Also known as a lease agreement, this document—signed by the landlord and the tenant—is required by law.
Term: - 3 years for an unfurnished apartment with tacit (automatic) renewal if the landlord is a private individual
- 1 year for a furnished apartment with tacit renewal. This may be reduced to 9 months for students and apprentices without automatic renewal.
Contents of the lease:
- Contact information for the owner (or property manager)
- Name of the tenant or roommates
- Lease term and date the property becomes available to the tenant
- Description of the property and its amenities (basement, garden, parking space, etc.)
- List of amenities in the unit and common areas (stairwell, elevator, bike storage, etc.)
- Living area
- Intended use of the rented premises (residential use)
- Amount of rent and utilities - Payment terms and any rent adjustments
- Security deposit amount
- Estimated heating costs
- Amount of the last rent charged to the previous tenant (if they moved out less than 18 months ago)
- Nature and cost of the work performed since the end of the last lease.