What a good German application letter looks like
German landlords prefer short and factual over long and emotional. A good letter (Anschreiben) fits on half a page and answers the questions they would otherwise ask:
- who is moving in (you, partner, children, pets)
- what you do and whether your income is stable
- when you could move in
- why this flat fits you, in one or two sentences
- that your documents are attached and you are available for a viewing
Should you write in English or German?
German, if you can. Even a simple German letter signals that you will manage letters from the property manager, utility bills and house rules. Our generator writes the German text for you from your English answers.
If you are not comfortable with German yet, it is perfectly fine to add a line saying you prefer English for further communication. Honesty about this tends to go down better than a perfect letter followed by a phone call you can't follow.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copy-paste messages that don't mention the flat at all.
- Long life stories. Keep it to the facts that matter for a tenancy.
- Missing documents. Say "documents attached" and actually attach them, ideally as one PDF.
- Waiting. Reply to new listings fast. Having your letter ready means you only adjust two lines per flat.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the letter be?
Half a page to one page. In a portal message, a few short paragraphs are enough.
Do I use "Sie" or "du"?
Always the formal "Sie" with landlords and property managers, unless they clearly address you with "du" first. The generator uses "Sie".
Should I mention that I'm new to Germany?
Yes, briefly. Explaining that you just moved for a job or studies also explains why you have no German rental history or SCHUFA yet.
Can I send the letter as an email text instead of a PDF?
Yes. Many people paste the letter into the email or portal message and attach the full application PDF.