- Price
- €7.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- Next business dayusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Delivery recordinto the letterbox, + tracking
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 12:00Central European Time on a business day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in Germany
Do I have to reclaim the deposit by registered mail?
No. There is no required form for reclaiming the deposit (Mietkaution): an email or an ordinary letter is enough if the landlord confirms receipt. If they do not reply, proof is what counts.
You can only claim interest and costs once the landlord is in default, and that usually needs a reminder with a deadline. If you later have to sue, you must be able to show that reminder arrived. Registered mail (Einschreiben) is the usual way to do that.
What does an Einschreiben Einwurf prove?
An Einschreiben Einwurf records posting and the drop into the letterbox. In court the online tracking status alone is not enough: in 2025 the Federal Labour Court held that it does not replace the carrier's delivery record. In 2026 it added that a delivery record from the scan procedure does not raise a presumption of receipt either.
So registered mail is good evidence, not certain proof. Ask Deutsche Post for the delivery record if the landlord denies receipt; it is kept for about 15 months. Keep your PDF and the tracking number too.
What are the deposit rules?
| Point | Rule |
|---|---|
| Amount | At most three months' rent without service charges, payable in three instalments |
| Holding | Separate from the landlord's assets, at the usual savings rate; the interest belongs to the tenant |
| Refund | After you move out, once the landlord has had a reasonable time to check |
| Default | Usually only after a reminder that reached the landlord |
| Limitation | Usually three years from the end of the year the claim fell due |
How do you reclaim the deposit by registered mail?
- Write the letterUse the German sample below with a deadline and your bank details.
- Upload it as a PDFWith the landlord's address in the window area.
- Posted the same dayWhen uploaded by 12:00 Central European time on a business day.
- Keep your proofIf it is disputed, ask Deutsche Post for the delivery record.
Sample deposit demand letter in German
In German, the language your landlord reads. Replace the parts in brackets.
[Vorname Nachname]
[Neue Anschrift]
[Vermieter]
[Anschrift]
Rückzahlung der Mietkaution, Wohnung [Anschrift der Wohnung]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
das Mietverhältnis über die oben genannte Wohnung endete am [Datum]. Die Schlüssel habe ich am [Datum] übergeben. Ich habe eine Kaution von [Betrag] Euro gezahlt.
Bitte zahlen Sie mir die Kaution samt Zinsen bis zum [Datum, zwei Wochen ab heute] auf dieses Konto zurück:
IBAN: [IBAN]
Kontoinhaber: [Name]
Wollen Sie einen Teil einbehalten, schicken Sie mir bitte bis zu diesem Datum eine Abrechnung mit Begründung.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Vorname Nachname]
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to reclaim a German deposit by registered mail?
No, any form works. Registered mail helps if you later need to prove your reminder with a deadline arrived.
How long can a German landlord keep the deposit?
A reasonable time to check their claims. The law sets no fixed deadline.
Do I get interest on the deposit?
Yes. The landlord must hold the deposit at the usual savings rate, and the interest is yours.
When does the claim expire?
Usually three years from the end of the year the refund fell due.
Is the tracking status enough proof?
Often not. If there is a dispute, ask Deutsche Post for the delivery record.
Does registered mail prove the contents?
No registered letter proves the contents. Your proof PDF does contain the printed letter, so you can show what you sent.