Last updated: 29 May 2026
Listing a furnished apartment on Wunderflats gives you access to a market of verified, mid-term tenants: professionals on work assignments, international students, and expats relocating to Germany. The process is free to start, and you only pay a service fee once a tenant has been found. But getting your listing right, having the right documents in place, and understanding how to respond to tenant requests all affect how quickly your apartment gets booked and how smoothly the tenancy runs.
This guide walks through the complete process from preparing your apartment to handing over the keys, in the order you will actually work through it. Whether you are listing for the first time or want to improve an existing listing, each phase covers what to do and what to have ready before you move on.
Key takeaways
- Listing on Wunderflats is free. The service fee (10% + VAT) is charged only once a tenant has been found and the booking is confirmed.
- Two documents are legally required before renting out in Germany: an energy performance certificate (Energieausweis) and the ability to issue a confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) to your tenant.
- Wunderflats verifies every tenant's identity and financial credibility before you see their request: you review pre-screened candidates, not unverified strangers.
- High-quality photos are the single biggest lever on booking rate. Professional photography (free in select cities) increases demand by up to 25%.
- Landlords who respond to tenant requests within one day receive significantly more confirmed bookings than those who wait longer.
Process overview and timeline
The full process from preparation to handover typically takes one to three weeks for a well-prepared landlord. Most of that time is occupied by Phase 3: waiting for and evaluating tenant requests. The listing itself can be created in under an hour once your documents and photos are ready.
| Phase | What happens | Typical time | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | Gather documents, furnish apartment, arrange photos | 1–5 days | High |
| 2. Create listing | Set up account, upload photos, write description, set pricing | 1–2 hours | Medium |
| 3. Respond to requests | Review tenant profiles, accept or decline requests | 1–14 days | Low |
| 4. Sign contract | Review and sign Wunderflats rental agreement; collect deposit | 1–2 days | Low |
| 5. Hand over | Complete Übergabeprotokoll, issue Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, hand over keys | Half a day | Medium |
Phase 1: Prepare your apartment and documents
The quality of your preparation directly determines how fast your apartment gets booked and how few problems arise during the tenancy. There are two parallel tasks in this phase: getting the apartment itself ready, and gathering the legal documents you are required to have before renting out in Germany.
Legal documents required by German law
Both of the following are mandatory. Neither can be substituted or skipped.
Energieausweis (energy performance certificate): Required under the Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG, §§80 and 87). The key figures from the certificate must appear in your listing advertisement: energy consumption class, type of heating, and the primary energy value. There are two types: the consumption-based certificate (Verbrauchsausweis, based on actual usage history) and the demand-based certificate (Bedarfsausweis, based on the building's physical characteristics). If your property does not already have one, a certified energy consultant can issue it. Certificates are valid for ten years.
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (confirmation of residence): You are legally required to issue this document to your tenant within two weeks of their move-in date under §19 BMG. It confirms they live at your property and enables them to complete their Anmeldung (official address registration). Failure to issue it correctly or on time is an offence carrying a fine of up to 1,000 EUR under §54(3) BMG. Wunderflats provides guidance and templates for this document.
Getting the apartment ready
Wunderflats is a mid-term furnished rental platform. Your apartment must be fully furnished and ready to live in from day one. The most in-demand features for mid-term tenants in Germany are fast and reliable internet, a dedicated workspace (desk and comfortable chair), and a fully equipped kitchen. Listings that highlight these features clearly, with photos, book faster.
When preparing the space, document every item of furniture and equipment present. This inventory forms the basis of the rental contract and protects you if there is any dispute about damage or missing items at the end of the tenancy.
Photography
Photos are the most important factor in a listing's performance. Wunderflats offers professional photography free of charge in select cities: take advantage of this if it is available in your area. Listings with professional photos see up to 25% higher demand. If you are photographing yourself, shoot in landscape format at a minimum of 1,200 × 1,800 pixels (maximum 25 MB per image). Use natural light, remove personal items and clutter, and capture every room including the kitchen and bathroom. A floor plan is a useful addition.
Before moving to Phase 2, confirm:
Phase 2: Create and publish your listing
Once your apartment and documents are ready, creating the listing itself is straightforward. Go to wunderflats.com and create a landlord account using your email address or an existing Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn account. Enter the property address and work through the listing form section by section.
Pricing
Wunderflats listings display an all-inclusive monthly rent: the Warmmiete, covering rent and utilities. Set a price that reflects the local mid-term market. Check comparable furnished listings in your city and neighbourhood to calibrate. Wunderflats displays your price as the fixed amount tenants will pay: there is no dynamic nightly pricing. A well-priced listing books faster and attracts more serious, longer-term tenants.
Writing your description
Write your title and description in both English and German. The majority of Wunderflats tenants are international professionals, and an English description significantly widens your reach. Be specific about features that matter to mid-term tenants: internet speed, workspace setup, proximity to public transport, and whether the apartment is in a quiet or lively area. Avoid vague superlatives: concrete details convert better.
Amenity checklist
Mark every available amenity in the listing form. The items most searched for by mid-term tenants include: fast Wi-Fi, washing machine, dishwasher, desk and office chair, balcony or outdoor space, and elevator access. Each checked amenity filters your listing into more relevant search results.
💡 Tip: Landlords who respond to tenant requests within one day receive significantly more confirmed bookings. Before publishing, ensure you have notifications set up and can check your dashboard regularly during the first days a listing is live: that is when most requests come in.
Phase 3: Receive and respond to tenant requests
Once your listing is live, Wunderflats notifies you of each new booking request via your dashboard and by email. Before a request reaches you, Wunderflats has already verified the tenant's identity with a valid ID or passport and conducted a liquidity check to confirm they can afford the rent. You are reviewing pre-screened candidates, not anonymous enquiries.
Each request shows you the tenant's profile: their purpose for renting (work assignment, relocation, study), their desired move-in and move-out dates, and any message they have written to you. You can accept, decline, or ask questions before deciding. You are never obliged to accept a request, and you can communicate directly with prospective tenants through the platform before committing.
ℹ Info: German anti-discrimination law (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) prohibits refusing a tenant request on the grounds of ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, or sexual identity. You may decline a request on the grounds of the dates not working, the tenant not meeting your stated requirements, or a mismatch on rental duration: but not on the basis of protected characteristics.
When you accept a request, Wunderflats moves the booking to the contract stage. The platform holds the booking while both parties sign the rental agreement.
Phase 4: Sign the contract and collect the deposit
Wunderflats provides a standard bilingual rental agreement (German and English) that is fully compliant with German tenancy law (BGB). You do not need to draft a contract yourself or hire a lawyer to prepare one. The contract covers all required terms: rental period, monthly rent, deposit amount, permitted use, and the detailed inventory of furnished items you prepared in Phase 1.
The German version of the contract is the legally binding one. Both landlord and tenant sign digitally through the Wunderflats platform. Once both signatures are in place, the booking is confirmed.
Deposit
The security deposit (Kaution) is legally capped at three months of cold rent (Kaltmiete) under §551 BGB, not three months of the all-inclusive Warmmiete. Agree the deposit amount in the contract and ensure it is paid into a separate, interest-bearing account before or on the move-in date. The interest earned belongs to the tenant and must be returned with the principal at the end of the tenancy. Keep all documentation of deposit receipt.
Service fee
The Wunderflats service fee (10% of the total rental price plus 19% VAT, effectively 11.9% including VAT) is charged to the landlord once the contract is signed and the booking is confirmed. The fee covers tenant verification, the contract, payment processing, and platform support for the duration of the tenancy. There is no listing fee or upfront cost.
Before moving to Phase 5, confirm:
Phase 5: Hand over the apartment
The handover is the moment the tenancy begins, and the documentation you create here matters as much as the contract itself. A thorough handover process protects both you and the tenant if any dispute arises about the apartment's condition at the end of the tenancy.
Übergabeprotokoll (handover protocol)
Walk through the apartment together with the tenant on move-in day. Record the condition of every room and every item on the inventory list. Note any existing damage or wear: scratches, marks, minor defects: in writing. Both parties sign the completed protocol. Photograph anything that could be disputed later and keep dated copies. This document, produced at move-in and repeated at move-out, is your primary evidence if a deposit deduction is ever challenged.
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
Issue the signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung to your tenant on or shortly after move-in day. They need it to register their address (Anmeldung) at the local Bürgeramt within two weeks of moving in. You are legally obliged to provide it under §19 BMG. Wunderflats provides a template. Keep a signed copy for your records.
Keys and access
Record the number of keys handed over and which locks they open (front door, apartment door, cellar, letterbox). Note this in the handover protocol. Unreturned keys at move-out are a valid deduction from the deposit if the cost of replacement is documented.
Meter readings
Read all utility meters (electricity, gas, water) on move-in day and record the readings in the handover protocol. These readings are the baseline for the annual utility statement (Nebenkostenabrechnung). Without them, attributing consumption to the correct tenant is difficult.
Self-managed listing vs. Wunderflats Plus
Once your apartment is listed and tenants start booking, you have two ways to manage the ongoing relationship: handle it yourself through your Wunderflats dashboard, or hand ongoing operations to Wunderflats Plus, the platform's full property management service. The right choice depends on how much time you can invest and how hands-on you want to be.
| Feature | Self-managed listing | Wunderflats Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant communication | You handle all messages and queries directly | Wunderflats Plus team is single point of contact; you are only contacted when necessary |
| Viewings and handovers | Arranged and conducted by you | Managed by the Wunderflats Plus team |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Your responsibility to organise between tenancies | Handled by the team; apartment prepared for each new tenant |
| Price optimisation | You set and adjust pricing manually | Wunderflats analyses booking data continuously and adjusts pricing to maximise occupancy |
| Damage management at move-out | You inspect, assess, and manage any deposit deductions | Team conducts inspection; damage costs assessed and deducted from deposit at no additional cost to you |
| Remote management | Requires your physical presence or a local contact | Fully remote: you can manage your apartment from anywhere in the world |
| Availability | All cities on the Wunderflats platform | Currently Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich |
Self-management suits landlords who live near the property, enjoy direct contact with tenants, and want full control over every decision. Wunderflats Plus suits landlords who value their time above all, are based abroad, or manage multiple properties and want a single, reliable team handling operations. Both options use the same verified tenant pool and Wunderflats contract infrastructure.
FAQs about listing on Wunderflats
How much does it cost to list on Wunderflats?
Listing is free. You pay no upfront fee and no monthly subscription. The Wunderflats service fee is 10% of the total rental price plus 19% VAT (effectively 11.9% including VAT in Germany). It is charged only once a tenant has been found and the rental contract has been signed. There is no charge if your listing does not result in a booking.
Does my apartment need to be fully furnished?
Yes. Wunderflats is a furnished rental platform. Tenants expect to move in without needing to buy furniture. At minimum, every room should be fully functional: a bed and wardrobe in each bedroom, a sofa and coffee table in the living area, a desk and chair for working, and a fully equipped kitchen (fridge, oven or hob, microwave, and basic cookware and crockery). The more complete and comfortable the setup, the faster the listing books.
Can I refuse a tenant request without giving a reason?
You can decline requests, but you must not do so on the basis of protected characteristics under the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG): including ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, or sexual identity. Legitimate grounds for declining include the requested dates not fitting your availability, the requested rental period being outside your stated minimum or maximum, or the tenant's profile not meeting the requirements you have stated in your listing. You do not need to provide a detailed written explanation for every declined request.
What happens when the tenancy ends?
At the end of the tenancy, conduct a move-out walk-through with the tenant and complete a second Übergabeprotokoll. Compare the apartment's condition against the move-in protocol and inventory. You have up to six months to assess and resolve the deposit: deductions are only permitted for damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, or outstanding utility costs, each documented with invoices. Return the balance of the deposit, with accrued interest, once all claims are settled. Once the apartment is ready, you can re-list it immediately through your Wunderflats dashboard.
Do I need a separate contract, or does Wunderflats provide one?
Wunderflats provides a standard bilingual rental agreement (German/English) that is fully compliant with German tenancy law (BGB) at no extra charge. You do not need to source a separate contract or engage a lawyer to draft one. The Wunderflats contract is legally verified, includes all required terms, and can accommodate your specific inventory list. The German version is the legally binding one: the English translation is provided to help international tenants understand what they are signing.
Sources
- Wunderflats: Rent Out Your Furnished Apartment with Wunderflats
- Wunderflats FAQ: How can I list my apartment on Wunderflats?
- Wunderflats FAQ: Service Fee for Landlords
- Wunderflats FAQ: What services are included in the Wunderflats Service Fee?
- Wunderflats Hub: How to Successfully Rent Out Your Furnished Apartment
- Wunderflats Hub: How to Get More Bookings on Wunderflats: Tips for Landlords
- Wunderflats Hub: How to Set Up a Furnished Apartment for Rental Success
- Wunderflats: Wunderflats Plus: Professional Rental Property Management
- Wunderflats Hub: Landlord's Confirmation of Residence: What You Need to Know
- Wunderflats FAQ: Energy performance certificate (Energieausweis)
- §551 BGB: Begrenzung und Anlage von Mietsicherheiten (deposit limits)
- §19 BMG: Mitwirkungspflicht des Wohnungsgebers (landlord confirmation of residence obligation)