German · Kaution / Nebenkosten
You ask about the deposit for the flat: what to say in German
You ask about the deposit for the apartment.
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How it's done. The deposit (Kaution) is usually paid into a separate account and returned after moving out if there are no claims; the law limits its size and it can be paid in instalments.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Wie hoch ist die Kaution?
Vee khokh eest dee kow-tsee-OHN?
How high is the deposit?
Or say:Muss ich eine Kaution zahlen?
Moos eekh IGH-neh kow-tsee-OHN TSAH-layn?
THEY SAY
Die Kaution beträgt drei Monatsmieten.Dee kow-tsee-OHN beh-TREKT drigh MOH-nuhts-mee-tayn.
The deposit is three monthly rents.
They might also say:
Ja, das sind drei Kaltmieten.
Yah, dahs zeent drigh KAHLT-mee-tayn.
Yes, that is three cold rents.
2
YOU REPLY
Kann ich sie in Raten zahlen?
Kahn eekh zee een RAH-tayn TSAH-layn?
Can I pay it in instalments?
THEY SAY
Ja, in drei Raten.Yah, een drigh RAH-tayn.
Yes, in three instalments.
3
YOU FINISH
Und wann bekomme ich sie zurück?
Oont vahn beh-KOH-meh eekh zee tsoo-RYOOK?
And when do I get it back?
THEY SAY
Nach dem Auszug, wenn alles in Ordnung ist.Nahkh dem OWS-tsook, vayn AH-les een ORD-noong eest.
After moving out, if everything is in order.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Wie
Vee
adverb
how
hoch
khokh
adjective
high
ist
eest
verb
is
Kaution
kow-tsee-OHN
noun
deposit
beträgt
beh-TREKT
verb
amounts to
Monatsmieten
MOH-nuhts-mee-tayn
noun
monthly rents
19 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You ask what the service charges coverKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
→The service charge statement has arrived and you do not understand the extra paymentKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
→You ask how and when to pay the deposit for the flatKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
→The heating in the flat is not workingHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
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