Contract and leaving

6 months for students, exchange students and interns, on a contract covering your study or placement period. 12 months for everyone else, which most people then extend. There is no maximum, and plenty of people stay for years.

Three months, in writing and signed. German law requires a signed letter for this, so email on its own does not count, however much easier it would be. Post it to us or hand it in, and email a scan to hello@youngnest.de at the same time so we can confirm straight away that we have it. Your notice must reach us by the third working day of a month, and the contract then ends at the end of the second month after that. For example - Give notice on 2 March and you leave on 31 May. If your contract has a fixed end date you give no notice at all; it simply ends on that date.

Usually yes, through a replacement. Find someone suitable, we check them, and once they sign you are released from the day their tenancy starts. We look for someone too. This is how most people leave early, so ask us rather than assuming you are stuck.

Yes. Free of charge more than 30 days before your move-in date, with anything already paid refunded in full. Between 15 and 30 days before, half a month's rent. Fewer than 15 days before, one month's rent, and you can also simply move in later instead. If you signed without a viewing, your 14-day right of withdrawal comes first and costs you nothing at all.

Yes, at 90, 60 and 30 days before your end date, with your options and the current prices. Nobody gets caught out by a date they had forgotten.

Usually, by up to another 6 to 12 months. Ask at least three months before your end date and we will answer within five working days. We extend your existing contract in writing rather than starting a new one, so your terms carry over. If the price has changed for new tenancies we will tell you before you commit.

Only for the reasons German tenancy law allows, and with the statutory notice. In practice that means not paying rent or seriously breaching the house rules. Planned works are not one of those reasons: if we need to carry out repairs or improvements we will give you notice and ask you to allow access, and your tenancy carries on.