FAQ for tenants

The cost of renting a furnished apartment varies, depending on the size, location, and features of the property. You should expect the following range of prices. (Final prices: include all utilities, as well as internet and electricity)

The rental rates shown by Mr. Lodge usually include all utilities and extra charges. The reason for this is simply that it's often very difficult for property owners to break down the various extra costs for a rental period of only 6-12 months (or even less). However, in some cases you may have to count on having additional utility payments, e.g. electricity, internet, cable TV, or an optionally rentable underground parking space.

Our service is free of charge for you as a tenant. After signing the contract, you pay the monthly rent and a one-time deposit (usually two months’ rent) to the landlord.

If you have found a suitable offer on our website or would like us to send you suitable offers, please fill out our complete registration form first. A customer advisor will contact you as soon as possible to discuss the next steps. We would be happy to arrange a viewing appointment on site. Once you have decided on an apartment we will discuss this with the landlord and draw up the rental agreement.

After registration we will send you suitable apartment offers by email. On request we arrange individual viewing appointments on site, including in the evenings or on weekends. Once you have decided on an apartment we contact the landlord and draw up the rental agreement in German and, if applicable, in English. The apartment will be handed over by the landlord of an employee of Mr. Lodge. If we carry out the appointment we prepare a comprehensive protocol, including photos. Mr. Lodge will remain your contact throughout the rental period and will discuss the extension of the rental agreement of the handover of the apartment with you at the end of the rental period.

Final cleaning - As agreed in the rental contract, the apartment must be returned professionally cleaned. Upon moving out, a commercial final cleaning takes place, which is commissioned by the landlord to a professional company. The costs are based on time and effort and are usually covered by the tenant. The landlord receives the invoice from the cleaning company and settles the costs with the deposit. Thorough pre-cleaning can significantly reduce the cost of commercial cleaning. For everything that is part of a final cleaning, please refer to our checklist.

The stated rental period is binding. For example, if an apartment is offered from June 1st, it can't be rented before this date and not considerably later. By mutual agreement and as an exception, a rental period can be postponed up to 2 weeks. As a rule, this is possible for a minimum rental period of 6 months only. The rental period cannot be extended, if an end date is specified. If a variable rental period is indicated, minor deviations may be negotiated with the landlord.

The city of Munich regards a rental period of three to five months as wrongful use of living space, therefore all apartments and houses can only be rented for a period of six months or longer.

Landlords generally have a clear opinion of how many tenants can stay in their apartment - the furnishings set limits as well. Here is a guideline for the number of tenants: 1-room apartment/studio: 1 person
2-room apartment: 2 people or 1 couple
3-room apartment: 3 people or 1 couple + 1 child etc.

You can view all our apartments online at any time. High-quality photos and videos of the apartments and the surrounding areas, as well as additional details are available for every property.

Should you wish to view an object on-site, please tell your costumer service advisor. If the apartment is still rented, an appointment will be arranged with the current tenant. If the apartment is already vacant, appointments are usually available on short notice. Please keep in mind that in most cases the apartment will be rented out to the first prospective tenant to make a binding statement. Therefore, we advise you not to arrange the appointments too late, so that your desired property will not be rented out in the meantime.

The rental contract is made between the landlord and the tenant. In most cases Mr. Lodge will draw up the contract in consultation with the landlord and the tenant and forward the contract to both parties for signing.

If a fixed rental period is agreed upon, e.g. 6 months, then this is binding for both parties. For longer rental periods, you can end the tenancy with 3 months' notice to the end of the month. This is usually not suitable for most tenants. Therefore, we recommend that the contract includes a clause allowing the tenant to give one month's notice to the end of the month, after the first 6 months. Otherwise, we will try to find a new tenant, in consultation with the landlord and the tenant. Please discuss these details with us before you finalize a contract.

"I signed a contract for a period of 1 year, because the landlord will need the apartment for himself (personal need). There is no cancellation period set in the contract. Can I withdraw from the contract?". No. You can only terminate the agreement by mutual consent. A contract should not be drafted with these conditions. We advise you to always include an option to withdraw, usually with 1 month's notice to the end of the month, after 6 months at the latest.

For apartments rented through us, the deposit is usually 2 months’ rent including the extra costs. The legal maximum deposit is 3 months’ rent (not including the extra costs).

Usually the landlord and the tenant try to find the simplest, most efficient method for them, since it is only a temporary rental and the tenant often wants to move in on the same day. Usually, the money is paid directly into the landlord's bank account. The landlord has to deposit it secure of insolvency and is obligated to show proof of that, on request. For longer rental periods (over 1 year) it is possible to put the deposit into a savings account - please refer to your bank - or place it as a bank guarantee. However the landlord will not always agree to a bank guarantee, as it makes getting compensation for damages at the end of the tenancy more difficult.

In general, the deposit minus the cleaning costs is refunded within 2 to 4 weeks after handover of the apartment via bank transfer to a bank account specified by you.The transfer can be delayed, if there are damages to be taken care of, or if there are any outstanding bills. Legally, the landlord must return the deposit as soon as possible, if there are no outstanding bills or damage unaccounted for. It is important to us that your deposit is returned quickly and correctly. If you have any questions or problems, please contact your appointed member of our customer service team immediately.

To prevent the formation of mold, regular ventilation with open windows is recommended (at least twice a day) instead of permanent ventilation with tilted windows. This is particularly important in the ktichen and the bathroom, where moisture can develop more quickly. The correct room temperature and humidity must always be ensured. If mold does develop, it must be removed immediately.
More information here.

In any case the landlord or the property managment must be informed immediately. If the key has been lost or stolen, it is advisable to replace the lock. In the event that misuse can be ruled out, the key can simply be copied.
More information here.

The tenant is liable for all damages caused by him in the apartment or house, the furniture and the equipment. The landlord's claims are secured by the deposit. Please inform the landlord or Mr. Lodge immediately of any damage.

It is highly recommended to take out private liability insurance.

All apartments are fully equipped so that you can move in directly with just your suitcase. In addition to furniture, they also contain kitchen equipment, bed linen and towels, ironing board and vacuum cleaner and much more.

There are only a few properties that allow pets. If you would like to bring a pet with you, please let us know right at the start of your search so that we can find suitable accommodation for you.