September 14, 2026
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: What It Must Contain and When You Need It
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is your landlord's confirmation that you have moved into the apartment. Without it you cannot register with the residents' registration office. The landlord's duty to cooperate is set out in § 19 of the Federal Registration Act (BMG). You can find waitlists in Berlin and Hamburg in one place at Waitly.
Last updated: 13 September 2026.
In short
The confirmation is not a favour, it is a statutory duty to cooperate. It must be issued within the period that applies to your registration, and it must contain certain details. Under § 17(1) BMG, anyone moving into accommodation must register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in.
Who issues the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?
The Wohnungsgeber, meaning the person or company providing you with the accommodation. That is usually the landlord, and with larger portfolios often the property management company.
The Wohnungsgeber and the owner need not be the same person. In a sublet, the main tenant is your Wohnungsgeber, and the confirmation comes from them accordingly.
What must it contain?
§ 19(3) BMG sets out the mandatory details:
Name and address of the Wohnungsgeber
The name of the owner, where the owner is not the Wohnungsgeber
The date of moving in
The address of the accommodation
The names of all persons required to register
If any of these is missing, the registration authority may reject the registration. So check before your appointment that everyone moving in with you is actually listed.
By when must your landlord issue it?
Within the period that also applies to your registration. The Act ties the Wohnungsgeber's cooperation to the period in § 17(1) BMG, which is two weeks after moving in.
In practice that means: do not ask on the last day. It is sensible to agree the confirmation at the handover of keys and have it given to you there and then.
What is the electronic route?
Instead of handing you a paper document, the Wohnungsgeber may transmit the confirmation electronically to the registration authority. You then receive a reference number that you use to register.
This is particularly common with larger property management companies. Ask which route yours uses, so you have the right thing with you at the appointment.
What does not belong in the confirmation?
Anything beyond the mandatory details. The confirmation serves the registration, not the documentation of your tenancy.
Details of the rent, the deposit or the term of the contract do not belong in it. They are not needed for the registration.
Key takeaways
Sort out the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung before you collect the keys, and the registration will run without time pressure. Check the mandatory details once, and ask whether your Wohnungsgeber uses the electronic route. If you are still searching, it pays to use several waitlists in parallel: you can find active lists in Hamburg and Berlin at Waitly, and how to hear about vacancies early is covered in Get notified when an apartment becomes available. Further answers are in the Waitly FAQ.
What you need before signing is covered in documents for a rental application. For how the lists themselves work, see how does a rental waitlist work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register without a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?
As a rule, no. The Wohnungsgeber's cooperation is provided for in the Federal Registration Act, and the authority requires either the confirmation or the electronic reference number.
Is the tenancy agreement enough as proof?
No. The tenancy agreement does not evidence that you actually moved in, which is why the separate confirmation exists.
Who issues it in a sublet?
The main tenant, because they are the one providing you with the accommodation and are therefore the Wohnungsgeber.
What do I do if my landlord refuses?
Point to the duty to cooperate under § 19 BMG, ideally in writing with a deadline. If that does not help, contact your registration authority and explain the situation.
