Wohnungsgeberbestätigung in Germany: Requirements, Free Template & Landlord Refusal Fix (2026)
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is the signed landlord confirmation your Bürgeramt demands before it will register your address. Here are the exact § 19 BMG requirements, a free copy-paste German template, and the step-by-step fix if your landlord refuses to sign.
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is the single most important piece of paper in your first weeks in Germany. It is the signed confirmation from your landlord or housing provider that proves you have moved into a specific flat on a specific date. Without it, the Bürgeramt will not register your address — and without that registration, you cannot unlock your bank account, your tax ID, your health insurance or your phone contract. This guide covers exactly what the form must contain under § 19 BMG, who can sign it in tricky housing situations, a free copy-paste German email to request it, and the step-by-step protocol if your landlord refuses.
Crucial rule: a rental lease (Mietvertrag) is NOT accepted at the Bürgeramt without this signed form. The lease proves a contract exists; the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung proves you actually moved in. You need both, and only the signed confirmation satisfies the registration office.
What the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung actually is
Under § 19 of the Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG), the person who gives you a dwelling — the Wohnungsgeber — must confirm your move-in in writing when you register. It is not a form you fill out yourself. Your landlord, subletter or housing provider completes and signs it, usually on a blank sheet or a city template. The confirmation is separate from your lease because the office needs a dated, signed statement of fact at the moment you arrive, not the contract that preceded it.
Required information under § 19 BMG
The law sets out exactly what the confirmation must contain. If any of these fields are missing, the Bürgeramt can reject it and send you back. Use the table below as a checklist before you hand the form over to your landlord.
| Required information | Legal description under § 19 BMG |
|---|---|
| Your full name | Name of the person moving in (Einzugsende/r) — exactly as it appears in your passport. |
| Move-in date | Datum des Einzugs — the calendar day you took possession of the dwelling. |
| Full residential address | Anschrift der Wohnung — street, house number, postcode and city of the flat. |
| Landlord's name & address | Name und Anschrift des Wohnungsgebers — the property owner or authorised housing provider. |
| Landlord's signature | Unterschrift des Wohnungsgebers — a handwritten or qualified electronic signature, not a typed name. |
No special form is required by law — a signed letter containing these five points is legally valid. Most cities also publish a free Wohnungsgeberbestätigung template on their Bürgeramt website, which you can print and hand to your landlord for convenience. For the matching registration paperwork, see our line-by-line Anmeldung form English translation guide.
Special cases: who can sign your confirmation
The Wohnungsgeber is whoever gave you the right to live in the dwelling — not always the property owner. Three situations trip up newcomers: sublets, staying with friends, and short-term serviced stays.
Sublets & WGs (Wohngemeinschaften)
If you sublet a room from a main tenant, the main tenant is your Wohnungsgeber and signs the confirmation — they do not need the owner's permission to confirm your move-in. If your subletter refuses because they fear the owner will find out about the sublet, that is a known problem with a known fix, covered in the refusal protocol below.
Staying with friends or family
If you move in with a friend or relative who owns or rents the flat, that person signs as your Wohnungsgeber. The Bürgeramt accepts a signed private confirmation; you do not need a formal lease. Bring proof of your relationship to the address (a letter, a bill in your name, or messages about the arrangement) in case the clerk asks.
Airbnb & serviced apartments
For short-term stays under six months you are generally exempt from the registration duty, but if you stay longer the host must sign. A booking confirmation or Airbnb receipt is not a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — ask the host to sign a short letter with the five required fields. Many will; if they refuse, take your booking, payment proof and messages to the Bürgeramt and let the clerk decide.
Free copy-and-paste German email template
Send this to your landlord, subletter or host the day you move in. Replace the bracketed fields with your details. The email is polite but precise — it lists the five required points so your landlord can simply copy them onto a sheet, sign, and scan it back. Keep a copy of the sent email for your records.
Betreff: Bitte um Ausstellung der Wohnungsgeberbestätigung gemäß § 19 BMG
Sehr geehrte/r [Name des Vermieters / der Wohnungsgeberin],
ich ziehe am [Einzugsdatum] in die Wohnung [Straße, Hausnummer, PLZ, Ort] ein und muss mich innerhalb von 14 Tagen beim Bürgeramt anmelden.
Gemäß § 19 des Bundesmeldegesetzes (BMG) benötige ich dafür eine von Ihnen unterzeichnete Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Diese enthält bitte:
- meinen vollständigen Namen: [Ihr vollständiger Name]
- das Datum des Einzugs: [Einzugsdatum]
- die Anschrift der Wohnung: [Straße, Hausnummer, PLZ, Ort]
- Ihren Namen und Ihre Anschrift als Wohnungsgeber/in
- Ihre Unterschrift
Ein Kopie des Mietvertrags wird vom Bürgeramt nicht akzeptiert; das unterschriebene Formular ist zwingend erforderlich.
Ich wäre Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie mir die unterschriebene Bestätigung bis zum [Datum in 7 Tagen] als Scan per E-Mail oder in Briefform zukommen lassen könnten.
Für Rückfragen stehe ich Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Ihr vollständiger Name]
[Ihre Telefonnummer]
What to do if your landlord refuses to sign
Under § 19 Abs. 1 BMG, issuing the confirmation is a legal duty, not a favour. A landlord who refuses can be fined up to €1,000. You do not collect the fine yourself — the Bürgeramt does — but the threat of it is your leverage. Follow the four steps below in order, and keep every piece of paper.
Step 1 — Send a formal written reminder citing § 19 BMG
Send the email template above (or a printed letter) and set a clear deadline of seven days. A written request that quotes the law is often enough to turn a "no" into a signature, because most landlords know the fine is real. Stay polite — you are building a paper trail, not picking a fight.
Step 2 — Gather backup evidence of your move-in
While the deadline runs, collect everything that proves you live where you say: your signed lease or sublease contract, the deposit transfer receipt, printed copies of your email thread, and any utility or internet contract in your name at the address. Put them in a single folder. If the landlord stays silent, this evidence is what you hand to the clerk instead of the missing form.
Step 3 — Keep your Bürgeramt appointment and go anyway
This is the step most expats get wrong. Do not cancel the appointment. Show up on time with your passport, the completed Anmeldung form, and your backup evidence. Tell the clerk your landlord is refusing to sign. The office deals with this constantly — it is a known process, not a dead end.
Step 4 — Let the Bürgeramt fine the landlord
Once you explain the refusal, the clerk can register you on the basis of your evidence and then contact the landlord directly on your behalf. A single official letter citing the up to €1,000 fine under § 19 Abs. 1 BMG tends to focus minds quickly. You do not argue the law or issue the fine — the Bürgeramt does, and it usually resolves the matter within days. For the deeper dive on this scenario, read our dedicated guide on a landlord refusing your Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.
FAQs
Is a scanned copy of the signed confirmation accepted?
Yes, at almost every Bürgeramt. A clear scan or photo of the hand-signed confirmation is accepted for the registration appointment. Bring the original with you if you can, but a digital copy is enough to complete the Anmeldung in most cities.
Can my main tenant sign it instead of the owner?
Yes. Whoever gave you the right to live in the dwelling is your Wohnungsgeber. If you sublet from a main tenant, the main tenant signs — they do not need the owner's permission. If they refuse out of fear of the owner, follow the refusal protocol above; the Bürgeramt can register you from your evidence and follow up with the main tenant directly.
Does the Airbnb host have to sign it?
For stays longer than six months, yes — the host is your Wohnungsgeber and must sign. For shorter stays you are usually exempt from the registration duty, but if your city still asks, request a signed letter with the five required fields. A booking confirmation alone is never a substitute for the signed confirmation.