How a rent guarantee works
With a rent guarantee (Mietbürgschaft), a third person, usually a parent (Elternbürgschaft), promises to pay if you don't. For landlords this reduces the risk of renting to someone with no German income history.
A guarantee must be given in writing with a handwritten signature (§ 766 BGB). An email or a typed name is not enough. Our template creates the German declaration, which your guarantor prints, signs by hand and gives to you.
Limits: deposit and amount
The rental deposit (Kaution) may be at most three months' net rent (§ 551 BGB). Courts have generally applied this cap to a guarantee given in addition to a deposit, unless the guarantor offers it voluntarily and unprompted. In practice, many guarantees are therefore limited to a specific amount. If in doubt, ask a tenants' association.
Guarantor abroad: what to expect
Many German landlords are reluctant to accept a guarantor who lives outside Germany, because enforcing a claim abroad is complicated. That doesn't mean it never works, but expect questions. Things that can help:
- proof of your guarantor's income and a copy of their ID
- the guarantee in German (our template), signed by hand
- offering a slightly higher deposit within the legal limit
If landlords keep saying no, look at rent deposit guarantee providers (Mietkautionsbürgschaft or deposit insurance), offered by insurers and some banks. Instead of paying the deposit in cash, you pay an annual fee and the provider guarantees the deposit to the landlord. Compare terms carefully, the fees are not refundable.
Students and blocked accounts
If you live off a blocked account (Sperrkonto), landlords often see it as limited and temporary income. Combine the payout confirmation with a guarantee from your parents and, if you have one, a scholarship letter. A guarantor in Germany, for example a relative or friend with a stable job, carries more weight than one abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Who can be my guarantor?
Anyone with sufficient, verifiable income who is willing to take on the risk. Most often it is a parent. Landlords may ask for the guarantor's proof of income.
Can my guarantor sign digitally?
No. Under § 766 BGB, a guarantee requires written form with a handwritten signature. Have them sign the printed document and send you the original or at least a scan plus the original by post.
Will a landlord accept parents living outside Germany?
Some will, many won't. It depends on the landlord. Offer it anyway, and keep a deposit guarantee provider or a guarantor in Germany as plan B.
What is the difference between a guarantor and a deposit guarantee?
A guarantor covers your rent obligations if you can't pay. A deposit guarantee provider replaces the cash deposit, so you don't have to pay up to three months' rent upfront.