German Shared-Flat Room Rental Agreement (WG-Mietvertrag PDF)

Why use a room-specific WG agreement?

Shared living works more smoothly when the parties understand which room is rented, what facilities can be used, how charges are allocated, and who is responsible for common areas. Importantly, a WG can have different legal structures: separate leases, a main tenant subletting a room, or several people renting together. Those arrangements are not interchangeable.

What to consider including

• The parties, property address, and exact room being rented.
• Access to the kitchen, bathroom, storage, and other shared spaces.
• Rent, operating costs (Nebenkosten), and any agreed deposit.
• Tenancy start, keys, and condition at move-in.
• Any lawful arrangements for common-space use and cleaning.
• Whether the arrangement is a direct tenancy or subletting, and any required permission.

A checklist to think through for your situation. It is not a list of clauses: the blank PDF’s own sections and lines are listed above.

Before someone moves in

Determine who the actual landlord is and whether a primary lease allows the intended subletting. Check German tenant protections and rules about deposit, operating costs, and termination. Record the state of the room and the keys at handover.