What notice period do I have as a tenant?
As a rule, three months. As the tenant of a flat you can terminate an open-ended lease at any time with three months' notice — regardless of how long you've lived there (§ 573c BGB). The notice must be in writing (signed, not email/fax) and arrive by the third working day of a month for that month to count. You don't need to give a reason. Unlike for the landlord, your period does not lengthen with the tenancy.
📋 The rules
- Tenant notice period: 3 months, regardless of tenancy length (§ 573c BGB)
- Notice in writing with a signature (not by email/fax)
- Must arrive by the 3rd working day of a month — then that month counts
- No reason required
- For the landlord, 3/6/9 months apply by tenancy length
🔓 Exceptions
- Fixed-term lease: ordinary termination is usually excluded
- An agreed waiver of termination (max 4 years) can temporarily block notice
- On a landlord's breach, termination without notice is possible (§ 543 BGB)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
No fines here. If you give notice late or in the wrong form (e.g. only by email), the end of the lease shifts — you owe rent correspondingly longer. A valid, timely notice reliably ends the tenancy on the calculated date; no reason or landlord consent is needed.
📎 Official sources
- § 573c BGB · Notice periods for ordinary termination →
- German Tenants' Association · Termination by the tenant →
- Verbraucherzentrale · Terminating a lease →
❓ Frequently asked
How long is my notice period as a tenant?
Three months — no matter how long you've lived in the flat. Unlike for the landlord, your period doesn't lengthen with the tenancy. So even after many years you can give three months' notice.
Do I have to give a reason?
No. As a tenant you need no reason for ordinary termination. A written, signed notice that reaches the landlord in time is enough.
By when must the notice arrive?
By the third working day of a month for that month to count. If it arrives later, the three-month period starts the following month. Best send it in good time and provably.
Is notice by email enough?
No. The notice must be in writing with a handwritten signature — email or fax won't do. Safest is a signed letter delivered provably.
What about a fixed-term lease?
With a genuine fixed-term lease ordinary termination is usually excluded — it ends on the agreed date. An agreed waiver of termination (max four years) can also temporarily block notice.
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