Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: Complete Guide & Free Landlord Confirmation Template
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is the signed landlord confirmation your Bürgeramt demands for Anmeldung. Here is a free bilingual (English/German) form template you can print, the § 19 BMG rules, who signs in a sublet, and the mistakes that get it rejected.
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — literally the "housing provider confirmation" — is the one document that stands between you and a completed Anmeldung. 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 explains what the confirmation is, the legal requirements under § 19 of the Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG), who signs it in a sublet, and how to fill it in correctly. It also includes a free bilingual (English/German) form template you can print and hand to your landlord. Always confirm the current local process with the Bürgeramt that will register you, because forms and accepted formats can vary between offices.
What is a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung and Why Do You Need It?
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is a short, signed written statement from the person who gave you a dwelling, confirming that you moved into a specific address on a specific date. It is not the same as your rental contract (Mietvertrag). The lease proves a tenancy agreement exists; the confirmation proves you actually took possession of the flat. The Bürgeramt needs both, but only the signed confirmation satisfies the registration office at the moment you register.
A rental contract alone is not accepted at the Bürgeramt. The signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is a separate, legally required document — even when your lease is already signed and your deposit is paid.
You need it because German law requires everyone to register their address within 14 days of moving in (the deadline can differ in some cities, so check locally). The registration office will not process your Anmeldung without the signed confirmation from your Wohnungsgeber. For the matching registration paperwork, see our line-by-line Anmeldung form English translation guide.
Legal Requirements under § 19 Bundesmeldegesetz
Section 19 of the Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG) places the duty to issue the confirmation on the Wohnungsgeber — the person who has granted occupancy of a dwelling. The law sets out the minimum information the document must contain. If any of these fields is missing, the Bürgeramt can refuse to register you and send you back for a corrected form. No special form is prescribed by law: a signed letter containing the required points is legally valid, and most cities also publish a free template on their Bürgeramt website.
| Required information | What it means |
|---|---|
| Name of the person moving in | Your full name exactly as it appears in your passport (Name des/der Einziehenden). |
| Move-in date | The calendar day you took possession of the dwelling (Datum des Einzugs). |
| Full residential address | Street, house number, postcode and city of the flat (Anschrift der Wohnung). |
| Name and address of the Wohnungsgeber | The housing provider’s name and address (Name und Anschrift des Wohnungsgebers). |
| Signature of the Wohnungsgeber | A handwritten or qualified electronic signature — not a typed name (Unterschrift). |
The Wohnungsgeber must issue the confirmation at the moment they grant occupancy — in practice, on or around your move-in date. There is no separate statutory "deadline" by which they must hand it to you beyond the duty to provide it when you move in; the 14-day clock that matters is your own registration deadline. If a Wohnungsgeber refuses to issue the confirmation, that is an obstruction of your registration duty and carries its own penalty under § 54 BMG. The refusal protocol is covered in our dedicated landlord-refusal guide.
Subletting (Untermiete): Who Signs the Confirmation?
A common source of confusion is who counts as the Wohnungsgeber. The legal definition is functional, not formal: the Wohnungsgeber is whoever gave you the right to occupy the dwelling — which is not always the property owner. The answer depends on the factual arrangement, not simply on who holds the title to the building.
You rent from the owner
If you sign a lease directly with the property owner or their property manager, that owner or manager is your Wohnungsgeber and signs the confirmation. This is the straightforward case.
You rent a room from a main tenant
If you sublet from a main tenant (Untermieter), the main tenant — not the property owner — is your Wohnungsgeber, because they are the one who granted you occupancy. They do not need the owner’s permission to confirm your move-in. If they refuse because they fear the owner discovering the sublet, follow the refusal protocol.
You move in with a friend or relative
If you move in with someone who already owns or rents the flat, that person signs as your Wohnungsgeber. A signed private confirmation is accepted; you do not need a formal lease. Bring supporting evidence of the arrangement in case the clerk asks.
For short-term commercial stays (such as a hotel or a serviced apartment under six months), you are generally exempt from the registration duty. If you stay longer, the operator or host becomes the Wohnungsgeber and must sign. A booking confirmation or Airbnb receipt is not a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — ask the host to sign a short letter containing the five required points.
Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out the Document
Your landlord or Wohnungsgeber completes and signs the form — not you. But you can prepare it so all they have to do is check the details and sign. Follow these steps to avoid a rejected Anmeldung.
- 01
Download the bilingual template below
Print the free English/German form further down this page, or download your city’s official template from the Bürgeramt website. Either is legally valid as long as it contains the five required points under § 19 BMG.
- 02
Pre-fill your details in both languages
Enter your full name (as in your passport), your move-in date, and the full address of the flat. Pre-filling reduces the chance your landlord leaves a field blank. Do not sign the Wohnungsgeber’s field yourself — that signature must come from them.
- 03
Hand it to your Wohnungsgeber to complete and sign
Give the form to whoever granted you occupancy — the owner, the main tenant in a sublet, or your host. They add their own name and address and sign by hand, or with a qualified electronic signature where the Bürgeramt accepts one.
- 04
Check every field is complete before your appointment
Verify the address has a postcode and city, the move-in date is present, and the signature is handwritten — not a typed name. A single missing field is the most common reason a form is sent back.
- 05
Take it to your Anmeldung appointment
Bring the signed confirmation together with your passport and completed Anmeldung form to the Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in. Keep a copy of the signed form for your own records.
Free Bilingual (English/German) Form Template
Below is a printable bilingual form preview you can copy onto a sheet of paper. It contains every field required under § 19 BMG in both English and German, so your landlord understands each line. Replace the [bracketed] fields with your details, then have your Wohnungsgeber add their name, address and signature. This private template meets the legal minimum, but local Bürgerämter can vary — if your office publishes its own form, use that one to be safe.
Betreff: Wohnungsgeberbestätigung / Landlord Confirmation of Move-in
Name of the person moving in / Name des/der Einziehenden:
[Your full name as in your passport]
Move-in date / Datum des Einzugs:
[DD.MM.YYYY]
Residential address / Anschrift der Wohnung:
[Street and house number, postcode, city]
Name and address of the Wohnungsgeber / Name und Anschrift des Wohnungsgebers:
[Landlord / main tenant / host name and full address]
Signature of the Wohnungsgeber / Unterschrift des Wohnungsgebers:
_________________________________ Date / Datum: ____________
Prefer a ready-to-send email asking your landlord to issue the confirmation? Our main Wohnungsgeberbestätigung guide includes a copy-paste German email template that lists all five required points.
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection at the Bürgeramt
- Missing signature — a typed name is not a signature. The Wohnungsgeber must sign by hand (or with a qualified electronic signature where accepted).
- Incomplete address — a flat number, postcode or city left blank means the clerk cannot verify where you live.
- Wrong signer — in a sublet, the main tenant (not the property owner) is the Wohnungsgeber. Having the wrong person sign can invalidate the form.
- Confusing the form with the lease — attaching only the Mietvertrag instead of the signed confirmation is the most common first-time mistake.
- Late registration — even a perfect form does not help if you miss the 14-day Anmeldung deadline. Book your appointment early.
Frequently Asked Questions
With the signed confirmation in hand, the two guides below cover the rest of your registration paperwork and what to do if a landlord still refuses to sign.
Reviewed by the Expat Germany Guide editorial team
This guide is informational and based on the publicly published text of the Bundesmeldegesetz (§ 19 and § 54 BMG) and general German registration practice. Forms, accepted formats and local procedures can vary between Bürgerämter, cities and federal states, and the responsible office makes the final decision on registration. A private template that meets the statutory minimum is not guaranteed to be accepted by every office. Always confirm the current requirements with the Bürgeramt that will register you before your appointment. It is not formal legal advice.