Your German apartment handover: a practical record

The apartment handover is where the condition of your new home becomes a shared record. Treat it as a careful inspection, even when you are tired from travel or eager to receive the keys.

Bring a simple kit

Carry your phone charger, a pen, a tape measure and the handover form if one was provided. Photograph rooms in good light, including floors, walls, windows, appliances and existing marks. Wide views establish location; close views show detail.

Record more than defects

List every key and its purpose. Photograph electricity, gas or water meter readings where applicable, with the meter number visible. Test windows, taps, heating controls, lights and installed appliances. Note whether the cellar, parking space or mailbox is included and accessible.

Both parties should review the Übergabeprotokoll before signing. Add unresolved items and agreed next steps in writing. Keep your own complete copy rather than assuming one will arrive later.

The first days afterward

Put your name on the postbox, confirm which utilities require a contract and learn the building’s waste separation arrangements. Report hidden issues promptly in writing and retain photos. Do not attempt repairs that may be the landlord’s responsibility without discussing them first.

This record is not pessimism. It gives both tenant and landlord a common starting point when questions arise months later.