German · Mietvertrag
Before moving in you draw up a handover report together: what to say in German
Before you move in you draw up a handover record of the flat together.
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How it's done. When you move in a Übergabeprotokoll is drawn up: note all damage and the meter readings, take photos; both sides sign and you keep a copy until you move out.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
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Wir machen jetzt das Übergabeprotokoll. Wir gehen durch alle Räume.Veer MAH-khayn yehtst dahs YOO-behr-guh-beh-proh-toh-kol. Veer GEH-ayn doorkh AH-leh ROY-meh.
We'll do the handover record now. We'll go through all the rooms.
They might also say:
Bevor Sie einziehen, machen wir ein Übergabeprotokoll.
Beh-FOR zee IGHN-tsee-ayn, MAH-khayn veer ighn YOO-behr-guh-beh-proh-toh-kol.
Before you move in we'll make a handover record.
YOU REPLY
Was schreiben wir da hinein?
Vahs SHRIGH-bayn veer duh khee-NIGHN?
What do we write in it?
Or say:Was bedeutet das Protokoll?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs proh-toh-KOL?
THEY SAY
Wir schreiben auf, in welchem Zustand die Wohnung ist, und lesen die Zähler ab.Veer SHRIGH-bayn owf, een VEL-khem TSOOS-tahnt dee VOH-noong eest, oont LEH-zayn dee TSEH-luh ahp.
We write down the condition of the flat and read the meters.
They might also say:
Wir notieren Schäden und die Zählerstände.
Veer noh-TEE-rayn SHEH-dayn oont dee TSEH-lehrs-tayn-deh.
We note damage and the meter readings.
2
YOU REPLY
Hier ist ein Kratzer im Boden. Schreiben wir das auf?
Kheer eest ighn KRAH-tsuh eem BOH-dayn. SHRIGH-bayn veer dahs owf?
There is a scratch in the floor here. Shall we write that down?
THEY SAY
Ja, sonst müssen Sie es beim Auszug zahlen. Machen Sie am besten Fotos.Yah, zohnst MYOO-sayn zee es bighm OWS-tsook TSAH-layn. MAH-khayn zee ahm BES-tayn FOH-tos.
Yes, otherwise you'll have to pay for it when you move out. It's best to take photos.
3
YOU REPLY
Gute Idee. Ich mache Fotos von dem Kratzer und von den Zählern.
GOO-teh ee-DEH. Eekh MAH-kheh FOH-tos fohn dem KRAH-tsuh oont fohn dayn TSEH-lehrn.
Good idea. I'll take photos of the scratch and the meters.
THEY SAY
Gut. Dann unterschreiben wir beide das Protokoll.Goot. Dahn oon-tehrsh-RIGH-bayn veer BIGH-deh dahs proh-toh-KOL.
Good. Then we both sign the record.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke. Kann ich eine Kopie bekommen?
DAHN-keh. Kahn eekh IGH-neh KOH-pee-eh beh-KOH-mayn?
Thanks. Can I get a copy?
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
machen
MAH-khayn
verb
to do, to make
jetzt
yehtst
adverb
now
Übergabeprotokoll
YOO-behr-guh-beh-proh-toh-kol
noun
handover record
gehen
GEH-ayn
verb
to go
Räume
ROY-meh
noun
rooms
schreiben
SHRIGH-bayn
verb
to write
52 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?
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