German · Wohnungssuche
You ask whether you have to pay an estate agent's fee for the flat: what to say in German
You ask whether you have to pay an agent's commission for the flat.
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How it's done. Under the Bestellerprinzip the agent's commission (Maklerprovision) is paid by whoever hired the agent, usually the landlord; the tenant pays only the deposit and the first rent.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
Entschuldigung, muss ich für die Wohnung eine Provision zahlen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, moos eekh fyoor dee VOH-noong IGH-neh proh-vee-zee-OHN TSAH-layn?
Excuse me, do I have to pay a commission for the flat?
Or say:Entschuldigung, wer bezahlt den Makler?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vehr beh-TSAHLT dayn MAH-kluh?
THEY SAY
Die Provision zahlt derjenige, der den Makler beauftragt hat. Das ist normalerweise der Vermieter.Dee proh-vee-zee-OHN tsahlt DEH-ryeh-nee-geh, dehr dayn MAH-kluh beh-OWF-truhkt khaht. Dahs eest nor-muh-lehr-VIGH-zeh dehr fehr-MEE-tuh.
The commission is paid by whoever hired the agent. That is normally the landlord.
They might also say:
Normalerweise der Vermieter. Das gilt seit dem Bestellerprinzip.
Nor-muh-lehr-VIGH-zeh dehr fehr-MEE-tuh. Dahs geelt zight dem besh-TEH-lehr-preen-tseep.
Normally the landlord. That has been the rule since the Bestellerprinzip.
2
YOU REPLY
Das ist gut. Gibt es noch andere Kosten?
Dahs eest goot. Geept es nokh AHN-deh-reh KOS-tayn?
That's good. Are there other costs?
THEY SAY
Sie zahlen die Kaution und die erste Miete. Mehr nicht.Zee TSAH-layn dee kow-tsee-OHN oont dee EHRS-teh MEE-teh. Mehr neekht.
You pay the deposit and the first rent. Nothing more.
They might also say:
Nur die Kaution und die Miete.
Noor dee kow-tsee-OHN oont dee MEE-teh.
Only the deposit and the rent.
3
YOU REPLY
Verstehe. Kann ich eine Besichtigung vereinbaren?
Fehrsh-TEH-eh. Kahn eekh IGH-neh beh-ZEEKH-tee-goong feh-RIGHN-buh-rayn?
I see. Can I arrange a viewing?
THEY SAY
Ja, gern. Am Mittwoch um achtzehn Uhr wäre möglich.Yah, gehrn. Ahm MEE-tvokh oom AHKH-tsayn oor VEH-reh MYOH-gleekh.
Yes, gladly. Wednesday at six p.m. would be possible.
4
YOU FINISH
Das passt. Vielen Dank!
Dahs pahst. FEE-layn dahnk!
That suits me. Thank you very much!
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
muss
moos
verb
must, has to
Wohnung
VOH-noong
noun
flat
Provision
proh-vee-zee-OHN
noun
commission
zahlen
TSAH-layn
verb
to pay
zahlt
tsahlt
verb
pays
Makler
MAH-kluh
noun
estate agent
43 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
The landlord asks for a Schufa report and you do not have one yetWohnungssuche · A2 in the app
→You phone about a flat advertWohnungssuche · A2 in the app
→You check the rent and the extra chargesWohnungssuche · A2 in the app
→You ask which documents you need to apply for a flatWohnungssuche · A2 in the app
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