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What does "Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung" mean in English?

Housing • 
Last updated on 10 April 2024

The Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung, which literally translates to “rent debt freedom certificate,” is a document from a landlord confirming that a tenant has no outstanding rent debts.

What is “Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung”?

The Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung is a certificate provided by a landlord or property manager that attests to a tenant’s fulfillment of their rent obligations without any arrears. This document is often requested by landlords in Germany when a tenant applies for a new rental property, as it serves as proof of the tenant’s reliability in paying rent[1][2][4].

More information about “Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung”

While not legally required, the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung can significantly improve a tenant’s chances of securing a rental agreement, especially in competitive housing markets like Berlin. Landlords use it as an additional security measure to assess the payment behavior of potential tenants[2][3][4]. However, if a landlord refuses to provide this certificate, tenants can still demonstrate their reliability through bank statements or other financial documents[6][17].

Here are some additional terms that are related to Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung:

  • Schufa-Bonitätsauskunft: A credit report from Germany’s credit bureau, often required alongside the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung[2].
  • Bewerbermappe: An application portfolio that may include the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung when applying for a rental property[4].
  • Hauptmieter: The main tenant in a rental agreement who may issue a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung for subtenants[6].
  • Mietnomaden: Tenants who intentionally avoid paying rent; landlords may use the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung to protect against such individuals[16].

In conclusion, the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung is a valuable document for tenants to prove their financial responsibility and for landlords to mitigate the risk of rent defaults.

Sources

[1] https://allaboutberlin.com/glossary/Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung [2] https://deinimmoberater.de/ratgeber/mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung.php [3] https://www.immobilienankauf-haeupler.de/mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung/ [4] https://germanlifestyler.com/what-is-the-mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung/ [5] https://objego.de/blog/mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung/ [6] https://www.thelocal.de/20220207/renting-in-germany-what-to-know-about-the-mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung [7] https://ratgeber.immowelt.de/a/mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung-ueblich-aber-nicht-erzwingbar.html [8] https://www.finest-real-estate.com/mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung/ [9] https://sprich-deutsch.de/mieten-in-deutschland-alles-was-auslaender-wissen-muessen/ [10] https://www.studis-online.de/Fragen-Brett/index.php [11] https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/moving-out [12] https://housinganywhere.com/Germany/renting-in-germany [13] https://www.reddit.com/r/LegaladviceGerman/comments/128ymki/subletter_change_the_terms_of_the_contract_and/ [14] https://help.habyt.com/support/solutions/articles/103000055736-can-you-help-me-request-a-local-document- [15] https://crocodilian.de/de/zeitwohnen-blog/Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung-wohnen-auf-zeit/ [16] https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/definition/mietnomaden-53101/version-156672 [17] https://www.reddit.com/r/berlinsocialclub/comments/14rdwit/landlord_doesnt_provide/ [18] https://www.reddit.com/r/berlin/comments/nfjm73/landlord_doesnt_want_to_provide/