Who is liable for damage during a flat-share move?

For damage during transport we are liable under the HGB (§ 451e: €620 per m³); additional insurance is available on request. For damage in the old flat, depending on the contract, the whole flat share is liable to the landlord; among yourselves, whoever caused it pays. Photos taken before moving out help to tell new damage from old.

How far in advance should we plan the flat-share move?

Ideally, start planning your flat-share move at least six to eight weeks in advance. That leaves enough time for notice periods, finding a new tenant and booking a moving company, including the survey and fixed price. Good dates get booked up quickly, especially in student cities, so reserving early is particularly worthwhile.

Do we have to paint before the handover?

Only if the tenancy agreement validly requires it. If the flat was handed over unrenovated, a standard-form renovation clause is generally invalid according to the BGH; rigid intervals are often invalid too. You must always hand over broom-clean. If in doubt, ask a tenants' association before the flat share spends money on paint.

Can we have just a single flat-share room moved?

Yes, our service can also be booked flexibly for moving individual rooms. Through our private move services you receive, after the survey, a fixed-price quote tailored to the contents of your room. That way you only pay for what actually needs to be transported.

How does the deposit refund work with several tenants?

With flat-share contracts that have several main tenants, the landlord repays the deposit to all of them jointly after a review period, and the flat share divides it internally. If the landlord deducts something for damage or outstanding service charges, whoever caused it pays among yourselves. A clean handover report helps to avoid deductions.

What should we do if not all flatmates move out at the same time?

In this case a part load is worthwhile instead of a full removal van, since only part of the furniture is transported. Our team flexibly coordinates dates with the remaining flatmates so that everyday life in the flat share is disrupted as little as possible. That keeps the move stress-free for everyone.

How do we find a suitable new tenant for our flat-share room?

Use flat-share portals, notices at the university and social networks to find suitable candidates quickly. Meeting the existing flatmates in person is essential for harmony in the flat share. Plan the search for a new tenant in parallel with the flat-share move so as not to risk a gap in rent.

What should we bear in mind when registering our new address after the move?

Every flatmate must register with the registration office within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 BMG). For this you need a landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from the new landlord (§ 19 BMG). Also remember your bank, insurance and a mail forwarding order with Deutsche Post.

Is a moving company worthwhile even for short distances within the city?

Yes, especially with bulky furniture or narrow stairwells a team saves a lot of time – time you need for final cleaning and the handover. We give you the fixed price after the survey, including for short distances within the city. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and handle moves between all districts there.

How do we deal with flatmates' different moving dates?

Draw up a shared schedule in which every flatmate enters their individual move-out date. For staggered moves, a part load is recommended for smaller transports to save costs. Clear communication prevents overlapping dates and ensures a smooth flat-share move for everyone involved.

What do the costs of a flat-share move over a longer distance depend on?

The costs depend on distance, amount of furniture and the service chosen, but can be calculated precisely thanks to our fixed prices . For moves to another city, take a look at our long-distance move offers , which are tailored specifically to longer distances. That way you keep full cost transparency even on a long-distance move.

A CLEAN HANDOVER

Final cleaning cosmetic repairs and handover when moving out of a flat share

What the flat share has to clean, repair or paint before the handover – and how to share the work fairly so that nobody is left scrubbing alone.

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PLAN THE HANDOVER

Before the flat handover

Broom-clean, painted or both? Check the contract first

Return it in good order

Unsere Firma Final cleaning, cosmetic repairs and handover when moving out of a flat share: what is mandatory and who takes on what.

The last hurdle when moving out of a flat share (WG) is the handover – and that is where it is decided whether the deposit comes back in full. Whether you have to paint depends on the tenancy agreement: if the flat was handed over unrenovated, a standard-form renovation clause is generally invalid according to the Federal Court of Justice (BGH, VIII ZR 185/14, 2015). The flat must always be broom-clean, though. We handle the transport at a fixed price after a survey. More under Private move.

Plan the order: first clear out, then repair and clean, then hand over. We clear rooms and shared areas quickly and dismantle furniture without tearing out wall plugs – leaving more time for final cleaning and small repairs. Your belongings are covered by liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB; § 451e: €620 per m³). If only one person moves out, we collect only their room; the handover of the whole flat follows later.

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PLAN YOUR DATE

PERSONAL ADVICE

First empty, then clean, then the handover

Moving date before the handover date

Schedule the moving date a few days before the handover so that there is time for cleaning and repairs. We survey your flat share, then give you a fixed price and reserve the date. Simply call 01625978461. If your new home is further away, find out more under Long-distance moves.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

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EMPTY AND UNDAMAGED

How we prepare the handover

Rooms empty, walls intact

What counts at the handover is that the rooms are empty and that moving out causes no new damage. We protect floors and door frames, dismantle wardrobes and shelves cleanly and carry everything out without scuff marks. We give you the fixed price after the survey; your belongings are covered by liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB), and additional insurance is available on request. If the whole flat share is not moving out at once, we arrange separate dates. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21); destinations with their own page are listed under Locations.

Floor protection

Blankets on parquet and tiles prevent scratches that would stand out at the handover as new damage.

Clean dismantling

We carefully dismantle wall cupboards and shelves without ripping out wall plugs – which saves you work later on repairs.

Early date

If the moving date is a few days before the handover, there is enough time for final cleaning and small repairs.

House clearance

Whatever nobody wants any more has to go before the handover – on request we take care of clearing the cellar and rooms.

HANDOVER IN SIX STEPS

How to get the flat share ready for handover

At the handover of a flat-share flat, every room counts – including the cellar and balcony. These six steps show the order in which to clear out, check, repair, clean and hand over – and who in the flat share is responsible for what.

Read the contract

Is there a renovation clause? If you took over the flat unrenovated, a standard-form clause is often invalid.

Clear out

Only once everything is out can you see wall-plug holes, stains and damage – so schedule the move before the handover.

Repair

Fill wall-plug holes, fix damage you caused yourselves – whoever caused the damage pays for it among the flatmates.

Cleaning rota

Everyone cleans their own room; kitchen, bathroom, hallway and cellar are divided up and written on the cleaning rota by name.

Broom-clean

Broom-clean means: coarse dirt removed, rooms swept empty, nothing left behind – it is not a deep clean.

Report

At the appointment with the landlord, walk through all rooms, note the meter readings and sign the handover report only after checking it.

WHEN ONLY ONE ROOM HAS TO GO

Part load before the room handover

Room empty, costs small

If only one flatmate moves out, only their room has to be empty and clean. For a small amount of belongings, a part load is often the cheapest solution – schedule the date a few days before the room handover.

Open cargo space of a red lorry with wrapped furniture, panels and boxes

FINISHING THE MOVE-OUT

Cleaning,
repairing, handing over

What is due before the keys are handed over

A flat-share move only ends with the handover: who cleans the kitchen, who repairs the bathroom, does anything need painting at all? In this part we show what is mandatory and how to divide the work fairly. What the BGH says about renovation clauses can be read in the article Cosmetic repairs: what applies. Plan the moving date so that there is enough time between moving out and the handover.

Obligations from the contract

Whether cosmetic repairs are due is set out in the tenancy agreement – and whether the clause is valid often depends on the condition at move-in. Broom-clean is mandatory for every flat-share move-out; painting is not automatic.

Moving out without new damage

With a packing service, protected floors and careful furniture transport, moving out causes no new scratches that might be noticed at the handover and deducted from the deposit.

Leftovers and single items

Whatever is left after the move is collected by a house clearance; single pieces of furniture for friends go by furniture taxi – so the flat is really empty on the day.

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MoabitBased at Stromstraße 21

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Two movers in dungarees carry moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Frequently asked questions on final cleaning and handover in a flat share

Answers on cosmetic repairs, broom-clean handover, cleaning rota, deposit and handover report.

The fairest approach is to split by room size or by the number of boxes per person. For a flat-share move at a fixed price, the total can simply be divided by the number of flatmates. Ideally use a shared kitty or a cost-sharing app to keep things transparent and avoid later arguments.

Cosmetic repairs: what the contract really requires

Whether the flat share has to paint before moving out is set out in the tenancy agreement – but not every clause applies. If the flat was handed over unrenovated, a standard-form obligation to carry out cosmetic repairs is generally invalid according to the BGH; rigid schedules of intervals often do not hold either.

So check the move-in report: what did the flat look like back then? If in doubt, a tenants' association can help. More on this in the article Renovation before moving out.

Coordinating final cleaning and handover in the flat share

The flat handover in a flat share needs clear agreements on who is responsible for which area. A cleaning rota divides up kitchen, bathroom, hallway and cellar; everyone cleans their own room. Broom-clean means: rooms empty, coarse dirt removed.

Arrange a joint appointment with the landlord at which all tenants are present or one has power of attorney. That way you avoid disputes over deductions from the deposit. What broom-clean means exactly can be read under Broom-clean handover.

What moving out of the flat share costs

Every move is different, but rough guide prices help with planning: for a 1-room flat costs start at €349, for 2 rooms at €579. Anyone living in 3 rooms pays from €915; for 4 rooms the price starts at €1,324. Larger properties such as houses and villas always receive an individual quote. For longer distances: long-distance moves from €3.90/km. The most accurate figure comes from a free survey.

What determines the price of moving out

We calculate fairly and transparently: the deciding factors are volume, distance (from €3.90/km), floor and lift. A no-parking zone is planned in if needed. On request we also take care of furniture assembly or a part load.

Our services around moving out

The comprehensive service package

From clearing out to disposing of the leftovers – so the flat is empty for the handover.

Company relocation: a smooth move for your business. Company relocation

Private move: we take care of your move to your new home. Private move

Move with assembly: an all-round service with assembly and dismantling. Move with assembly

House clearance: proper disposal and clearance. House clearance

Furniture transport: reliable transport for all kinds of furniture. Furniture transport

Part load: the budget-friendly transport solution. Part load

Handover here, moving in in another city

If your new home is far away, plan the long-distance move so that you can come back once more for the handover – or give a flatmate power of attorney. We are based in Berlin and drive nationwide. More in the locations overview and under Long-distance moves.

Guides & Tips

Beste Umzug Redaktion

September 18, 2026

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