Which deadline applies to registering a second home?

The same deadline applies to the secondary residence as to any flat: two weeks after moving in (§ 17 BMG). The rule is set out in the Federal Registration Act and is uniform nationwide; it does not differ by federal state. Anyone who misses the deadline risks a fine. So plan the move and registration closely together and book the appointment early.

Which documents do I need for registration?

To register a second home , you usually need your ID card or passport and a landlord confirmation from your landlord. Some municipalities also require the completed registration form, which is often available online. Also have the tenancy agreement ready in case it is requested as proof of moving in. This way registration goes smoothly.

How high is the second home tax?

Each municipality sets the second home tax itself, usually as a percentage of the annual basic rent. Around 10 to 15 per cent is common, and some cities charge considerably more. Since 2025 Berlin has levied 20% of the net basic rent. Not every municipality charges the tax at all – a look at the local bylaw is worthwhile before registering.

Can I avoid the second home tax?

Whether there are exemptions is governed by the municipality's bylaw. A common exemption is for married people who use the second flat for work reasons. Students are not automatically exempt; some municipalities grant relief for low incomes. With double housekeeping, you can claim the second home tax as income-related expenses; if in doubt, a tax adviser can help.

What happens if I miss the registration?

Anyone who fails to complete the registration on time commits an administrative offence: under § 54 BMG the registration authority can impose a fine of up to 1,000 euros. If the municipality learns of the secondary residence later, it can also assess the second home tax retrospectively. So note the registration deadline in your calendar right after the move and keep to it.

Do I have to re-register the second home if I move?

Yes, every further change of flat within the second home must also be reported to the residents' registration office. The two-week registration deadline applies here too. Our team supports you with the smooth organisation of the move, while you take care of the official re-registration at the same time – this saves you valuable time.

How does a main residence differ from a secondary residence?

The main residence is the flat where you mainly stay and which counts as the centre of your life, while the secondary residence is used in addition, for example for work or studies. This distinction affects, among other things, the amount of the second home tax and possible voting rights at the respective place of residence, and should be stated correctly.

Do I need a removal company for the move to my second home?

A professional removal company is particularly worthwhile if the second home is in another city or there is little time left for the transport. We take care of packing, transport and furniture assembly at a fixed price and make sure you can concentrate fully on the registration, while we reliably handle the logistics.

What does a move to a second home cost?

The costs of a move to a second home depend on the distance, amount of furniture and the service you want. For smaller amounts we often offer an affordable part load , and we calculate larger transports individually. We give you the fixed price after the survey, before you place the order – the price examples above show the order of magnitude.

Can I transport part of my household goods as a part load?

Yes, especially when moving to a second home , a part load is often the most cost-effective option if only a few pieces of furniture or boxes need to be transported. Your items share the loading space with other customers' orders heading in the same direction, which significantly reduces the price compared with a full move.

How do I register my second home online?

Many municipalities now offer online registration for a second home via their citizens' portal. For this you usually need an ID card with the online ID function activated and a scanned landlord confirmation. After successful registration, you receive the registration certificate digitally or by post, which saves time especially with a long-distance move.

REGISTERING A SECONDARY RESIDENCE

Registering a second home

Q: What is a second home and when do I have to register it?

A second home (in registration law: secondary residence) is any further flat alongside the predominantly used main residence (§ 21 BMG), for example for work, studies or commuting. You must register it as soon as you move into the flat. An exception applies under § 27 BMG: if you are already registered in Germany and use the flat for no longer than six months, you do not have to register there; after that, the two-week deadline runs.

Registering a secondary residence: deadline, documents and second home tax at a glance – and how your household goods get to the second flat without detours.

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Registration law

Registering a second home: same deadline, its own tax

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Unsere Firma Register the secondary residence, check the second home tax and divide your household goods sensibly for the second flat.

Anyone who moves into a second flat alongside their main residence – for example for work, studies or as a weekend commuter – must also register this secondary residence (Nebenwohnung). The same rules apply as for any move: registration within two weeks (§ 17 BMG), and bring your ID and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). At Beste Umzug Unternehmen we plan the transport to fit your appointment at the registration authority; we give you the fixed price after the survey. You can read more about the process under private move.

For a second flat, part of your household goods is often enough: bed, desk, a few boxes. A part load or a small transport with assembly is suitable for this. If the new flat is not yet ready to move into, ask us about interim storage. Your household goods are covered under the statutory rules (liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB), § 451e: €620 per m³), and additional insurance is possible on request. That leaves time for registering and for the question of whether second home tax applies in your city.

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Fixed price after a survey for the move to your second flat

Also for small transports and partial moves

Call us on 01625978461 and tell us what is to go to the second flat. After the survey you receive a fixed price that takes into account the amount, distance, floor and any additional services you want. Whether a furnished room for the working week or a complete second flat – we plan the right scope with you.

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

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TWO FLATS, ONE PLAN

How we help with a second home

A partial move instead of a full move

With a second home, the whole household rarely moves. We clarify with you which furniture belongs in which flat and transport only what is really needed. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide – if the second flat is in another city, you will find routes under long-distance moves. We give you the price as a fixed price after a survey, and your household goods are covered by liability under the HGB. You take care of the registration yourself – we make sure the transport is finished in time.

Partial move

Only a bed, a desk and a few boxes? We transport precisely the part of your household goods that you need in the second flat.

Assembly service

On request we dismantle the wardrobe and bed and reassemble them in the secondary residence, so that you can live there from the very first evening.

Part load

For a few pieces of furniture over a long distance, you share the loading space with other orders – often cheaper than a trip of your own to the second flat.

No-parking zone

If there is no space in front of the door, we apply for a parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone) on request; in Berlin the signs must be in place at least 72 hours beforehand.

GOOD TO KNOW

What counts with a second home

With a secondary residence, deadlines, documents and running costs count just as much as the transport itself. You should know these points before you register the second home and pack the first boxes.

Two-week registration deadline

As with any flat, you register the secondary residence with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in – in Berlin at any registration office (Bürgeramt) (§ 17 BMG).

Landlord confirmation

For the second flat, too, the landlord confirms the move-in – without this confirmation the registration is not complete.

Determine the main residence

The main residence is the flat used predominantly (§ 21 BMG). You state which one that is when registering – this affects the tax.

The municipality's tax

The tax is set by the municipality, usually as a percentage of the annual basic rent. Since 2025, Berlin has charged 20% of the net basic rent of the second flat.

Short stays

If you are already registered and use a flat for no more than six months, you do not have to register it (§ 27 BMG); after that the deadline applies.

Do not forget to deregister

If you give up the secondary residence without moving into a new one, notify the authority – otherwise the second home tax may continue to run.

SMALL LOADS

Part load for the second flat

Share load space, cut costs

With a part load, your furniture travels together with other moves in the same direction. For commuters who move only part of their household goods between the main residence and the second flat, this is often the most economical solution. Allow some flexibility on the delivery date – and still register the secondary residence on time within two weeks.

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ALL ABOUT THE SECONDARY RESIDENCE

Registering
and furnishing a second flat

From registration to tax

Around a second home, the same questions always come up: where do I register the secondary residence, which deadline applies and is second home tax charged in my city? You register with the registration authority; the tax is levied by the municipality under its own bylaw. We take care of the transport as a private move; if the second flat is further away, you will find routes under long-distance moves. How re-registration works is explained in the article Re-registering after the move.

Plan registration in good time

An appointment at the registration authority, your ID and the landlord confirmation: if you coordinate registering the secondary residence with moving day, you will meet the two-week deadline without stress.

Divide household goods sensibly

What stays in the main flat and what moves? With a packing service, furniture transport and part load, you move only the part of your household goods that you really need in the second flat.

Keep an eye on running costs

Besides the fixed price for the transport, rent, second home tax and travel costs count. With work-related double housekeeping, accommodation costs of up to €1,000 a month are deductible as income-related expenses.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about second homes

Deadline, tax and documents explained.

A second home (in registration law: secondary residence) is any further flat alongside the predominantly used main residence (§ 21 BMG), for example for work, studies or commuting. You must register it as soon as you move into the flat. An exception applies under § 27 BMG: if you are already registered in Germany and use the flat for no longer than six months, you do not have to register there; after that, the two-week deadline runs.

Registering a second home: step-by-step guide

To register a second home, you need your ID card or passport, the landlord confirmation from your landlord and the registration form from your registration authority. Many municipalities now also offer registration online with the online ID function. You state which of your flats is the main residence and which is the secondary residence – this information is important later for the second home tax.

Plan the move so that transport and registration fit together in time: the two weeks run from moving in. With our private move service, we take care of the logistics while you deal with the formalities.

Second home tax and deadlines at a glance

Every municipality sets the second home tax in its bylaw; it is usually based on the annual basic rent. Rates of 10 to 15 per cent are common; since 1 January 2025, Berlin has charged 20% of the net basic rent. Following a 2005 decision by the Federal Constitutional Court, many bylaws provide an exemption for married people who use the second flat for work.

The deadline for registering is two weeks after moving in nationwide (§ 17 BMG). Anyone who misses it risks a fine of up to 1,000 euros (§ 54 BMG).

What the transport to the second flat costs

Whether a small flat or a large house – we have a suitable offer for every move. The 1-room flat starts at €369, the 2-room flat at €609, the 3-room flat at €899 and the 4-room flat at €1,324. For houses and villas we always prepare an individual quote, as many factors play a role here. If you are planning a long-distance move, you pay from €4.20 per kilometre. Get no-obligation advice during a free survey.

What the price of a partial move depends on

The price depends on volume, distance (from €4.20/km) and floor. A missing lift and a required parking restriction zone add to the effort. You can also book furniture assembly or part load as extras.

Services for the secondary residence

Combine these services depending on how much is to go to the second flat.

Company relocation: Company relocation – if the office moves along with the job
Private move: Private move – for the complete second flat
Furniture transport: Furniture transport – individual items from A to B
Move with assembly: Move with assembly – bed and wardrobe assembled
Part load: Part load – shared loading space for small amounts
House clearance: House clearance – when the second flat is given up

When the second flat is in another city

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide – even if the main and secondary residences are hundreds of kilometres apart. You will find destinations with their own page in the locations overview, and longer routes with distance and process under long-distance moves.

Authorities & Address Registration

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 31, 2026

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