WG Lease as a PDF: The Clauses That Actually Need to Be In There

A shared-flat (WG) lease that comes as a free PDF template off the internet is only as good as the clauses it actually contains. Who signs is usually the easy part to sort out; what matters is whether the template covers the points that actually count in a dispute. This checklist covers what needs to be in a WG lease for it to hold up in everyday life.

Name the Parties Completely and Correctly

Every template needs the full names and current addresses of all parties to the contract — the landlord and every tenant who signs. If someone who actually lives in the apartment is missing from the contract, they're legally just tolerated there and have no standing of their own against the landlord in a dispute. Check whether the PDF template leaves room for every name, rather than just a single name field.

Describe the Rental Property Precisely

The template needs to name the apartment precisely: full address, position in the building, the number and assignment of rooms, and co-rented side spaces like a cellar or balcony. In a shared flat, it also matters whether individual rooms are fixed to specific people or whether the whole living space is rented out jointly. That distinction later affects how a room swap or someone moving out gets handled.

Cold Rent, Utility Costs, and How They're Split

A complete template clearly separates cold rent (Kaltmiete) from utility costs (Nebenkosten) and sets out how the total rent is split among the individual residents — equally, say, or by room size. If this split is missing from the contract, it becomes an internal WG problem in a dispute that the landlord doesn't have to solve, since they can demand the full rent from any lead tenant jointly and severally, regardless of the internal split.

Deposit and Repayment Terms

The template should cover the deposit amount, the permitted instalment payment in up to three parts, and the conditions for repayment after moving out. In a WG with several lead tenants, it also matters whether the deposit counts as a joint security for all tenants — something worth clarifying before a roommate change happens mid-tenancy, so the person moving out gets their share back from the remaining or incoming roommates rather than from the landlord directly. How this internal split works in practice when a roommate moves out mid-tenancy is covered in our piece on deposit deductions in a WG.

House Rules as Part of the Contract

House rules are only legally binding if they're explicitly made part of the lease and attached as an appendix, as this explainer on the topic sets out. A loose set of house rules just handed over, without that reference in the contract, has no binding effect on the tenant. Make sure the template contains a clear reference to an attached set of house rules if rules on quiet hours, cleaning schedules, or the use of shared spaces are actually meant to apply.

Notice Periods and Rules for a Roommate Change

The template should correctly reflect the statutory, tenancy-length-based notice period and, ideally, already include a clause for the case where a single resident wants to leave the WG while the contract as a whole continues. If the contract says nothing about this, the statutory default applies automatically: under a joint lease, all lead tenants generally have to give notice together, or the landlord has to agree to a roommate change. How a landlord has to respond, legally, to bringing in a new individual roommate without changing the whole contract is covered in our piece on changing roommates in a WG.

Conclusion

A WG lease template from the internet is a good starting point, but it doesn't replace checking the individual clauses. Complete names for every resident, a clear cost split, unambiguous deposit rules, and effectively incorporated house rules are the points that go missing most often and cost the most in a dispute. Our broader guide to WG leases covers every resident's obligations, and the tax side of subletting is explained in our piece on the WG lease template. If you're still looking for the right shared flat or apartment, you can search current listings with Waitly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a free PDF template enough for a legally solid WG lease?

A template can serve as a starting point, but it needs to be filled in completely with every name, a clear cost split, and effectively incorporated house rules. Anything missing gets filled in by statutory default in a dispute, which isn't always in the WG's favour.

What happens if the internal cost split isn't in the contract?

Under a joint lease, the landlord can demand the full rent from any lead tenant, regardless of any internal agreement. A split fixed in the contract protects individual residents from confusion among themselves.

Does the house rules document need to be signed to apply?

It at least needs to be explicitly named as an appendix in the lease and actually attached. A separately handed-over set of house rules without that reference isn't legally binding on the tenant.

Who's liable for the deposit when a roommate moves out?

That depends on whether the deposit was agreed as a joint security for all tenants. Without a contractual rule, the split between the person leaving and the person moving in should be settled directly between roommates, since the landlord normally only pays out the deposit at the end of the whole tenancy.

More on shared living: WG-Mietvertrag Download: Essential Guide & Templates, Subletting a Room in Your Shared Flat and Taxes: When It Becomes Taxable and WG Housing: A Guide to Shared Living in Germany.