Document background
The Notice to Vacate is a critical document in German property management, used when a landlord wishes to legally terminate a rental agreement. It must strictly comply with the German Civil Code (BGB) and related tenancy laws, which provide strong protection for tenants' rights. The document is used in various scenarios, including ordinary termination with standard notice periods (3-9 months depending on tenancy duration) or extraordinary termination for serious breaches. The notice must be in written form, clearly state the termination date, and provide legally valid reasons if required. In Germany, landlords must have legitimate interest (berechtigtes Interesse) for termination, and tenants have the right to contest the notice if it would cause undue hardship. This document is particularly important as improper execution can result in the termination being invalid.
