is there any real solution for landlords that don’t want to return the deposits? I was a student in your country and I was shocked about how many international student get their deposit stolen, and the landlord avoid replying to emails! many of my friends got the same problem
3 comments
It helps to
a) know your rights and also your responsibilities
b) read and understand the contract you sign and also understand what the deposit is actually for and when you can expect it back after you moved out
c) be a member of the local Mieterschutzbund/-verein and have them check your contract before you sign
Having said that, I was and sometines still am shocked by how utterly unprepared international students are for navigating life in Germany and keep signing contracts left and right without understanding what they sign or what “legally binding” actually means, or how they fail to inform themselves on their rights and responsibilities.
Of course there are ways to get your deposit back. I have had scammy landlords trying to get out of it, but I always got my deposit back, by knowing my rights, sending letters via Einschreiben quoting the law and threatening them with legal steps and referring to my lawyer. I usually got my money within a few days.
But, I also know how Jahresabrechnung works and what “Abschlag” means and don’t think every normal standard thing a scam. For some reason people don’t question when they do get money back for their Abschlagszahlung for heating and water, but the moment the landlord sends a bill and raises the warm rent there is an outcry about these horrible companies trying to scam poor international students.
I am not saying there aren’t private landlords or rental companies preying on foreigners who don’t know better. I am saying you best protection is knowing your rights and understanding the shit you sign and shelling out some money in form of yearly fees to become a member of those societies that are able and willing to help you out when you need their expertise.
Usually sending a notice of default does the job. As long as you know the laws and how long the deposit can be kept etc
If you really want help, you have to tell us more details about the problem. What did the landlord tell you before she “stopped answering”?