The Documents You Need for a Rental Application in Germany

For a viewing you need almost nothing, for signing a contract considerably more. Requesting documents is permitted only from a particular point onwards, and a ready-made folder containing everything is not what data protection law expects. You can find waitlists in Hamburg and Berlin in one place at Waitly.

Last updated: 13 September 2026.

In short

The guidance of the German data protection authorities distinguishes the viewing, your interest in renting, and the landlord's decision. Proof of income and creditworthiness belongs in the final phase, immediately before the contract is signed. ID copies, the full SCHUFA self-disclosure and a certificate of freedom from rent arrears do not belong in the folder at all.

At the viewing: identity, nothing more

What you essentially need to bring is yourself and your ID. Permitted are your first name, surname and one contact detail, and the landlord may verify these by having you show your ID card.

A copy of the ID card may not be made. If a form already asks about income and creditworthiness at the first appointment, that is as a rule too early.

For a subsidised apartment, asking about a Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS) is permitted at this stage, because otherwise a viewing makes no sense. A copy of the certificate becomes due only later.

After you confirm interest: information rather than proof

This phase is about statements, not documents. Customary and permitted are details of the number of occupants, your employer and occupation, the income available to you, pets, and insolvency proceedings or eviction orders.

On income, confirming that a certain amount is available each month is often enough. You do not necessarily have to name an exact figure at this stage.

Before signing: the evidence

Now you substantiate what you stated. This includes:

Proof of income, such as a payslip, bank statement or tax assessment as a copy
A credit record containing exclusively the information required for the tenancy
For subsidised apartments, a copy of the Wohnberechtigungsschein

On all documents, information that is not required may be blacked out. Use that rather than handing over complete bank statements.

What does not belong in the application folder

Three things are often submitted even though they may not be requested.

A copy of your ID is impermissible, because showing it is enough. The full self-disclosure under Art. 15 GDPR may not be requested by a landlord, because it contains substantially more information than necessary. And a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung, a certificate of freedom from rent arrears, cannot be required when renting new accommodation, because previous landlords are under no obligation to issue one.

What will the move-in cost you in security?

The deposit is capped by law. Under § 551 of the German Civil Code, the security may not exceed three times the monthly rent excluding the operating costs shown as a flat rate or advance payment.

You also do not have to pay it in one go: you are entitled to three equal monthly instalments, the first due at the start of the tenancy. The landlord must invest the sum separately from their own assets, and the interest belongs to you.

After the move: one document is still missing

To register at the residents' registration office you need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, the landlord's confirmation of move-in. It comes from the landlord and is not an application document but an obligation under the Federal Registration Act.

Plan for it early all the same, so the registration deadline after moving in does not pass.

Key takeaways

A good application is complete without being over-complete. Have the information ready, submit evidence only once it may lawfully be requested, and black out what nobody needs. And because many apartments are never advertised at all, waitlists are worth a look: we explain how they work in How does a rental waitlist work, and you can find active lists through Waitly search.

Only questions with an objective connection to the tenancy are permitted, and a credit record limited to rental purposes is what may be requested before signing. After moving in you will need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. To hear about vacancies early, see get notified when an apartment becomes available.