New reporting regulations for relocation
The new Federal Registration Act comes into force on 1 November 2015. In this context, some new regulations must be observed, e.g. when moving house.
General obligation to register
The obligation to register and deregister with the registration office, which is familiar in Germany, remains. Anyone moving into a new home must register with the registration office within two weeks of moving in.
It is only necessary to deregister a flat with the registration office if you do not move into a new flat in Germany after moving out of a flat, e.g. if you move abroad or give up a secondary residence. Here too, the deadline is two weeks from moving out. However, it is also possible to notify the registration office of deregistration one week before moving out.
NEW: Submission of confirmation from the landlord
From 1 November 2015, the obligation to cooperate on the part of the landlord or owner of the flat when registering and deregistering (e.g. when moving abroad) will be introduced. The landlord or flat owner must confirm the tenant's move in or move out in writing.
From 1 November 2015, this confirmation from the landlord must be presented when registering the flat at the registration office. Presentation of the tenancy agreement is not sufficient.
When deregistering, the confirmation is required if the residence is moved abroad, a secondary residence is to be deregistered or if (for the time being) no new residence is being moved into in Germany, e.g. in the event of homelessness. A sample of the landlord's confirmation of residence is available on the website of the City of Chemnitz at
to find.
NEW: Deregistration of a secondary residence
In future, a secondary residence must be deregistered at the registration authority where the main residence is located. The deregistration will then be sent from there to the registration authority of the secondary residence.