How long is the notice period for own use?

The notice period depends on how long you have lived there: three months for up to five years, six months for five to eight years and nine months for a longer tenancy. The periods are set out in § 573c BGB, count from when the flat was handed over and cannot be shortened to the tenant's disadvantage. Make active use of this time to search for a flat and plan your move.

Can I object to a notice for own use?

Yes, an objection is possible if moving out would cause hardship, for example because of old age, illness or a lack of alternative housing (§ 574 BGB). It must reach the landlord in text form no later than two months before the end of the tenancy (§ 574b BGB). A tenants' association or a tenancy lawyer can assess the chances of success.

Does the landlord have to prove own use?

The landlord must set out the own use specifically, i.e. name the person and the reason for use; in a dispute he must prove it. If the flat was converted into a freehold flat and sold after you moved in, a protection period of three years, and in some regions up to ten years, applies (§ 577a BGB). If own use was faked, tenants can claim damages.

What happens if I cannot meet the notice period?

If the flat cannot be vacated on time, the worst case is an eviction claim and additional costs. Communicate with the landlord early and plan the move in good time. Short-notice moving dates are often still possible depending on workload.

How do I find a new flat quickly after the notice?

Use several channels at the same time: property portals, estate agent contacts and your personal network. A complete application folder with a Schufa credit report and payslips is important so that you can accept quickly. The sooner the new flat is fixed, the better the moving date can be planned.

What does a move after a notice for own use cost?

The costs depend on the size of the flat, the distance and additional services. At Beste Umzug Unternehmen you receive a fixed price after the survey that lists all the agreed services. That way you keep full control over the cost of your move, even in stressful times.

Can I still get a moving date if the notice is short?

Yes, many moving companies also offer short-notice dates, especially if you ask early. We recommend getting a quote immediately after receiving the notice for own use . That way you secure your preferred date before capacity is fully booked.

Does the moving company also do the final clean?

The flat usually has to be handed over broom-clean; exactly what is required is stated in the tenancy agreement. You can hire a cleaning company for the final clean or discuss it with us during the survey. On request we take bulky leftovers away as part of a house clearance. This saves you time in what is already a stressful transition.

What do I need to watch out for at the flat handover?

Draw up a detailed handover report with meter readings, the condition of the rooms and any damage. Both parties should sign the report to avoid disputes later. Also make sure that all keys are returned.

Is there support for long-distance moves after a notice for own use?

Yes, we also reliably organise long-distance moves within Germany and abroad. Especially over longer distances, early planning is crucial in order to meet deadlines. We coordinate transport and, if needed, interim storage if the new flat is not yet available.

How do I reach Beste Umzug Unternehmen for a quote?

Simply call us on 01625978461 or contact us via our website. We will give you no-obligation advice on your private move and draw up an individual fixed-price quote. We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21); you can find destinations outside Berlin under Locations .

TENANCY LAW & MOVING

Notice for owner's own use

Q: What exactly does notice for owner's own use mean?

A notice for own use applies when the landlord needs the flat for himself, close family members or members of his household. The reason for the notice must be stated specifically and comprehensibly in the notice letter. If this justification is missing or implausible, the notice may be invalid. Tenants should check the letter carefully and seek legal advice if in doubt.

Landlord claiming own use? Which notice period applies, when an objection makes sense and how to plan your move-out in good time.

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NOTICE PERIODS UNDER THE BGB

Tenancy law guide

Notice for own use: what lies ahead of you now

Deadline by deadline

Unsere Firma plans your move-out to fit the notice period – with a survey, a fixed price and a date that matches your new tenancy.

A notice for owner's own use (Eigenbedarf) under § 573(2) No. 2 BGB usually catches tenants by surprise and raises many questions. The landlord must give a specific reason, for example that he needs the flat for himself, for family members or for members of his household. The landlord's statutory notice period depends on how long you have lived there since the flat was handed over and is three, six or nine months (§ 573c BGB). Importantly, as a tenant you have rights of objection and enough time to plan a new move carefully.

Once the notice is legally effective, the real challenge begins: organising the move within the set period. Many people underestimate how much lead time is actually needed for boxes, vans and tradespeople. With professional support from Beste Umzug Unternehmen this pressure can be eased considerably. We plan your private move to fit the notice period and give you the fixed price after the survey.

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A DATE TO MATCH THE DEADLINE

PERSONAL CONSULTATION

Request a fixed price after a survey

Fast, fair and without hidden costs

Call us on 01625978461 and tell us when your tenancy ends – we will check which moving dates before then are free. We take the statutory notice period into account in our planning. On request we take care of packing, dismantling, transport and reassembly; your belongings are covered under the HGB.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

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WHEN TIME IS SHORT

Support with moving out

Reliable, careful, transparent

A notice for own use is stressful – both in terms of time and emotionally. That is why you get a single contact person with us, binding dates and a fixed price after a survey. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and also travel to other cities; if the new flat is not yet available, household goods can be put into storage in the meantime. Short-notice dates are possible depending on our workload – ask early, as soon as the end of your tenancy is fixed.

Packing in stages

With three to nine months' notice you can pack room by room in advance; our packing service takes care of the rest in the last few days before you move out.

Interim storage

If the end of your tenancy and the start of the new one do not match, storage bridges the gap until the new flat is ready to move into.

Senior Move

We help older tenants who have to move out after a long tenancy with sorting, packing and setting up – calmly, as part of a senior move.

Furniture Transport

We take care of dismantling, reassembly, transport and furniture protection so that the old flat is empty when the tenancy ends – padded for furniture transport.

STEP BY STEP

Six steps to the handover

After a notice for own use, clear steps help: check first, then decide, then plan. Clarify the legal questions with a tenants' association or a tenancy lawyer; we plan the move with you as soon as the end of the tenancy and the new address are fixed.

Check the notice

Does the letter name the person who is to move in and the reason? If the reasons are missing, the notice may be invalid (§ 573(3) BGB).

Calculate the deadline

Three months, six after five years of residence, nine months after eight years: the notice period counts from when the flat was handed over.

Consider an objection

In a case of hardship such as illness or a lack of alternative housing, you object in text form up to two months before the end of the tenancy (§ 574b BGB).

Look for a flat

Keep an application folder with a Schufa credit report and proof of income ready – so you can say yes immediately when a suitable flat comes up.

Fix the moving date

Once the new tenancy agreement is signed, fix the moving date – with a buffer before the end of the tenancy for redecorating and the handover.

Record the handover

Meter readings, damage and keys go into the handover report, which both sides sign – this helps later when it comes to the deposit.

SMALL HOUSEHOLD

Part loads: move affordably

Combine cleverly, move affordably

With a shared load you share loading space and travel costs with other jobs on the same route. This is suitable for small flats, individual pieces of furniture or boxes that still need to go to the new address after you move out. We agree a time window for collection and delivery – allow a little buffer before the end of your tenancy.

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AFTER THE NOTICE

All
about moving out

Stress-free from A to B

Around a notice for owner's own use, questions arise about deadlines, objections and alternative housing. Besides the move itself, there is the flat handover and getting your deposit back – you can read more about the form and deadlines for giving notice yourself in the guide Terminating a tenancy. For longer distances we also handle long-distance moves within Germany and abroad.

Deadline and date

Work out the end of the tenancy, set the moving date with a buffer, plan the flat handover: this keeps your private move, senior move or student move manageable even at short notice.

Packing and storage

With a packing service, furniture transport and, if needed, small transport for the remaining items, the flat is empty when the tenancy ends – and if the new flat is only ready later, interim storage bridges the weeks in between.

Businesses and special cases

Practices and offices in premises under notice move too: for an office move, company move, public-authority move, shared load or furniture taxi we agree time windows.

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FAQ

Questions about notice for own use

Deadlines, objection, proof, eviction and moving date.

A notice for own use applies when the landlord needs the flat for himself, close family members or members of his household. The reason for the notice must be stated specifically and comprehensibly in the notice letter. If this justification is missing or implausible, the notice may be invalid. Tenants should check the letter carefully and seek legal advice if in doubt.

Making good use of the notice period for own use

The statutory notice period varies with the length of the tenancy: for up to five years of residence it is three months for the landlord, from five years six months and from eight years nine months (§ 573c BGB). You yourself, on the other hand, can always give notice with three months' notice if you find something sooner. You should use this time straight away to organise your move rather than waiting. The earlier you book a moving date, the more flexibility you have in choosing the date and services.

A common mistake is to treat the flat search and the move separately. Planning them in parallel makes more sense: as soon as a new home is fixed, the moving date can be set. That way you avoid time pressure in the last weeks of the notice period.

Objection, hardship and planning the move

Under certain conditions tenants can object to a notice for own use, for example in a proven case of hardship such as old age or illness. The objection must reach the landlord in text form no later than two months before the end of the tenancy (§ 574b BGB); if it succeeds, the tenancy continues for a fixed or indefinite period (§ 574a BGB). Whatever the outcome, it is worth getting no-obligation quotes for the move early on.

If the objection is not successful or you decide to move out voluntarily, we take care of the complete logistics. From obtaining materials to assembly in the new flat, we ensure a stress-free process despite tight deadlines.

The move and its costs

The cost of a move depends above all on the size of the flat. For a 1-room flat it starts at €349, for a 2-room flat at €599. If you live in a 3-room flat, you pay from €909; for a 4-room flat it is from €1,279. Houses and villas are quoted individually. If you are moving further away, long-distance moves cost from €3.95/km. The quickest way is a free survey.

How your moving price is composed

The level of moving costs depends largely on the distance (from €3.95/km) and the volume of your belongings. If there is no lift, the effort per floor increases noticeably, and a parking restriction zone often has to be planned in too. If you would also like to use our furniture assembly or a shared load, this also affects the price.

Moving services – what we do for you

These services can be combined after a notice for own use.

Shared load: An inexpensive alternative for smaller transports. Shared load
Furniture transport: Safe transport of your furniture. Furniture transport
Private move: We take care of your move to your new home. Private move
Company move: Professional moves for businesses and offices. Company move
House clearance: We dispose of what you no longer need. House clearance
Move with assembly: Your furniture is assembled expertly. Move with assembly

Moving further away after the notice

If your flat search takes you to another city, we support the long-distance move from planning to the last box. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21); the long-distance moves page has all the information, and destinations with their own pages are shown in the locations overview.

Tenancy Law & Housing

Beste Umzug Redaktion

September 2, 2026

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