Corpus Hausverwaltung · Guide · November 2026
The main duties at a glance
- Tenancy agreement and handover: a legally sound contract and a handover report with meter readings and the condition of the flat
- Landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung): When the tenant moves in, the landlord must confirm the move-in in writing or electronically so that the tenant can register (§ 19 Bundesmeldegesetz).
- Rent deposit: at most three months' net rent; the tenant may pay it in three monthly instalments. The landlord must keep it separate from his own assets (§ 551 BGB).
- Energy performance certificate: must be shown to prospective tenants at the latest at the viewing (§ 80 GEG).
- Maintenance: The landlord must keep the flat in the condition agreed in the contract (§ 535 BGB).
- Service charge statement: annually, no later than twelve months after the end of the billing period (§ 556 Abs. 3 BGB)
Rent increases: only according to the legal rules
During an existing tenancy, the rent can only be increased in certain ways, most commonly up to the local comparative rent (§ 558 BGB). A cap applies: at most 20 percent within three years, and at most 15 percent in areas with a tight housing market designated by the state by ordinance. The increase is justified, for example, with the city's rent index (Mietspiegel). In addition, there are graduated and index-linked rents, which must be agreed in the tenancy agreement, as well as increases after modernisation.
Repairs and damage reports
Tenants report defects – often at inconvenient times. Then it has to be clarified whether it is an emergency, who is responsible and which tradesperson can come. With let condominiums there is an additional question: is the damage to the individual unit (Sondereigentum) or to the common property (Gemeinschaftseigentum)? In the second case, the WEG administration is responsible. Rental management takes reports, commissions and checks the work and keeps the landlord informed.
Smoke detectors in NRW
In North Rhine-Westphalia, bedrooms, children's rooms and hallways leading to living spaces must be fitted with smoke detectors (§ 47 Abs. 3 BauO NRW). The owner is responsible for installation. Ensuring they are in working order is the responsibility of the direct occupants, usually the tenants – unless the owner takes on this obligation himself, for example through a maintenance contract.
When rental management pays off
- if you live further away or have little time because of work
- if you let several flats or an entire apartment building
- if you want to hand over statements, deadlines and tenant communication
- if you have inherited the property and would first have to get to grips with it
When letting, the costs of rental management are usually deductible expenses (Werbungskosten) against rental income. However, administration costs may not be passed on to tenants (§ 1 Abs. 2 BetrKV).
How we can help
Corpus Hausverwaltung provides rental management for apartment buildings and, as individual unit management (Sondereigentumsverwaltung), for individual let condominiums: rent accounting, service charge statements, tenant communication, maintenance and changes of tenant. For re-letting, we work with Corpus Makler on request.
Further reading
Our guide articles give a general overview (as of November 2026) and do not replace legal advice in individual cases. The German version is binding.
