German · Mietvertrag
You want to sublet a spare room and ask your landlord: what to say in German
You want to sublet a free room and ask your landlord.
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How it's done. You may sublet a room (Untervermietung) only with the landlord's written permission; the subtenant must also register (Anmeldung) at that address.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
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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, ich möchte ein Zimmer in der Wohnung untervermieten. Geht das?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh MYOKH-teh ighn TSEE-muh een dehr VOH-noong oon-tehr-fehr-MEE-tayn. Get dahs?
Excuse me, I'd like to sublet a room in the flat. Is that possible?
Or say:Ich habe ein Zimmer frei. Darf ich es untervermieten?
Eekh KHAH-beh ighn TSEE-muh frigh. Dahrf eekh es oon-tehr-fehr-MEE-tayn?
THEY SAY
Dafür brauchen Sie die Erlaubnis des Vermieters. Ohne Erlaubnis dürfen Sie nicht untervermieten.Duh-FYOOR BROW-khayn zee dee ehr-LOWB-nees des fehr-MEE-tehrs. OH-neh ehr-LOWB-nees DYOOR-fayn zee neekht oon-tehr-fehr-MEE-tayn.
For that you need the landlord's permission. You may not sublet without permission.
They might also say:
Das müssen Sie schriftlich beim Vermieter beantragen.
Dahs MYOO-sayn zee SHREEF-tleekh bighm fehr-MEE-tuh beh-AHN-truh-gayn.
You have to ask the landlord for it in writing.
2
YOU REPLY
Wie beantrage ich das?
Vee beh-AHN-truh-geh eekh dahs?
How do I ask for that?
THEY SAY
Sie schreiben dem Vermieter eine E-Mail oder einen Brief. Sie nennen den Namen und den Zeitraum.Zee SHRIGH-bayn dem fehr-MEE-tuh IGH-neh ee-mayl OH-duh IGH-nayn breef. Zee NEH-nayn dayn NAH-mayn oont dayn TSIGH-trowm.
You write the landlord an e-mail or a letter. You give the name and the period.
3
YOU REPLY
Muss sich der Untermieter auch anmelden?
Moos zeekh dehr OON-tehr-mee-tuh owkh AHN-mel-dayn?
Does the subtenant have to register as well?
THEY SAY
Ja, er muss sich beim Bürgeramt anmelden. Dafür braucht er die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.Yah, ehr moos zeekh bighm BYOOR-geh-ruhmt AHN-mel-dayn. Duh-FYOOR browkht ehr dee VOH-noongs-geh-behr-bes-teh-tee-goong.
Yes, he has to register at the Bürgeramt. For that he needs the landlord's confirmation.
4
YOU FINISH
Alles klar. Danke für die Erklärung!
AH-les klahr. DAHN-keh fyoor dee ehr-KLEH-roong!
Understood. Thanks for the explanation!
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
möchte
MYOKH-teh
verb
would like
Zimmer
TSEE-muh
noun
room
Wohnung
VOH-noong
noun
flat
untervermieten
oon-tehr-fehr-MEE-tayn
verb
to sublet
Geht
Get
verb
goes
Dafür
Duh-FYOOR
adverb
for it
46 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
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