Questions about dealing with the coronavirus
- Are the Mr. Lodge offices open?
- What needs to be considered during appointments?
Our employees are instructed to insist on the mandatory hygiene regulations.Please make sure you wear a mask during the appointment and always keep a distance of 1.5 to 2 meters. We can also provide you with a disposable mask on site if needed. In case you are sick, we would ask you to inform us as soon as possible.
- How does the apartment return work?
Due to the current situation return appointments can only take place without the tenant at the moment.
Tenants can send us the keys in advance either personally or by courier. Alternatively, it is possible to hand over the keys to our representative outside your apartment.
We will prepare the protocol afterwards and send it to you via email.
Please let us know if you would like us to do the appointment for you or if you would like to do the apartment return yourself. Joint appointments can unfortunately not take place at the moment either.
- How do apartment handovers work?
Due to the current situation handover appointments can only take place without the tenant at the moment.
After a detailed protocol of the apartment, our representative will meet the tenant in front of the house to hand over the keys. Alternatively, tenants can pick up the keys at our office at Barer Str. 32, 80333 Munich.
In both cases, the protocol will be sent to you via email afterwards.
Please let us know if you would like us to do the appointment for you or if you would like to do the apartment handover yourself. Joint appointments can unfortunately not take place at the moment either.
- Is there a minimum rental period?
- Does the property have to be fully furnished and equipped?
Most of our clients will come to Munich for project-based work and only stay for a limited amount of time, arriving with just their suitcase. They expect modern equipment, complete furnishing and a kitchen equipped with tableware, cutlery, pots, pans, kettle as well as other home items such as bedding, towels, vacuum etc. If possible, the apartment should have a washing machine or a washer-dryer. The technological standard is just as important: high-speed internet access and a smart TV, for example. On request our interior design team can provide you with an inventory list.
- Should I, as landlord, provide internet/Wi-Fi-access?
We recommend you provide an internet/Wi-Fi-access with at least 50 Mbit/s if possible. It is a very important decision-making factor for many potential tenants and improves the rental prospects. Many customers are not interested in apartments without good internet access. Unfortunately, the liability issue is not absolutely clear in these cases. So far, there have only been few irregularities among the large circle of landlords who offer internet. In the few cases that are known to us, the tenants have assumed liability. Our rental agreements all contain an internet usage liability clause.
- Which internet service provider does Mr. Lodge recommend?
We recommend a high-speed internet connection via M-Net. Costs can vary, depending on the download speed from €24,90 to €49,90 per month plus a one-time installation fee of €49,90 (24 months minimum contract term), or €99,90 (without minimum contract term). M-Net is the only provider that includes a contract without a telephone landline, which most tenants do not require (as of 2018). If the apartment has cable-TV you can add internet connection via kabel-deutschland.de or pyur.com.
- Is a telephone connection important?
- What are the marketing costs for me as the landlord?
Total rental period Net commission fee* Gross commission fee up to 6 months 98,32% + VAT = 117% of one month’s rent up to 7 months 112,60% + VAT. = 134% of one month’s rent up to 8 months 126,89% + VAT = 151% of one month’s rent up to 9 months 141,18% + VAT = 168% of one month’s rent up to 10 months and longer 155,46% + VAT = 185% of one month’s rent - Does Mr. Lodge handle handovers and apartment returns?
On request Mr. Lodge will gladly arrange and carry out handovers and returns of your apartment or house. A comprehensive protocol is created with the help of our in-house app. You can either cover this service with our premium package, or alternatively book individual services.
Further information can be found here:
- Does Mr. Lodge maintain contact during the rental period?
- Does Mr. Lodge arrange cleaning services?
If desired Mr. Lodge will arrange final cleanings. We work closely with over 10 cleaning companies. The organization of the final cleaning is included in our premium package.
You can order this service as an individual service:
We work in close cooperation with over 10 cleaning companies.
Maintenance cleanings can be ordered by the tenant directly and will not be organized through Mr. Lodge. - What does Mr. Lodge's interior design team offer?
Our qualified interior designers are happy to offer you their support: from photo-friendly decoration to the complete new furnishing of your apartment / your house. You can find an overview of the entire range of services here.
- What does the technical service team take care of?
Our technical service team helps with small repairs, maintenance works or any larger damages to the property. We coordinate repairs and provide assistance so that you do not have to worry about anything.
- Can I provide my own photos/videos?
High-quality photos and videos are vital in an optimal presentation and successful brokering of your property. We also emphasize a uniform presentation of all our apartments and houses. All photos and videos are taken by specialists at Mr. Lodge with only the latest and professional photo and video equipment. Unfortunately, we cannot accept photos or videos by other parties.
- How much does the photo-/video service cost?
The costs are part of the Mr. Lodge service package and there are no additional costs for taking photos and videos. More information can be found here.
- What do I have to keep in mind during the photo appointment?
Quite often the property is still occupied by a tenant or the Landlord themselves during the photo appointment. However, your apartment/house should appear as neutral as possible. Make sure that your property looks inviting: fresh flowers are always a nice welcome gesture, the beds should be made and personal belongings should not be visible if possible. More information can be found here.
- Who can rent through Mr. Lodge?
- Who needs a temporary accommodation in the Munich area?
Our client base mostly consists of people who come to Munich for professional reasons for months or years and have a temporary need. Many are highly-qualified specialists who work on projects for renowned companies on a project-by-project basis. These clients look for good to very good properties (1-room to 4-room apartments and houses).
- Who decides which tenants moves in?
It is always the landlord who decides. If a client is specifically interested in your property we will contact you and give you the most important information in advance, such as the tenant’s background, intended rental period, whether they move in alone, etc. As the landlord, you decide for yourself who you enter into a contract with. Mr. Lodge will gladly assist you with your decision.
- Is the tenant verified beforehand?
We are a member of the SCHUFA. When drawing up a rental contract we have been using the SCHUFA credit rating reports since 2011 – as far as possible or necessary. Additionally, we are a member of CREDITREFORM, the largest German business information agency. Our aim is to provide you with the highest possible level of security and we make every effort to find only reputable, solvent tenants for you. We screen prospective tenants and ask for tenant information. However, we can not offer you a guarantee. Mr. Lodge is not liable for any loss of rental income or damages.
- Are furnished rentals interesting for investors?
- High returns
As a rule, a higher return is to be expected for furnished accommodations. The investment in furnishing and equipment at the beginning will be offset in the long term by correspondingly higher rents. As a landlord, however, you can be subject to fluctuations in the housing market. The rent prices fluctuate depending on the economic situation. (Please see: determination of rental price)
- Your property remains available
Tenants usually stay in Munich for project-based work, meaning that rental periods relatively short (in most cases 6 to 24 months). Your property remains available for sale or for personal use.
- Investment consulting
If you are about to make an investment decision, it is helpful to contact us. Your contact persons: Norbert Verbücheln and Dietmar Schlüter, Tel. +49 89 340 823-44 We know the needs of clients in need of temporary accommodation. Mr. Lodge has served as a broker for several thousand apartments over the last decades.
- Who takes care of my apartment when I am not in Munich?
Mr. Lodge is the contact person for both landlord and tenant during the entire rental period. If you are not in Munich (generally or temporarily) we will take care of all the tenant’s questions or concerns in consultation with you.
If there is a need for extensive counselling or should you need the help of our technical service team or our interior design team, we will charge our services after consultation with you. This can be the case with properties which, for example, have an above-average susceptibility to defects due to the age of the equipment (electrical appliances, furniture) or the age of the sanitary facilities.What could be a problem in your home (examples):
- TV/dishwasher is defective
Remedy: repair or exchange for a new unit after consultation - Smaller appliance (e.g. coffee maker) is defective
Remedy: usually new purchase - Water damage/ water pipe burst
Remedy: emergency service/sanitation company, may require work from insurance company
With smaller repairs/replacement of small items or in emergency situations (e.g. water pipe burst) we usually decide immediately and pass on the effective costs to you or the contractor invoice goes directly to you. In the case of larger repairs, we will discuss the procedure with you in advance. Therefore, it is important for us that you can be reached easily. If you go on holiday, please let us know how we can reach you there or who will represent you during this time. The complete satisfaction of landlord and tenant is Mr. Lodge's top priority. Please understand, however, that we are not always able to meet this requirement in the case of very extensive wishes or work overload. - TV/dishwasher is defective
- Who pays the public broadcasting fees?
The tenant has to register radio and TV appliances and pay for them. (https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de)
- Will the security deposit be transferred to the landlord’s account?
Due to the short-term nature of tenancies with furnished rentals (usually 6 to 12 months), the deposit is usually paid directly to the landlord's account and is refunded to the tenant's account as soon as the apartment is returned. The landlords are legally obliged to pay back the deposit as soon as there are no more open or unsettled claims. The landlord is obligated to keep the deposit protected against insolvency.
- Can the deposit be paid into a savings account?
This is the most common way when renting an unfurnished apartment. It is, however, more difficult with the shorter rental periods for furnished rentals. Often times, the tenant has to pay an additional small amount, e.g. cleaning costs. The landlord can only settle this amount via the savings accounts with a great deal of time and effort, or he issues the tenant with an invoice and hands over the savings account only after the invoice has been paid. After moving out of the apartment, the tenant is quite often no longer in Munich or Germany.
- Is a bank guarantee possible?
If the tenant is a company, this type of deposit is usually preferred or, in some cases, this is a condition for the signing of a rental agreement. The bank guarantee must be properly issued and have no immediate expiry date at the end of the lease. It becomes difficult if the tenant extends the lease several times. In this case, you must ensure that the bank guarantee is unlimited in time.
- When will the deposit be returned?
In general, the deposit minus the cleaning costs will be refunded to the tenant within 2 to 4 weeks after the return of the apartment, via money transfer to a bank account named by the tenant. The refund can be delayed if damages have to be settled or claims have yet to be paid. Legally, landlords are obligated to return the deposit immediately if there are no outstanding claims or damages. Prompt settlement and refund of the security deposit is understandably very important for tenants. If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to contact our landlord consulting team.
- Who is liable in case of damages?
Mr. Lodge mediates the rental agreement and is not liable for compliance with the rental contract agreement. The tenant is liable for damages caused by him to the apartment/house or its furniture and equipment.
As a precaution against damages, you as landlord take the deposit (generally two months’ rent). Please consult us if there is a dispute between the tenant and you regarding return of the deposit. We represent a neutral position. - Does it make sense to take out a household insurance?
As a landlord you can take out a commercial household insurance for your furnished apartment. Talk to your insurance advisor about this. Please note, however, that the insurance company is not liable for many types of damage, i.e. the insurance company does not pay in the event of damage (see below)
- Does the tenant need liability insurance?
- What are the sources of danger?
Our multi-lingual service team will gladly be at your disposal with advice and assistance. Our office hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00.
Steven Meyer
Landlord Advisory Service