'Motivationsschreiben for renting an apartment in Germany: how to write a

A Motivationsschreiben or Mietbewerbung is a short self-introduction letter for a rental application in Germany. It does not replace the supporting documents, but it helps the landlord quickly understand who you are, what you do, who will live in the apartment, whether there is stable income, and why your application looks reliable.

Why you need a tenant letter

In Germany’s large cities, competition for good apartments remains high, even if demand and price dynamics change from quarter to quarter. According to the ImmoScout24 WohnBarometer for the first quarter of 2026, rental demand fell slightly and asking rents rose moderately, but in popular cities the market still requires fast and well-prepared applications.

For newcomers to Germany, the situation is more difficult: there is no long rental history yet, there may not always be a SCHUFA-Auskunft, German may still be imperfect, and some documents may still be in progress. A good letter helps explain the situation clearly and without unnecessary dramatization.

For a landlord, three things matter most:

who will live in the apartment;
whether the household can pay rent regularly;
how calm and predictable the tenancy is likely to be.

Against the background of dozens or hundreds of applications, the letter works like a clear resume: it gathers the key information in one place and increases your chances of getting invited to a Besichtigung.

Motivationsschreiben, Mieterselbstauskunft, and documents

Do not confuse the letter with a tenant questionnaire. Mieterselbstauskunft is a form with facts: name, job, income, household composition, pets, smoking, debts, and contact details. Motivationsschreiben is free-form text that explains your situation in human language.

Usually, an application package includes:

a short message in response to the listing;
a Motivationsschreiben or Mietbewerbung;
a Mieterselbstauskunft, if the landlord or agency asks for it;
proof of income: Arbeitsvertrag, recent Gehaltsabrechnungen, an employer letter, or other documents;
a SCHUFA-Auskunft, if it is already available;
a copy of your passport or Aufenthaltstitel only at the stage when that is genuinely appropriate;
a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung or a recommendation from the previous landlord, if available.

Do not send sensitive documents to everyone in your first message. For an initial application, the letter and basic information are enough; the full package is better shared after real contact or a viewing, especially if the listing looks suspicious.

What to write in the letter

The letter should be short, specific, and tailored to the particular apartment. One A4 page or 250 to 400 words is usually enough.

A good structure:

Address the landlord or agency.
Explain who you are and who will live in the apartment.
Describe what you do and where you work or study.
Explain how your income is documented.
State why this apartment is a good fit for you.
Mention when you are ready to move in and how long you are looking for housing.
Note whether there are pets, smoking, or special requirements.
Say that you are ready to provide documents and attend a viewing.
Add your contact details.

Useful details:

the household composition and the ages of children;
a stable work contract or a long-term project;
a quiet lifestyle without loud parties;
willingness to follow the Hausordnung, quiet hours, waste sorting, and building rules;
interest in a long-term rental;
knowledge of German, if it helps communication.

What is better not to include

The letter should not look like a confession or an attempt to provoke sympathy. A landlord is looking for a reliable tenant, not a detailed immigration story.

It is better to avoid:

long explanations of why it is hard to find housing in Germany;
criticism of other landlords, agencies, or neighborhoods;
promises that cannot be confirmed;
overly personal medical, financial, or family details;
statements that you need the apartment only for a couple of months if the listing is meant for long-term rental;
false information about income, work, pets, or household composition.

If you have a weak point, describe it calmly and together with a solution. For example: you do not have a SCHUFA yet because you recently arrived, but you do have an employment contract, payslips, and savings.

Mietbewerbung formats

It is convenient to have several versions:

A one-page PDF for sending through ImmoScout24, Kleinanzeigen, agencies, and email.
A short application message for the first contact in a portal.
A printed version for the Besichtigung.
An extended document package for the stage when the landlord asks for supporting documents.

It is best to give the file a clear name, such as Mietbewerbung_Ivanov.pdf or Wohnungsbewerbung_Familie_Ivanov.pdf. Inside, there is no need to overload the design: a clean structure, normal margins, a readable font, and a neat photo work better than a flashy presentation.

Documents and caution with personal data

In Germany, a landlord may ask for information that helps choose a tenant, but not every personal detail needs to be disclosed immediately. The earlier the stage of contact, the fewer sensitive documents you should send.

A practical order is:

First inquiry: name, household composition, work or study, move-in date, and a short motivation.
After a reply or invitation: the letter, Mieterselbstauskunft, and basic proof of income.
After the viewing and genuine interest: SCHUFA, copies of documents, and proof of no rent arrears, if required.

Be especially careful with listings that ask for advance payment before a viewing, send strange links, pressure you to transfer money quickly, or offer to mail the keys.

Kaution and money

In the letter, you can say that you are ready to provide the Kaution according to the contract. But there is no need to promise more than the law or common sense requires.

Under § 551 BGB, the security deposit for residential rent may not exceed three Nettokaltmieten, meaning three monthly base rents without Nebenkosten. If the Kaution is paid in cash, the tenant has the right to pay it in three equal monthly installments; the first installment must be paid at the start of the tenancy.

This is the legal framework, not advice to argue with every landlord in your first letter. For an application, a neutral sentence is enough: Die Kaution kann selbstverständlich vertragsgemäß hinterlegt werden.

Example letter in German

Sehr geehrter Herr Fischer,

ich interessiere mich sehr für Ihre Wohnung in der Musterstraße und möchte mich Ihnen kurz als Mietinteressent vorstellen.

Mein Name ist Ivan Ivanov, ich bin 35 Jahre alt und arbeite als Systemadministrator bei der Company GmbH in einem unbefristeten Arbeitsverhältnis. Mein monatliches Einkommen kann ich durch meinen Arbeitsvertrag und aktuelle Gehaltsabrechnungen nachweisen.

Die Wohnung möchte ich gemeinsam mit meiner Ehefrau mieten. Wir sind ruhige, zuverlässige und verantwortungsbewusste Mieter. Wir rauchen nicht, haben keine Haustiere und suchen eine Wohnung für eine langfristige Mietdauer. Die Hausordnung, Ruhezeiten und ein gutes Verhältnis zur Nachbarschaft sind uns wichtig.

Ihre Wohnung gefällt uns besonders wegen der Lage, der Größe und der Nähe zu meinem Arbeitsplatz. Ein Einzug wäre ab dem 1. Januar möglich. Die Kaution kann selbstverständlich vertragsgemäß hinterlegt werden.

Alle erforderlichen Unterlagen, darunter Mieterselbstauskunft, Einkommensnachweise und weitere Dokumente, stelle ich Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung. Über eine Einladung zur Besichtigung würden wir uns sehr freuen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Ivan Ivanov

Translation of the example

Dear Mr. Fischer,

I am very interested in your apartment on Musterstrasse and would like to briefly introduce myself as a rental applicant.

My name is Ivan Ivanov, I am 35 years old, and I work as a system administrator at Company GmbH under a permanent employment contract. I can confirm my monthly income with my employment contract and current payslips.

I would like to rent the apartment together with my wife. We are calm, reliable, and responsible tenants. We do not smoke, we do not have any pets, and we are looking for housing for a long-term rental. House rules, quiet hours, and good relations with neighbors are important to us.

We especially like your apartment because of the location, the size, and its proximity to my workplace. We could move in starting January 1. The deposit can be paid in accordance with the contract.

I will gladly provide all the required documents, including the tenant questionnaire, proof of income, and additional records. We would be happy to receive an invitation to a viewing.

Sincerely,

Ivan Ivanov

How to adapt the letter to the listing

A single template for all apartments is easy to spot. Before sending it, change at least a few details:

the address or neighborhood;
why this particular apartment suits you;
the possible move-in date;
the household composition;
whether there are pets or not;
which documents are already ready;
the greeting to a specific person, if a name appears in the listing.

If you are applying through ImmoScout24 or another portal, the first message should be shorter than the full letter. It is enough to show interest, the key facts, and your readiness to send the documents quickly.

After the application and the Besichtigung

Not every application gets a reply. Often that has less to do with the letter and more to do with the number of applications and how quickly you respond. That is why it is better to track new listings, reply quickly, and keep your documents ready in a PDF package.

Bring a printed Mietbewerbung to the viewing and be ready to explain briefly:

who will live in the apartment;
where you work or study;
when you want to move in;
which documents you can provide;
whether you have questions about Anmeldung, the basement, the mailbox, Nebenkosten, the internet, and the Hausordnung.

Common mistakes

sending a long unstructured text;
writing only about yourself and not explaining why the apartment is a good fit;
hiding pets, smoking, or the real household composition;
promising an income or rental term that you cannot confirm;
sending your passport, SCHUFA, and payslips in the very first message to every listing;
leaving old dates, other people’s names, and an unadapted template in place;
forgetting your contact details and available times for the viewing.

FAQ

Do you need a photo in a Mietbewerbung?

A photo is not mandatory, but many applicants add a neat neutral photo so the application feels more personal. It is not worth sending too many family photos or images that distract from the main point.

Can you write the letter in English?

If the listing and your communication with the landlord are in German, it is better to write in German. English may work for international landlords, relocation apartments, or temporary housing, but for a normal long-term rental, German looks more reliable.

What if you do not have SCHUFA?

Briefly explain that you recently arrived in Germany and attach alternative proof: an employment contract, payslips, an employer letter, proof of savings, or a guarantor, if that is appropriate.

Should you state your salary?

You can state the exact amount if it is a strong point and can be confirmed with documents. If you do not want to include the number in the letter, you can say that your income is stable and documented by your Arbeitsvertrag and Gehaltsabrechnungen.

What should you ask about Anmeldung?

If you need the apartment for permanent residence, clarify whether Anmeldung is possible at the address and whether a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung will be issued. It is better to ask this before signing the contract.