7. IF I BUY A RENTAL APARTMENT IN GERMANY, CAN I LIVE IN IT AND WHEN?
Almost all leases in Germany are for an indefinite term with the right to terminate under German law. This means that the tenant lives in the apartment for as long as they wish, unless the property owner decides to live in it themselves. If it is necessary to evict the tenant, the owner must send the tenant a special notification letter informing him of his intentions to personally reside in the apartment and asking him to leave the apartment within a certain period. According to German law, if the tenant has lived in the apartment for less than 8 years, he or she is given a period of 3 months to move out. If the tenant has lived in the apartment for more than 8 years, however, they are given 9 months to evict.
At the request of the owner, the lease in Germany can be concluded for a fixed term. In this case, the contract will expire at the end of the specified period, after which the tenant must leave the apartment.