The question: Rental apartments are scarce, especially in the big cities. Landlords therefore have the upper hand and demand additional fees for a rental agreement. A reader discovered an apartment offer for which the landlord demanded a processing fee of 150 euros. She wants to know what the landlord is allowed to collect in additional costs. Lawyer Matthias Kentner describes the current legal situation.
The answer from lawyer Matthias Kentner: Especially in shared flats there are frequent changes of tenants. It is tempting for some landlords or property managers to charge processing fees at the beginning of a new tenancy, for example for the conclusion of the contract.
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