Interim rent in Berlin
Von Christine Kandler
What is interim rent?
In the case of an interim lease, the tenant rents a furnished private apartment which the landlord makes available for a limited period of time. Often an apartment is rented for a few months to a year as an interim lease because the landlord stays abroad for a longer period of time.
What advantages does interim rent have for the tenant?
Most furnished apartments that are offered for interim rent are often cheaper than other furnished apartments that are available “indefinitely”. Landlords are more interested in finding a single tenant who will occupy the apartment for the entire period of their absence, than making more of a profit.
What are the disadvantages of interim rent for tenants?
Less flexibility
For apartments that are rented exclusively on an temporary basis, the tenant has complete flexibility. They can extend the lease as long as they need past the planned move-out date, as long as they inform the landlord and the agency within the deadline. This is not possible in the case of a private apartment for interim rent, which is only rented for a limited, set period of time. The landlord will return on the date specified, and will naturally want to move back into their own apartment.
Opportunities often only come up if you rent for the whole period
As a tenant, you often only have the chance to get the furnished apartment you want with a interim rent if you rent it for the entire period. The landlord is normally looking for a tenant who they can hand over the apartment to while they are still in Berlin, and who moves out exactly when they come back. This eliminates annoying issues for them, such as changing tenants, final cleaning, and paying back the deposit. These are all things that are more difficult for landlords to organize from abroad.
Will the tenant also receive a confirmation from the landlord for an interim lease in Berlin?
Even an interim tenant has the right to a confirmation from the landlord. The main tenant of the apartment should be the one to request this document from the landlord.
What should you keep in mind when renting for an interim period?
Usually less storage space
When renting a furnished apartment for an interim period, it's good to be aware that storage space for your own clothes and other items is often limited. Many interim landlords do not empty their wardrobes, or chests of drawers for the tenant, and will leave their clothes and other personal belongings in the apartment. These are often stored in a room that is locked and not rented out. The square meters of this room are then subtracted from the total area.
Often more bureaucracy
Landlords who wish to rent out their private dwelling on an interim basis must have this approved by the property management company. The property management would then agree to it, unless they have anything against the tenant. The company wants to make sure that the interim tenant will adhere to the house rules and does not seem untrustworthy. It is therefore customary for the tenant to submit his personal information to the property management. Often the identity card can be enough, but some property managers also ask for their employment contract.
Check how available the landlord will be (and confirm an alternative point of contact)
If your landlord will be on the other side of the world, on an island or some remote location with no Internet access, check who else is best to call should you questions, problems, or emergencies. In any case, you should have the telephone number of the property manager, an emergency number, and contact details of someone who is familiar with the apartment. This is important even if they expect to be reachable.
Who is interim rent in Berlin suitable for?
- Tenants who would like to rent in a lower price bracket
- Tenants who do not mind if the landlord's private property will be in the furnished apartment
- Tenants who are willing to take on small extra tasks, e.g. emptying letterboxes, watering plants
- Tenants who are willing to rent an apartment for the entire set period and then move out when and if it is necessary
- Tenants who are prepared to complete the necessary paperwork they will receive from the property management
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