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What does "Hauptmieter" mean in English?

Housing, Legal • 
Last updated on 9 April 2024

The term “Hauptmieter” translates to “main tenant” in English. It refers to an individual who holds the primary lease agreement with a landlord.

What is “Hauptmieter”?

A Hauptmieter is a person who has entered into a rental agreement with the property owner and is responsible for paying the rent directly to the landlord. In the context of Berlin and Germany, the Hauptmieter may sublet parts of the property to others, known as Untermieter (subtenants), but typically requires the landlord’s permission to do so[2][4]. This arrangement is common in shared housing situations, such as Wohngemeinschaften (shared apartments or WGs), where the Hauptmieter sublets rooms to other occupants[11].

More information about “Hauptmieter”

The Hauptmieter holds significant responsibilities, including ensuring rent is paid on time and maintaining the property’s condition. They also have the right to sign a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, a document required for registering an address in Germany[2]. When subletting, the Hauptmieter becomes the landlord to the Untermieter, with all associated rights and duties, and must ensure that the subletting arrangement is legally sound[1][3][4].

Here are some additional terms that are related to Hauptmieter:

  • ##Untermieter##: A subtenant who rents from the Hauptmieter and not directly from the property owner[20].
  • ##Wohngemeinschaft (WG)##: A living arrangement where several people share an apartment, and one or more may be Hauptmieter[11].
  • ##Wohnungsgeberbestätigung##: A confirmation document signed by the Hauptmieter or landlord, required for address registration in Germany[2].
  • ##Mietvertrag##: The rental contract between a landlord and a Hauptmieter, which may also govern the terms of subletting to an Untermieter[4].

Understanding the role and responsibilities of a Hauptmieter is crucial for anyone looking to rent in Berlin, as it affects both living arrangements and legal obligations.

Sources

[1] https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/wohnen/welche-rechte-und-pflichten-haupt-und-untermieter-haben-14320973.html [2] https://allaboutberlin.com/glossary/Hauptmieter [3] https://www.mietrecht.org/untervermietung/vertragsverhaeltnis-mieter-untermieter/ [4] http://anwalt-im-netz.de/mietrecht/untermiete.html [5] https://www.linguee.com/german-english/translation/hauptmieter.html [6] https://www.berliner-mieterverein.de/recht/infoblaetter/info-8-untermiete-und-untervermietung-hauptmieter-und-untermieter.htm [7] https://www.mieterschutzverein-muenster.de/rechte-und-pflichten-im-untermietverhaeltnis.html [8] https://www.immobilienscout24.at/ratgeber/mietrecht-oesterreich/mitbewohner.html [9] https://www.juraforum.de/lexikon/hauptmieter [10] https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/49378046/tenants-rights-and-duties.pdf [11] https://www.reddit.com/r/berlin/comments/f963tb/i_am_the_hauptmieter_of_a_wg_what_do_i_need_to_do/?rdt=45548 [12] https://mieterschutzwien.at/2696/was-ist-eine-hauptmiete [13] https://www.hamburg-immobilienverkauf.de/immobilien-blog/immobilie-mieten/hauptmietvertrag-und-untermietvertrag/hauptmietvertrag-und-untermietvertrag.html [14] https://www.minilex.de/a/was-bedeutet-untermiete-und-was-muss-dabei-beachtet-werden [15] https://www.juraforum.de/lexikon/hauptmieter-kuendigen [16] https://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/topic/378015-being-evicted-from-my-wg-what-are-my-rights-notice-period/ [17] https://www.promietrecht.de/Mitbewohner/Erlaubnis-erforderlich/Untermieter/Sind-Sie-Hauptmieter-oder-Untermieter-der-Wohnung-E1440.htm [18] https://www.dwds.de/wb/Hauptmieter [19] https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Hauptmieter [20] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untermieter