Housing and contracts
Kündigung
Notice of termination
Last updated: September 28, 2026
What does Kündigung mean?
A Kündigung is the written notice that ends a contract. For a flat, tenants must give notice by the third working day of a month, ending the tenancy at the end of the month after next, roughly three months. For a job, the basic period is four weeks to the 15th or the end of a month, and two weeks during probation.
Key facts
| Flat (tenant) | By the 3rd working day, ends at the end of the month after next (§573c BGB) |
| Job (basic) | 4 weeks to the 15th or end of a month (§622 BGB) |
| Job (probation) | 2 weeks |
| Form for rent and jobs | Written, hand-signed |
What to do
- Put it in writing and sign it by hand: for rent and employment, email or messaging is not valid.
- State the contract, your name and the end date ('zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt' if unsure).
- Send it so you can prove delivery, for example by Einschreiben or hand delivery with a witness.
- Ask for written confirmation of the end date.
Worth knowing
Employers' notice periods grow with your length of service (one month after two years, up to seven months after 20 years). Yours as an employee stays at four weeks unless your contract says otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I have to give on my flat in Germany?
Notice received by the third working day of a month ends the tenancy at the end of the month after next, so about three months. It must be in writing and signed; email is not enough.
What is the notice period for quitting a job in Germany?
By law four weeks to the 15th or the end of a calendar month, and two weeks during a probation period of up to six months. Your contract or collective agreement can set longer periods.
Read next
Sources
More German terms: housing and contracts
Plain-English explanations of the words on your letters and forms.