German copyright laws are very strict. Videos should only be streamed or torrented in Germany if the user has registered with a streaming service like Netflix and is aware of its terms, otherwise they might receive big fines (>1000 Euros) and face legal consequences. This blog talks about safe ways to stream to avoid any mishaps. Here are 11 ways to do it legally in Germany:
The German Civil Code allows subletting provided that the landlord consents to the arrangement. If the rental income doesn’t go beyond the costs incurred, your landlord is likely to consent to subletting the apartment. Read on to understand the aspects associated with subletting your apartment in Germany.
A sublease or sublet contract governs how a tenant can lease out a room or their apartment to other individuals without losing their status as tenants.
Sublet contracts don’t allow tourists or visiting family members. Your subtenants should be individuals staying at your apartment as they study or work.
As long as your landlord consents to a sublet agreement, whoever you rent out the apartment to can stay as long as you are willing to let them.
The landlord has capacity to decline this arrangement.
If a tenant’s wish to sublet is legitimate, the landlord may give consent. Legitimate reasons include, job loss, and end of marriage or partnership.
As a tenant, you are not allowed to sublease your apartment on the basis of rent being out of your budget.
If the tenant has to temporarily relocate to another country for work purposes, the landlord may allow them to sublet their apartment if they are not willing to give it away. However, the landlord is not obliged to give in to the arrangement.
The law in Germany requires tenants to disclose the following information to landlords before inviting subtenants to their apartments.
It is recommended that you draft a legal document to act as proof if a legal dispute arises between the two of you.
Your landlord can cancel your lease if you don’t disclose that you have a subtenant in your apartment. Additionally, the German law allows them to ask for additional funds to cover the increased cost of utilities as another individual stays at your apartment. If the tenant refuses to pay more, the sublease contract cannot proceed.
If your sub decides to leave the apartment, the only way to cancel the contract is to do so through writing. German rental law prohibits the main tenant from kicking out subtenants as they wish.
The written notice, which depends on the rooms that were sublet, should be put out in advance. If the main tenant subleased an empty room, the subtenant ought to disclose their resolve to move out, three months prior.
If the main tenant wishes to terminate the sublease contract, they ought to provide a six month notice to the subtenant. However, if the subtenant refuses to pay rent, they can be evicted immediately.
A two-week notice is given to a subtenant if they occupied a furnished room. The main tenant is not obligated to disclose why they are terminating the contract.
Need to ask your landlord for the consent, but he/ she doesn’t speak English? Book a helper now.
What to do when you have received a copyright infringement notice that you have illegally downloaded materials from the internet?
Find out the fastest and feasible ways to book an appointment to register in Bürgeramt and what you can do if your case is urgent.
After registering an address in Germany (Anmeldung), the tax office will send your tax ID to your registered address. It takes 2 – 3 weeks.
Every year there are more and more internationals coming to Germany. This blog post is to help you with how to do Anmeldung in Germany and the bureaucratic process of getting an appointment at Bürgeramt (fast).
This process is usually needed if you want to get a visa, opening a bank account, registering internet for your flat, etc. The problem is that not all foreigners speak German well enough to understand what they need to do when they show up at this office. And this blog post will cover how you can get a city registration appointment easily and relatively fast.
Anmeldung meaning – It means registering your address with the local authorities in Germany. You will hear this word Anmeldung a lot in your expats social circle, especially when you hunt for an apartment, you will be asking a lot of times “Can I do Anmeldung here?”.
What’s next after you sign a rental contract for an apartment that allows you to do Anmeldung? Get an appointment at Bürgeramt asap.
It depends on your luck how long it takes to get an appointment with Bürgeramt to register your address. Therefore, when you finally get one, you probably do not want to miss any document and have to go there again. After all, we all know how difficult it is to get an appointment there. So here we have a list of anmeldung documents that you should bring along:
The passport is the best. According to service.berlin.de, proof of identity also includes a children’s passport for German citizens or a national passport or passport substitute papers for foreign citizens. In case for some reason you really do not have your passport with you, bring your identity card.
Please fill it in before you go there, and do not expect the staff there to show you how to fill the form. If you have problems filling in the form, you can book a local person to help you with it. [choose: Fill in some forms (short)]
You can also check this link for the english translation of the form!
For example, a marriage certificate or birth certificate. It may be required for your first registration when you register also for your family members. Please bring all the related documents with you as a precaution.
Your landlord should provide you with this confirmation when you rent the apartment. Of course, you can also send them the form so that the process is more efficient, as you do not want to risk not having this document before your appointment.
If it is the main tenant who sublets you the apartment/ room, get this confirmation from the main tenant, but the name of the owner has to be on the confirmation as well. Remember, Anmeldung without Wohnungsgeberbestaetigung (landlord’s confirmation) is not possible in Germany!
wohnungsgeberbestaetigungDownload
The standard rental contract should contain important information like the rental duration, how much rent per month, the address, and the names of the landlord and the tenant. In case you have a sublet contract from the main tenant, then you have to bring this contract with you to the appointment. A rental contract or a sublet contract does not replace the confirmation from the landlord (#4).
Some cities also allow Anmeldung without contract but they still require the landlord’s confirmation!
What should I bring to register the address when I have bought an apartment and moved in?
In case you are the landlord and live in your own apartment, you will need the first three of the above documents and the notarized purchase contract and a copy that shows your name on the “Grundbuch”. You should have all these documents from your notary after you bought the apartment.
Another very important point to remember is that all the family members should show up at the appointment for the registration process on the first time after coming from abroad!
Just remember to bring as much document as you possibly can when doing the Anmeldung. You do not want to miss out anything and go through the process again. Also, make sure you register on time because late Anmeldung in Germany can lead to fines!
Good luck at Bürgeramt!