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Lesson 138 of 240

New here? This is lesson 138 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Signing the lease in German

Priya is about to sign the lease for her Hinterhaus flat. Today she sits with Herr Schulze in the courtyard and asks the questions first.

He is brief. He waits with the papers and a pen. She needs repairs, documents, notice, and extra costs in plain words.

By the end, you will ask who handles repairs, which papers you need, and how to leave the flat.

Keep Sie with him. He is the landlord.

By the end of this lesson

Ask what papers you need, who handles repairs, and how to leave the flat.

  • Wer ist für Reparaturen zuständig?Who is responsible for repairs?
  • Welche Unterlagen brauche ich?What documents do I need?
  • Kann ich den Vertrag vorher lesen?Can I read the contract before I sign?
  • Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?How much notice do I have to give?
  • Gibt es noch zusätzliche Kosten?Are there any extra charges?
  • Kann ich den Vertrag später verlängern?Can I renew the lease later?

Scene — the courtyard table

Priya meets Herr Schulze in the Hinterhaus courtyard. He has a clipboard, a pen, and the lease she has not signed yet.

A wooden table sits by the bikes. He does not do small talk. She has a list of questions this time.

Priya and Herr Schulze sit at the wooden courtyard table beside the parked bikes, with the unsigned lease on his clipboard.

Learn — papers, repairs, notice

Six questions cover repairs, papers, reading the lease, notice, extra costs, and renewal.

You will ask Herr Schulze each one with Sie.

  1. Priya points toward the courtyard downpipe as Herr Schulze listens from the table.

    Wer ist für Reparaturen zuständig?

    Who is responsible for repairs?

    When to use it: Ask the landlord who handles repairs in the building.

    Use Sie with Herr Schulze; this question is for the landlord, not a friend.

    Say it: Put your lips forward for the ü in zuständig.

  2. Priya arranges the lease and a plain card on the table while Herr Schulze indicates the papers she needs.

    Welche Unterlagen brauche ich?

    What documents do I need?

    When to use it: Ask which papers you need before you sign.

    Unterlagen is plural; learn die Unterlagen with this noun.

  3. Herr Schulze slides the open lease toward Priya as she reaches to read it before signing.

    Kann ich den Vertrag vorher lesen?

    Can I read the contract before I sign?

    When to use it: Ask to read the lease before you sign it.

    Den Vertrag takes den, not der, in this question.

  4. Priya studies the open lease while Herr Schulze points to its terms during their discussion of notice.

    Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?

    How much notice do I have to give?

    When to use it: Ask how much notice you must give to leave.

    Die Kündigungsfrist is feminine; learn die with this noun.

    Say it: Kündigungsfrist puts the stress on the first syllable.

  5. Priya considers a plain sheet as Herr Schulze indicates it while they discuss extra charges.

    Gibt es noch zusätzliche Kosten?

    Are there any extra charges?

    When to use it: Ask if the rent comes with extra charges.

    Kosten is plural; extra charges sit after noch in this question.

  6. Priya gestures toward the unsigned lease as Herr Schulze keeps the pen beside it during their discussion of renewing later.

    Kann ich den Vertrag später verlängern?

    Can I renew the lease later?

    When to use it: Ask if you can renew the lease later.

    Später sits before verlängern at the end of the clause.

    Say it: The ä in verlängern is an open eh sound.

Story — he keeps it short

Watch Priya sit down with Herr Schulze. She asks about repairs, papers, and notice. He answers in short lines.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The courtyard table is set. Herr Schulze has the unsigned lease and a pen.
  2. Herr SchulzeGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  3. PriyaGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  4. Herr SchulzeSetzen Sie sich.Please sit down.
  5. She sits. The pages are already open.
  6. PriyaWer ist für Reparaturen zuständig?Who is responsible for repairs?
  7. Herr SchulzeIch bin zuständig.I am the one who handles that.
  8. PriyaWelche Unterlagen brauche ich?What documents do I need?
  9. Herr SchulzeDen Vertrag und Ihren Ausweis.The contract and your ID.
  10. PriyaKann ich den Vertrag vorher lesen?Can I read the contract before I sign?
  11. Herr SchulzeJa. Bitte sehr.Yes. Here you are.
  12. He slides the papers over. He waits.
  13. PriyaWie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?How much notice do I have to give?
  14. Herr SchulzeDrei Monate.Three months.
  15. PriyaGibt es noch zusätzliche Kosten?Are there any extra charges?
  16. Herr SchulzeJa, die Nebenkosten.Yes, the utility costs.
  17. PriyaKann ich den Vertrag später verlängern?Can I renew the lease later?
  18. Herr SchulzeSpäter, ja. Heute nicht.Later, yes. Not today.

Practice — the lease questions

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay on the lease questions you just learned.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Welche Unterlagen brauche ich?Drop the English here
    Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?Drop the English here
    Gibt es noch zusätzliche Kosten?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to read the lease before you sign.

  4. Fill the gap

    How much notice do I have to give?

    Wie lang ist die ____?

  5. What does it mean?

    Gibt es noch zusätzliche Kosten?

  6. Swap the word

    Ask if you can renew the lease later.

    Kann ich den Vertrag ____ verlängern?

  7. Pick the reply

    Herr Schulze says:

    Guten Tag.

    Good afternoon.

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    What documents do I need?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  9. True or false?

    You say this to a close friend when you want them to sit.

  10. What do you say?

    He points at the signature line. Ask if you must sign here.

  11. Find the mistake

Say it — ask him yourself

Now you're Priya at the courtyard table. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Herr SchulzeGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  2. Priya (you)Greet him the daytime way.

    Guten Tag.

    Good afternoon

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Wer ist für Reparaturen zuständig?Who is responsible for repairs?
Welche Unterlagen brauche ich?What documents do I need?
Kann ich den Vertrag vorher lesen?Can I read the contract before I sign?
Wie lang ist die Kündigungsfrist?How much notice do I have to give?
Gibt es noch zusätzliche Kosten?Are there any extra charges?
Kann ich den Vertrag später verlängern?Can I renew the lease later?
Next: lesson 139What's in the flat

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these lease questions handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps the lease questions ready for Herr Schulze.

Open Yak Cards