Does the employer have to pay for special leave?

Only if a rule provides for it. If § 616 BGB or a collective agreement such as § 29 TVöD applies, pay continues. If § 616 BGB is excluded and there is no other rule, the employer can also grant an unpaid day off or refer you to your annual leave. Get the arrangement in writing.

What proof do I need for a special leave request?

State the date and reason for the move. For a work-related or operationally motivated move, enclose the transfer notice or assignment; for a private move, the new tenancy agreement with the move-in date is usually enough. The more specific and earlier the request, the easier it is to coordinate with your employer.

How far in advance should I apply for special leave?

It is best to submit the request in writing four to six weeks before the moving date. That gives your employer time to arrange cover, and you can then fix moving day with the removal company. Short-notice requests are sometimes still approved but are harder to push through. For the move itself, you need several weeks' lead time anyway for popular dates such as the end of the month or school holidays.

Does the entitlement to special leave also apply to a long-distance move?

The distance makes no difference to the entitlement: what matters is whether a rule provides for a day off and why you are moving. With a long-distance move , unloading often only happens the following day; plan a day of leave or a weekend for this. In the public sector, the day under the collective agreement applies to a work-related move to another location.

Can the employer refuse special leave?

If there is no entitlement under law, collective agreement or contract, the employer can refuse special leave . For a work-related move covered by a collective agreement rule, on the other hand, a refusal is hardly possible. In a dispute, the works council, a trade union or employment law advice can help.

What happens if I do not get special leave?

Then you still have annual leave, time off in lieu of overtime or unpaid leave. Many moves can be organised so that one day of leave is enough: pack boxes at the weekend, dismantle furniture beforehand, transport on the day off. A well-prepared move takes less time than expected. A shared load is less worthwhile in this case, because the delivery day is not fixed.

Does special leave count as part of regular annual leave?

No. Time off for a special occasion is not annual leave and is not deducted from your yearly holiday allowance. However, this only applies if there is an entitlement under law, collective agreement, works agreement or employment contract, or if the employer expressly grants the day in addition. Have this recorded in writing.

Are there differences in special leave between federal states?

For employees, the entitlement does not depend on the federal state, but on the collective agreement, works agreement and employment contract. In the public sector, TVöD (federal government and municipalities) and TV-L (federal states) apply, with the same rule for a work-related move. For civil servants, there are separate special leave regulations at federal and state level.

How do I best combine special leave with planning the move?

Only fix moving day once the day off has been confirmed, and then book the date with the removal company. Do the packing and dismantling beforehand so that the day off is enough for transport and reassembly. After the survey, we give you a fixed price and confirm the date.

What role does the works council play in special leave?

The works council knows whether there is a works agreement with rules on time off and can mediate between you and your employer. It also helps if a request was refused even though a collective agreement provides for a day. Approach it early, ideally before you apply for special leave .

STRESS-FREE MOVING

Special Leave for Moving: Your Entitlement

Q: Am I automatically entitled to special leave for a private move?

No. There is no general statutory entitlement to special leave for a private move. § 616 BGB only secures pay for a brief absence through no fault of your own; whether a plannable private move falls under it is disputed, and the rule may be excluded by contract. An entitlement may, however, arise from a collective agreement, works agreement or employment contract.

Q: How many days of special leave are usual for a move?

Where there is a rule, it is usually one working day. In the public sector, § 29 TVöD and TV-L provide for exactly one day, specifically for a move to another location for work-related or operational reasons. For private moves, the employer decides if there is no specific rule. Check your contract and ask early.

When you are entitled to paid time off for a move – by law, collective agreement or employment contract – and when you are not.

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FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Special leave

Special leave for a move: what the law and collective agreements really provide

Your entitlement at a glance

Unsere Firma comes from Berlin-Moabit and schedules moving day so that transport and reassembly fit into your day off.

There is no general statutory entitlement to special leave for a move. The fallback rule is § 616 BGB: anyone who is unable to work for a relatively insignificant period for a personal reason through no fault of their own keeps their pay. Whether a private move falls under this is disputed, because it can usually be planned; a move for work-related or operational reasons is more likely to be recognised. Above all, however, § 616 BGB may be restricted or excluded in the employment contract or collective agreement – in that case, only what is written there counts.

In the public sector this is expressly regulated: under § 29 TVöD and § 29 TV-L, a move to another location for work-related or operational reasons entitles you to one working day off with pay. For a move for personal reasons, the agreement only mentions unpaid leave in justified cases. So first check your employment contract and the applicable collective agreement. If you want to make good use of the day off, schedule the private move for exactly that date.

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PERSONAL CONSULTATION

Moving day to match your day off

Fixed price after a survey – date to suit your leave

Once your special leave or day of holiday is confirmed, we schedule moving day for it. After a free survey, we give you a fixed price listing all booked services separately. Call us on 01625978461 and tell us your preferred date straight away.

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

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LEGAL BASES

Four possible bases for a day off

Law, collective agreement, company, contract

Whether you get paid time off for a move does not depend on the federal state, but on which rule applies to your employment. Check the four possible bases in this order: collective agreement, works agreement, employment contract, § 616 BGB. We come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and arrange moving day around the day you are given. We give the fixed price after the survey; whether local or a long-distance move, the schedule is set in advance.

Collective agreement

Where a collective agreement applies, it usually settles time off conclusively. TVöD and TV-L: one day for a work-related move.

Works agreement

Some companies set out time off for moves in a works agreement. Ask the works council or the HR department.

Employment contract

The contract may promise a moving day – or exclude § 616 BGB. Without any other rule, there is then no paid day off.

§ 616 BGB

The fallback rule for a brief absence through no fault of your own. Disputed for a private move, more likely recognised for an operationally motivated one.

MAKING THE REQUEST

How to request the day off

Whether it is an entitlement or a goodwill gesture by your employer: an early, written request has the best chance. These six steps help you coordinate your special leave with moving day.

Check the rules

Read the collective agreement, works agreement and employment contract before you ask. Then you know whether you have an entitlement or are asking for goodwill.

Provide proof of the reason

For a work-related move, enclose the transfer or assignment notice; otherwise, the new tenancy agreement with the move-in date.

Apply early

Apply in writing four to six weeks in advance. This leaves time to fix or reschedule the moving date accordingly.

Have alternatives ready

If there is no entitlement, you still have annual leave, time off in lieu of overtime or unpaid leave – in the public sector in justified cases.

Schedule the move for that day

Pack at the weekend before, move on the day off, reassemble and register afterwards. This way a single working day is often enough.

Get written confirmation

Have the time off – paid or unpaid – confirmed in writing. This avoids disputes about pay and your leave balance.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Small move, one day off

When only a few belongings are coming along

With only a few belongings over a long distance, a shared load can be cheaper than a dedicated lorry. But bear the time window in mind: your goods are not delivered on a fixed day. If you only have one day off, plan the collection for that day and stay flexible and reachable for the delivery.

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WELL COORDINATED

Day
off, moving day, registration

What counts besides special leave

A single day off is only enough for a move if most things are done beforehand: boxes packed, parking restriction applied for, furniture dismantled. Registering at the registration office (Bürgeramt) within two weeks of moving in usually falls on another appointment. If the move coincides with a change of job, the guide Moving costs when changing jobs is worth reading; it also covers income-related expenses. Destinations with their own pages are shown in the overview Locations.

Before: everything that can be done without a day off

Pack boxes in the evenings and at weekends, apply for a parking restriction, dismantle shelves, transfer electricity and internet. The more is done beforehand, the more likely a single working day will be enough for transport and reassembly in a private move.

The day off: transport

On the day off, the furniture is loaded, driven and reassembled. With a long-distance move of several hundred kilometres, unloading often only happens the next morning – plan another day of leave or a weekend for this.

Afterwards: registration and receipts

Register at the registration office within two weeks, give the new address to your employer and health insurer. Keep the invoices: work-related moving costs are income-related expenses, while private moves reduce tax via § 35a EStG by 20% of the labour costs, up to a maximum of €4,000 a year.

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FAQ

Questions about special leave for a move

Entitlement, duration, pay, application, refusal and collective agreement rules – answered briefly.

No. There is no general statutory entitlement to special leave for a private move. § 616 BGB only secures pay for a brief absence through no fault of your own; whether a plannable private move falls under it is disputed, and the rule may be excluded by contract. An entitlement may, however, arise from a collective agreement, works agreement or employment contract.

How many days of special leave am I entitled to?

The number of days depends solely on the rule that applies to your employment. In the public sector, under § 29 TVöD and TV-L, it is exactly one working day – but only for a move to another location for work-related or operational reasons. Other collective agreements, works agreements or employment contracts may provide for more, less or nothing.

For a purely private move, without such a rule it is usually up to the employer whether to grant a day off. In the public sector, the employer can grant up to three days' paid leave in other urgent cases; the agreement, however, cites a private move as an example of unpaid leave. Ask early and in writing.

Applying for special leave: how to proceed

Submit your request for special leave as early as possible, around four to six weeks before the moving date, and in writing. State the date and reason, and for a work-related move enclose the transfer notice; for a private move, the new tenancy agreement with the move-in date is usually sufficient.

If your employer refuses, check whether the collective agreement or works agreement gives you an entitlement; the works council can help with this. If there is none, you still have annual leave or overtime. Only fix the moving date once the day off has been confirmed.

Moving service: prices without surprises

We rely on clarity rather than small print. That is why: 1-room moves from €354, 2-room moves from €579, 3-room moves from €909, 4-room moves from €1,309. A house or villa can hardly be priced at a flat rate, which is why you receive an individual quote here. For a long-distance move we charge from €3.95 per kilometre driven. Your exact price is set after a free survey.

What makes a move cheaper or more expensive?

A large volume means more work and therefore higher costs. The distance, which we charge from €3.95/km, as well as the floor and lift also have a noticeable effect on the price. A parking restriction zone ensures a smooth process but costs extra. Extra services such as furniture assembly or a shared load can be added at any time.

Our core services

You can book these services individually for your moving day.

Private move: Moves for families and individuals. Private move
Furniture transport: For individual pieces of furniture. Furniture transport
House clearance: Fast clearance of flats. House clearance
Shared load: An affordable transport solution. Shared load
Office move: A professional office move. Office move
Moving with assembly: Everything fully set up. Moving with assembly

Moves from Berlin

We come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and handle moves within Berlin and from Berlin to other cities. Destinations with their own pages can be found in the locations overview, long routes under Long-distance moves.

Move Planning

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 26, 2026

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