{"id":402,"date":"2025-07-14T16:11:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T16:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/attorney-stawrew.eu\/?page_id=402"},"modified":"2026-06-13T17:02:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T17:02:39","slug":"rental-deposit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/attorney-stawrew.eu\/index.php\/rental-deposit\/","title":{"rendered":"Rental Deposit Disputes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disputes over the Repayment of a Rental Deposit Paid by the Tenant Are, Unfortunately, a Recurring Issue in Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-dark-gray-color\">Watch the Video First, then Scroll Down and Fill Out the Form for a FREE &#8211; no obligation on your part &#8211; Case Evaluation<\/mark><\/strong> by Attorney Kiril Stawrew<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Get Your Rental Deposit Back in Germany\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lpvaBX4Nq3w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a law firm, we are repeatedly confronted with cases where the landlord refuses to return the rental deposit paid by the tenant, often using flimsy and baseless arguments \u2014 even though the tenancy has long since ended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Typically, landlords bring up the same <strong>inaccurate and exaggerated claims<\/strong>, especially <strong>excessively high invoices for alleged cosmetic repairs<\/strong> that supposedly had to be carried out after the tenant moved out due to the allegedly poor condition of the apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, we often see landlords attempting to assert <strong>claims <\/strong>against tenants<strong> that are already time-barred<\/strong>, and which the tenant is therefore under no obligation to pay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such claims are pursued by landlords even though, in many cases, <strong>the contractual clause regarding cosmetic repairs is legally ineffective<\/strong>, or the issues in question do not constitute damage caused by the tenant <strong>but rather normal wear and tear<\/strong> of the rented property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also often <strong>claim compensation for lost rent<\/strong>, arguing that the renovation work took so long or had to take place during a period when the apartment could not be rented to a new tenant immediately afterward \u2014 resulting in at least one month of lost rental income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We see these and similar arguments time and again, with landlords&#8217; &#8220;creativity&#8221; when ti comes to keeping the deposit having no limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Legally, however, the situation is very different: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The landlord is obliged to settle the rental deposit within a reasonable period \u2014 typically three to six months after the end of the tenancy \u2014 and to return it to the tenant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The landlord can only offset alleged claims against the deposit <strong>if he can substantiate and prove<\/strong> that such claims actually arose, are the tenant\u2019s responsibility (i.e., the tenant violated contractual obligations), and that the costs incurred were necessary and reasonable in amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The burden of presentation and proof lies with the landlord. Many landlords are quickly overwhelmed when it comes to providing even a halfway coherent explanation as to why the costs were so high or why the repair work was not carried out at a time that would have enabled follow-up rental \u2014 or at least kept the repair period as short as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our law firm therefore represents tenants who have fallen victim to such landlords and who have not received their deposit back \u2014 both out of court, through written demands and negotiations, and in court if an amicable solution cannot be reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are a tenant in such a situation where discussions with the landlord are going nowhere, despite your own repeated efforts, and if the landlord is making &#8220;counterclaims&#8221; that appear questionable or excessively high, you are welcome to take advantage of our free initial consultation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simply fill out the form below, and Attorney Stawrew will contact you within 24 hours to discuss next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<style id=\"wpforms-css-vars-root\">\n\t\t\t\t:root {\n\t\t\t\t\t--wpforms-field-border-radius: 3px;\n--wpforms-field-border-style: solid;\n--wpforms-field-border-size: 1px;\n--wpforms-field-background-color: #ffffff;\n--wpforms-field-border-color: rgba( 0, 0, 0, 0.25 );\n--wpforms-field-border-color-spare: rgba( 0, 0, 0, 0.25 );\n--wpforms-field-text-color: rgba( 0, 0, 0, 0.7 );\n--wpforms-field-menu-color: #ffffff;\n--wpforms-label-color: rgba( 0, 0, 0, 0.85 );\n--wpforms-label-sublabel-color: rgba( 0, 0, 0, 0.55 );\n--wpforms-label-error-color: #d63637;\n--wpforms-button-border-radius: 3px;\n--wpforms-button-border-style: none;\n--wpforms-button-border-size: 1px;\n--wpforms-button-background-color: #066aab;\n--wpforms-button-border-color: #066aab;\n--wpforms-button-text-color: #ffffff;\n--wpforms-page-break-color: #066aab;\n--wpforms-background-image: none;\n--wpforms-background-position: center center;\n--wpforms-background-repeat: no-repeat;\n--wpforms-background-size: cover;\n--wpforms-background-width: 100px;\n--wpforms-background-height: 100px;\n--wpforms-background-color: rgba( 0, 0, 0, 0 );\n--wpforms-background-url: none;\n--wpforms-container-padding: 0px;\n--wpforms-container-border-style: none;\n--wpforms-container-border-width: 1px;\n--wpforms-container-border-color: #000000;\n--wpforms-container-border-radius: 3px;\n--wpforms-field-size-input-height: 43px;\n--wpforms-field-size-input-spacing: 15px;\n--wpforms-field-size-font-size: 16px;\n--wpforms-field-size-line-height: 19px;\n--wpforms-field-size-padding-h: 14px;\n--wpforms-field-size-checkbox-size: 16px;\n--wpforms-field-size-sublabel-spacing: 5px;\n--wpforms-field-size-icon-size: 1;\n--wpforms-label-size-font-size: 16px;\n--wpforms-label-size-line-height: 19px;\n--wpforms-label-size-sublabel-font-size: 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class=\"wpforms-field-container\"><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-id=\"1\"><fieldset><legend class=\"wpforms-field-label\">Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">*<\/span><\/legend><div class=\"wpforms-field-row wpforms-field-medium\"><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-first wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-405-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-first wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][first]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_1-error\" required><label for=\"wpforms-405-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">First<\/label><\/div><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-405-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-last wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][last]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_1-last-error\" required><label for=\"wpforms-405-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">Last<\/label><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-id=\"2\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_2\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-405-field_2\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\" spellcheck=\"false\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_2-error\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_3-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-text\" data-field-id=\"3\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_3\">Phone Number<\/label><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-405-field_3\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][3]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_3-error\" ><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_4-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"4\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_4\">Please tell us here some more details: When did you return the flat to the landlord, how much deposit did you pay, when did he contacted you about the deposit, what are his &quot;arguments&quot; for not paying it back and what is your position on them?<\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-405-field_4\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][4]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_4-error\" ><\/textarea><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_8-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"8\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_8\">Did you made and sign a protocol upon return of the flat? <\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-405-field_8\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][8]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_8-error\" ><\/textarea><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_7-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"7\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_7\">How much deposit did you pay when you rented the flat? <\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-405-field_7\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][7]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_7-error\" ><\/textarea><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_6-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"6\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_6\">When did he contact you about the deposit and mention his \u201ccounterclaims\u201d for the first time? <\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-405-field_6\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][6]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_6-error\" ><\/textarea><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-405-field_5-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"5\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-405-field_5\">What are his &quot;arguments&quot; for not paying it back and what is your position on them? Do you acknowledge them or do you disagree and if so, why?<\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-405-field_5\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][5]\" aria-errormessage=\"wpforms-405-field_5-error\" ><\/textarea><\/div><\/div><!-- .wpforms-field-container --><div class=\"wpforms-submit-container\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[id]\" value=\"405\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_title\" value=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/attorney-stawrew.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/402\"><button type=\"submit\" name=\"wpforms[submit]\" id=\"wpforms-submit-405\" class=\"wpforms-submit\" data-alt-text=\"Sending...\" data-submit-text=\"Submit\" aria-live=\"assertive\" value=\"wpforms-submit\">Submit<\/button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/attorney-stawrew.eu\/wp-content\/plugins\/wpforms-lite\/assets\/images\/submit-spin.svg\" class=\"wpforms-submit-spinner\" style=\"display: none;\" width=\"26\" height=\"26\" alt=\"Loading\"><\/div><\/form><\/div>  <!-- .wpforms-container -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disputes over the Repayment of a Rental Deposit Paid by the Tenant Are, Unfortunately, a Recurring Issue in Germany Watch the Video First, then Scroll Down and Fill Out the Form for a FREE &#8211; no obligation on your part &#8211; Case Evaluation by Attorney Kiril Stawrew As a law firm, we are repeatedly confronted &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/attorney-stawrew.eu\/index.php\/rental-deposit\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Rental Deposit Disputes<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-402","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rental Deposit Disputes - Attorney Kiril Stawrew<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rental Deposit Cases are on the rise in Germany - landlords refuse to pay back the rent deposit after the end of the lease. We help tenants.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/attorney-stawrew.eu\/index.php\/rental-deposit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rental Deposit Disputes - Attorney Kiril Stawrew\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rental Deposit Cases are on the rise in Germany - landlords refuse to pay back the rent deposit after the end of the lease. 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