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Lesson 238 of 240

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Renew the lease in German

Priya meets Herr Schulze in the courtyard on Fliederstraße. He has his clipboard out and no time for small talk.

The old bicycle is still under the ivy. Nobody tries the key on it.

By the end, you'll ask to renew the lease, check the terms and the rent, and say you will stay.

Keep Sie with Herr Schulze. This is a formal yes, not a chat.

By the end of this lesson

Agree to renew the lease, ask what changes, and say you will stay.

  • Ich möchte den Mietvertrag gerne verlängern.I'd like to renew the tenancy agreement.
  • Ändert sich dabei etwas an den Konditionen?Do any of the terms change with that?
  • Bleibt die Miete im nächsten Jahr gleich?Will the rent stay the same next year?
  • Könnten wir die Laufzeit auf zwei Jahre setzen?Could we set the term at two years?
  • Ja, ich habe mich entschieden zu bleiben.Yes, I've decided to stay.
  • Dann lassen Sie uns das so festhalten.Then let's put that down in writing.

Scene — the courtyard

Herr Schulze waits in the Hinterhof with a clipboard under one arm. Priya comes down from her third-floor flat.

Ivy still hides an old bicycle against the back wall. He does not mention it. He wants a yes or no on the lease.

Herr Schulze waits with his clipboard as Priya comes down the stairwell into the courtyard.

Learn — renew the lease

Six lines cover renewing the lease, checking the terms and the rent, setting a two-year term, and saying you will stay.

Herr Schulze gets Sie, and he keeps it short.

  1. Priya gestures toward Herr Schulze as she brings up renewing the lease.

    Ich möchte den Mietvertrag gerne verlängern.

    I'd like to renew the tenancy agreement.

    When to use it: Say this to your landlord when you want to renew the lease.

    In a main clause the finite verb sits second, so möchte comes right after ich.

    Say it: Möchte starts with the German ö sound.

  2. Priya raises a questioning palm toward Herr Schulze and his clipboard.

    Ändert sich dabei etwas an den Konditionen?

    Do any of the terms change with that?

    When to use it: Ask this after you agree to renew, to check what else changes.

    Ändert sich names a change that happens; etwas is what might change.

    Say it: The ch in sich is the soft ich sound.

  3. Priya waits attentively for Herr Schulze to answer her question about next year’s rent.

    Bleibt die Miete im nächsten Jahr gleich?

    Will the rent stay the same next year?

    When to use it: Ask this to check whether next year's rent will stay the same.

    Gleich here means unchanged, not immediately.

    Say it: The ch in nächsten is the soft ich sound.

  4. Priya marks out a longer lease term with her hands while Herr Schulze listens.

    Könnten wir die Laufzeit auf zwei Jahre setzen?

    Could we set the term at two years?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want a two-year term, not a shorter one.

    After a modal like könnten, the other verb waits at the end of the clause.

    Say it: Könnten starts with the German ö sound.

  5. Priya stands confidently in the courtyard, resolved to stay in her flat.

    Ja, ich habe mich entschieden zu bleiben.

    Yes, I've decided to stay.

    When to use it: Say this when you give a clear yes that you will stay.

    Entschieden zu bleiben packs the decision and the stay into one piece.

  6. Herr Schulze holds his pen above the clipboard as Priya watches him prepare to record their agreement.

    Dann lassen Sie uns das so festhalten.

    Then let's put that down in writing.

    When to use it: Say this to lock the agreement in writing once you both agree.

    Lassen Sie uns is a polite let's, and it keeps Sie with Herr Schulze.

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

Story — she stays

Watch Priya renew the lease in the courtyard. Herr Schulze wants a clear yes and the details in writing.

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

  1. Herr Schulze stands on the cobbles with his clipboard. Ivy covers the back wall.
  2. Herr SchulzeGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  3. PriyaGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  4. Herr SchulzeSie wollten wegen der Wohnung sprechen.You wanted to talk about the flat.
  5. PriyaIch möchte den Mietvertrag gerne verlängern.I'd like to renew the tenancy agreement.
  6. He ticks a box. He does not sit down.
  7. Herr SchulzeHaben Sie sich das überlegt?Have you thought that through?
  8. PriyaJa, ich habe mich entschieden zu bleiben.Yes, I've decided to stay.
  9. PriyaÄndert sich dabei etwas an den Konditionen?Do any of the terms change with that?
  10. Herr SchulzeKaum. Es bleibt alles gleich.Hardly. Everything stays the same.
  11. PriyaBleibt die Miete im nächsten Jahr gleich?Will the rent stay the same next year?
  12. Herr SchulzeDie Miete bleibt gleich, ja.The rent stays the same, yes.
  13. PriyaKönnten wir die Laufzeit auf zwei Jahre setzen?Could we set the term at two years?
  14. Herr SchulzeZwei Jahre sind in Ordnung.Two years is fine.
  15. He glances at the ivy, then back at the page.
  16. Herr SchulzeDann lassen Sie uns das so festhalten.Then let's put that down in writing.
  17. PriyaGut, dann halten wir es genau so fest.Good, then we'll lock it in like that.
  18. Herr SchulzeIch lasse Ihnen den neuen Vertrag zukommen.I'll send you the new contract.
  19. PriyaDanke, Herr Schulze.Thank you, Herr Schulze.
  20. He tucks the clipboard away. The old bicycle stays under the ivy.

Practice — term and rent

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, build a line, and swap a word.

They stay on the lease, so the round stays tight.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Your landlord asks if you are staying in the flat.

  3. Fill the gap

    Will the rent stay the same next year?

    Bleibt die ____ im nächsten Jahr gleich?

  4. What does it mean?

    Ändert sich dabei etwas an den Konditionen?

  5. Swap the word

    You want a two-year term on the lease, not three.

    Könnten wir die Laufzeit auf ____ Jahre setzen?

  6. Build the line

    Then let's put that down in writing.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Put the chat in order

    1. PriyaWhat comes first?
    2. Herr Schulze…
    3. Priya…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  8. What do you say?

    It is afternoon in the courtyard. Greet your landlord.

  9. True or false?

    This line means you want to cancel the lease.

  10. Find the mistake

Say it — say you will stay

Now you're Priya in the courtyard with Herr Schulze. 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 SchulzeSie wollten wegen der Wohnung sprechen.You wanted to talk about the flat.
  2. Priya (you)Tell him you would like to renew the tenancy agreement.

    Ich möchte den Mietvertrag gerne verlängern.

    I'd like to renew the tenancy agreement.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich möchte den Mietvertrag gerne verlängern.I'd like to renew the tenancy agreement.
Ändert sich dabei etwas an den Konditionen?Do any of the terms change with that?
Bleibt die Miete im nächsten Jahr gleich?Will the rent stay the same next year?
Könnten wir die Laufzeit auf zwei Jahre setzen?Could we set the term at two years?
Ja, ich habe mich entschieden zu bleiben.Yes, I've decided to stay.
Dann lassen Sie uns das so festhalten.Then let's put that down in writing.
Next: lesson 239Everyone around the counter

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the lease lines ready for Herr Schulze.

Open Yak Cards