep in mind that most international bank transfers, like SWIFT, can take a few days to complete. You may also have to pay fees to complete international bank transfers. Remember that you'll need to ensure your landlord is paid in their local currency too— so you may have to pay for the exchange rates. So paying with a foreign bank is possible, but pricey!

The most common way to pay your rent in Germany is with a direct bank transfer from a German bank account. This is possible with any German bank or online bank that allows you to make payments to German bank accounts. To make sure you don't forget to make the transfer, it's a good idea to schedule your bank transfer to your landlord to make sure it arrives on time.

If you're looking to rent in Germany but haven't made the move yet, you'll need to book your accommodation from abroad. Booking your future home from abroad can be risky as many platforms have scammers, making paying your rent from abroad pretty high risk. HousingAnywhere offers an easy and safe way to find a place to live in Germany, no matter where you're coming from or what bank you use.
HousingAnywhere Payments allows you to make your rental payments from a variety of payment methods, while ensuring your payment arrives at the right account and eliminating the chance of sending your payment to the wrong account. Additionally, you’ll receive timely reminders of upcoming payments while clearly organising them in an easy to use payment overview.

Your payment overview shows you all the payments related to your current tenancy. Whenever you make a payment, your landlord will be notified as well, so there’s no need for questions or reminders from their end. So, check out one of our many homes in Germany and ask the landlord to accept your rental payments through our payment system!

It happens time to time that your salary mightn't be deposited in time, you're a little short for rent or you missed the payment date. Whatever the reasons are for not paying rent in Germany. Here're some of the scenarios on what could happen:

• You don’t pay your rental deposit: If you don’t pay the deposit, the landlord can ask for termination of the lease agreement. However, you can counteract this by paying the deposit quickly (and providing proof thereof, so no cash).
• You’re behind on your rental payments: a German landlord can ask the court for eviction if your rental arrears amount up to 2 months of rent or more. Even if you’re making partial payments, if you’re behind more than the sum of 2 months rent, the landlord can push for eviction. If you’re not able to pay, but you want to fight the eviction, you will need to get a legal consultation.

What to do you're not paying rent in Germany on time, or at all

Whatever the reason, if you’re late or can’t pay (all of) the rent, the first thing you do is inform the landlord. This is the best way to keep your relationship with the landlord stable, even when things aren't ideal. In the end, it’s in the best interest of the landlord for you to get back on your feet! So don’t be afraid to make a proposal for instalments, late payments or a different kind of construction.

Additionally, if the issue is systemic and you need financial aid, Germany has some social resources to help you deal with rent arrears, such as the Sozialamt or the German Job Center.

Want to know more about Moving to Germany? Download the free e-book by filling out the form below.