Move-out notice and apartment documentation | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: In a housing office discussion, a tenant asks how to give proper move-out notice and document the apartment condition before leaving..

EN → DE / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Move-out notice and apartment documentation to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Vielleicht ziehe ich aus, aber ich möchte die Kündigung richtig einreichen.

fee-LYKHT TSEE-uh ikh OWS, AH-buh ikh MURKH-tuh dee KUEN-di-goong RIKH-tikh EYN-rye-khen. I may move out, but I want to handle notice correctly.
B

Im Mietvertrag stehen die Kündigungsfristen, aber ich kann sie für Sie zusammenfassen.

im MEET-fair-trahk SHTAY-en dee KUEN-di-goong-frees-ten, AH-buh ikh kahn zee fyoor zee tsoo-ZAHM-en-fahs-en. The lease explains notice requirements, but I can summarize them.
A

Bitte tun Sie das, denn rechtliche Formulierungen können schwer zu verstehen sein.

BIT-tuh toon zee dahss, den REKH-tli-khuh for-moo-LEE-roong-en KURN-en shvair tsoo-fer-SHTAY-en zyne. Please do, because legal wording can be difficult to interpret.
B

Sie müssen schriftlich kündigen und die Wohnung sauber zurückgeben.

zee MUESS-en SHRIFFT-likh KUEN-di-gen oont dee VOH-noong ZOW-buh roo-KUEK-gay-ben. You need written notice, and the property must be returned clean.
A

Ich möchte außerdem Streit über normale Abnutzung vermeiden.

ikh MURKH-tuh OWS-uh-DAYM SHTRYTE UE-buh nor-MAH-luh AHP-noot-soong fer-MY-den. I also want to avoid disputes over normal wear.
B

Wir können eine Wohnungsbesichtigung vereinbaren, um den Zustand der Wohnung zu dokumentieren.

veer KURN-en EYE-nuh VOH-noongz buh-ZIKH-ti-goong fer-EYN-bah-ren, oom dayn TSOO-shtahnt dair VOH-noong tsoo dok-oo-men-TEE-ren. We can schedule an inspection to document the condition.
A

Das würde den Ablauf für mich weniger stressig machen.

dahss VUER-duh dayn OWP-lowf fyoor mikh VAY-ni-guh SHTRES-ikh MAKH-en. That would make the process less stressful.
B

Klare Unterlagen verhindern beim Auszug normalerweise Missverständnisse.

KLAH-ruh OON-ter-lah-gen fer-HIN-dern byme OWS-tsoog nor-MAH-luh-vy-zuh MIS-fair-SHTENT-ni-suh. Clear records usually prevent misunderstandings during move-out.

Word by Word

Vielleicht “Vielleicht” means perhaps and shows that moving out is only a possibility here. It is useful at the beginning of a statement when presenting an uncertain plan, as in “Vielleicht ziehe ich aus”.
ziehe “ziehe” means move in “ziehe ich aus”, referring to the speaker possibly leaving the apartment. Together with “aus”, it forms the expression for moving out; a tenant can use this when discussing a possible departure.
ich “ich” means I and refers to the person speaking. It is used as the subject in statements such as “Vielleicht ziehe ich aus” and “ich möchte die Kündigung richtig einreichen”.
aus “aus” completes “ziehe ich aus” and indicates moving out. It is the separated part of the verb used when someone leaves a home, so it appears at the end of the main clause here.
aber “aber” means but and contrasts the possible move-out with the speaker’s wish to handle the notice correctly. It connects two contrasting parts of a statement, as in “Vielleicht ziehe ich aus, aber …”.
möchte “möchte” expresses a polite want or intention in “ich möchte die Kündigung richtig einreichen”. It is useful for stating what you would like to do or arrange in a formal conversation.
die “die” is the definite article used with “Kündigung” in “die Kündigung”. It introduces the specific notice being submitted, and the pattern “die” plus noun is used for a known item.
Kündigung “Kündigung” means notice or termination notice; here it is the notice for ending the lease. It commonly appears with “einreichen” when a tenant wants to formally submit notice.
richtig “richtig” means correctly or properly and describes how the notice should be submitted. It can be used as an adverb with an action, as in “die Kündigung richtig einreichen”, when handling a formal procedure.
einreichen “einreichen” means submit or file, referring here to submitting the termination notice. It is used with the item being submitted, as in “die Kündigung richtig einreichen”, and is useful when completing official paperwork.
Im “Im” means in the in “Im Mietvertrag”. It is used here to locate the stated information in the lease, and the pattern “Im” plus a document is useful when referring to information contained there.
Mietvertrag “Mietvertrag” means lease agreement or rental contract. In “Im Mietvertrag stehen die Kündigungsfristen”, it is the document that contains the notice requirements, so a tenant can refer to it when checking the rules.
stehen “stehen” means are stated or appear in “Im Mietvertrag stehen die Kündigungsfristen”. With a document as the location, it can describe information that is written there rather than something physically standing.
Kündigungsfristen “Kündigungsfristen” means notice periods or notice deadlines. These are the required time limits found in the lease, and the phrase “Im Mietvertrag stehen die Kündigungsfristen” is useful when checking them.
kann “kann” means can and expresses the speaker’s ability to summarize the notice periods. It is used with an infinitive in “ich kann sie für Sie zusammenfassen”, useful when offering to do something.
sie Lowercase “sie” means them in “ich kann sie für Sie zusammenfassen” and refers to “die Kündigungsfristen”. The capitalized form “Sie” in “für Sie” means formal you, so capitalization distinguishes the two uses in this dialogue.
für “für” means for and marks the person who will receive the summary in “für Sie”. It is useful before a person when identifying who something is intended for or done for.
zusammenfassen “zusammenfassen” means summarize, here referring to presenting the notice periods briefly and clearly. It is used with the information being summarized, as in “sie für Sie zusammenfassen”, and is useful when reducing longer information to its main points.
Bitte “Bitte” means please and makes the request polite in “Bitte tun Sie das”. It is commonly placed at the beginning of a request to someone in a formal conversation.
tun “tun” means do in “Bitte tun Sie das”, where it refers back to summarizing the notice periods. The expression “tun Sie das” can be used to ask someone formally to carry out an action already understood from the context.
das “das” means that or it and refers back to the requested action in “Bitte tun Sie das”. This kind of pronoun is useful when pointing to an action or suggestion that has just been mentioned.
denn “denn” means because and introduces the reason for asking for the summary. It connects two main-clause statements, as in “Bitte tun Sie das, denn …”, and is useful for explaining a reason without changing the usual word order.
rechtliche “rechtliche” means legal and describes the wording in “rechtliche Formulierungen”. It is useful before a noun when referring to language or matters connected with law, especially in official documents.
Formulierungen “Formulierungen” means wording or formulations, here referring to the language used in legal texts. The phrase “rechtliche Formulierungen” is useful when discussing why official documents may be difficult to understand.
können “können” means can or may and expresses the possibility that the legal wording is difficult to understand. It combines with an adjective and an infinitive construction in “können schwer zu verstehen sein”.
schwer “schwer” means difficult in “schwer zu verstehen”. It describes how demanding understanding the legal wording may be, and the pattern “schwer zu” plus an infinitive is useful for describing a difficult action.
zu “zu” marks the infinitive in “zu verstehen”. Together with “schwer”, it helps form the meaning difficult to understand, as in “schwer zu verstehen sein”.
verstehen “verstehen” means understand or interpret, referring here to interpreting legal wording. It appears after “zu” in “zu verstehen” and is useful when discussing whether written information is clear.
sein “sein” means be and completes the construction “schwer zu verstehen sein”, meaning be difficult to understand. It links the subject, the legal wording, with the description of its understandability.
müssen “müssen” means must or need to and expresses a requirement: the tenant has to give notice in writing. It is followed by the required action in “Sie müssen schriftlich kündigen”, a useful pattern for stating an obligation.
schriftlich “schriftlich” means in writing or in written form and describes how the notice must be given. The phrase “schriftlich kündigen” is useful when explaining that a formal termination must be submitted in written form.
kündigen “kündigen” means give notice or terminate, here referring to ending the lease. It follows “müssen” in “Sie müssen schriftlich kündigen” and is useful when a tenant discusses formally ending a rental agreement.
und “und” means and and joins the two required actions in “schriftlich kündigen und die Wohnung sauber zurückgeben”. It is used to connect related actions that are both part of the move-out requirements.
Wohnung “Wohnung” means apartment and refers to the rented property. In the dialogue it appears in “die Wohnung” and “der Wohnung”, allowing the speaker to refer to the apartment as the item being returned and the property whose condition is documented.
sauber “sauber” means clean and describes the condition in which the apartment must be returned. The phrase “die Wohnung sauber zurückgeben” is useful when discussing the required state of a property at move-out.
zurückgeben “zurückgeben” means return or hand back, here referring to returning the apartment to the landlord or housing office. It is used with the thing being returned in “die Wohnung sauber zurückgeben”.
außerdem “außerdem” means also or in addition and adds another concern after the notice requirement. In “Ich möchte außerdem Streit … vermeiden”, it is useful for introducing an additional point in a discussion.
Streit “Streit” means dispute or disagreement, here concerning the condition of the apartment. It appears with “über” in “Streit über normale Abnutzung”, a useful pattern for naming the subject of a dispute.
über “über” means about or over and introduces the topic of the dispute in “Streit über normale Abnutzung”. It is useful after words such as “Streit” when identifying what people disagree about.
normale “normale” means normal or ordinary and describes the type of wear in “normale Abnutzung”. It is useful before a noun when distinguishing ordinary effects of use from other possible damage.
Abnutzung “Abnutzung” means wear and tear from use, here referring to ordinary changes to the apartment. The phrase “Streit über normale Abnutzung” is useful when discussing possible disagreements at the end of a tenancy.
vermeiden “vermeiden” means avoid and refers to preventing a dispute from occurring. It follows “möchte” in “Ich möchte außerdem Streit über normale Abnutzung vermeiden” and is useful with the problem someone wants to prevent.
Wir “Wir” means we and refers to the speaker together with others involved in arranging the inspection. The pattern “Wir können … vereinbaren” is useful when offering to arrange something jointly.
eine “eine” means a or one and introduces “Wohnungsbesichtigung” as an inspection to be arranged. It is useful before a noun when referring to one appointment or event that has not yet been specified.
Wohnungsbesichtigung “Wohnungsbesichtigung” means apartment inspection or viewing, here an inspection of the apartment’s condition before move-out. It appears in “eine Wohnungsbesichtigung vereinbaren”, useful when arranging an appointment to inspect a property.
vereinbaren “vereinbaren” means arrange or schedule, here referring to setting up the apartment inspection. The phrase “eine Wohnungsbesichtigung vereinbaren” is useful when making an appointment related to a property.
um “um” introduces the purpose of the inspection in “um den Zustand der Wohnung zu dokumentieren”. The pattern “um … zu” is useful for explaining what an action is intended to achieve.
den “den” is the definite article in “den Zustand” and introduces the specific condition being documented. It forms the object phrase “den Zustand der Wohnung dokumentieren”, useful when naming what is recorded.
Zustand “Zustand” means condition or state, here the condition of the apartment. The phrase “den Zustand der Wohnung dokumentieren” is useful when recording how a property looks or is maintained at a particular time.
der “der” means of the in “der Wohnung” and connects the condition with the apartment. The phrase “der Wohnung” is useful for specifying which property or object a condition belongs to.
dokumentieren “dokumentieren” means document or record, here referring to making a record of the apartment’s condition. It appears in the purpose construction “um den Zustand der Wohnung zu dokumentieren”.
würde “würde” means would and presents the result as an anticipated or imagined effect in “Das würde den Ablauf … machen”. The pattern “Das würde … machen” is useful when explaining what an arrangement or action would change.
Ablauf “Ablauf” means process or course of events, here referring to the move-out procedure. In “den Ablauf für mich weniger stressig machen”, it is the process whose experience would be improved.
mich “mich” means me and identifies the person for whom the process would become less stressful in “für mich”. The phrase “für mich” is useful when describing how a situation affects the speaker personally.
weniger “weniger” means less and reduces the degree of stress in “weniger stressig”. It is useful before an adjective when describing a lower degree of a quality.
stressig “stressig” means stressful and describes the move-out process. In “weniger stressig machen”, it refers to reducing the amount of stress associated with the process.
machen “machen” means make or cause to become, here describing how the inspection would make the process less stressful. The pattern “etwas weniger stressig machen” is useful when explaining that an action reduces the difficulty of a situation.
Klare “Klare” means clear and describes the records in “Klare Unterlagen”. It is useful when referring to documents whose information is understandable and usable during a formal process.
Unterlagen “Unterlagen” means records or documents, here referring to clear evidence about the apartment and the move-out. The phrase “Klare Unterlagen verhindern Missverständnisse” is useful when explaining how good documentation supports a process.
verhindern “verhindern” means prevent, here referring to stopping misunderstandings from occurring. It is used with the problem being prevented in “Missverständnisse verhindern”, a useful pattern for describing the benefit of clear records.
beim “beim” means during the or at the in “beim Auszug”. It identifies the move-out as the time when misunderstandings may occur and is useful before an event or activity.
Auszug “Auszug” means move-out, referring to the event of leaving the apartment. The phrase “beim Auszug” is useful when discussing what happens during the final stage of a tenancy.
normalerweise “normalerweise” means usually or normally and shows that clear records generally prevent misunderstandings, though not as an absolute guarantee. It can be used as a sentence adverb when describing a typical result.
Missverständnisse “Missverständnisse” means misunderstandings, here referring to confusion or disagreement during move-out. It appears as the object of “verhindern” in “Klare Unterlagen verhindern beim Auszug normalerweise Missverständnisse”.

Grammar Points

Trennbare Verben: ausziehen → ziehe ... aus

Ich ziehe aus.

ikh TSEE-uh OWS.

I am moving out.

The prefix aus- moves to the end of the sentence when the verb is conjugated.

bei dem → beim

Beim Auszug dokumentieren wir den Zustand.

byme OWS-tsoog dok-oo-men-TEE-ren veer dayn TSOO-shtahnt.

When moving out, we document the condition.

The preposition bei combines with the article dem to form beim before a masculine or neuter noun.

German Vocabulary

ausziehen verb
OWS-TSEE-en to move out ziehe ... aus

Vielleicht ziehe ich aus.

einreichen verb
EYN-rye-khen to submit

die Kündigung richtig einreichen

Formulierung noun
for-moo-LEE-roong wording; formulation rechtliche Formulierungen

rechtliche Formulierungen können schwer zu verstehen sein

kündigen verb
KUEN-di-gen to give notice; to terminate

Sie müssen schriftlich kündigen.

Kündigung noun
KUEN-di-goong notice; termination die Kündigung

Ich möchte die Kündigung richtig einreichen.

Kündigungsfrist noun
KUEN-di-goongs-freest notice period die Kündigungsfristen

Im Mietvertrag stehen die Kündigungsfristen.

Mietvertrag noun
MEET-fair-trahk lease; rental agreement Im Mietvertrag

Im Mietvertrag stehen die Kündigungsfristen.

rechtlich adj
REKH-tlikh legal rechtliche

rechtliche Formulierungen

sauber adv
ZOW-buh clean

die Wohnung sauber zurückgeben

schriftlich adv
SHRIFFT-likh in writing; written

Sie müssen schriftlich kündigen.

Wohnung noun
VOH-noong apartment die Wohnung

die Wohnung sauber zurückgeben

zusammenfassen verb
tsoo-ZAHM-en-fahs-en to summarize

ich kann sie für Sie zusammenfassen

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

in writing; written

Show Answerschriftlich

legal

Show Answerrechtliche

to submit

Show Answereinreichen

clean

Show Answersauber