Infos for Landlords:

Questions:

How long do people rent?
Should owners be flexible on leases?
Why do lease periods start with 3 months so often?
Relationship with landlords?
Relationship with tenants?
Lots of repairs and renovation necessary?
Which kind of furniture is best?
Do flats always have to be available on the 1st of each month?
Which kind of relationship is there between agent-tenant-owner?
How long do tentants stay?
What do you say to a landlord only wanting to rent for “at least 1 year!”?
What is the disadvantage of renting out a furnished place?
Which kind of furniture should it be?
Can you get me a serviced apartment?
What is a no-no regarding a rental?
What is a yes-yes regarding a rental offer?
What do you need?
Will there be gaps between different rentals?

Answers:

How long do people rent?
Standard answer is from 3 months to 3 years.  There have been many cases though when tenants started with a very short time span of 2 or 3 months and after 1.5 years they are still happily residing in the same place.  ^

Should owners be flexible on leases?
Absolutely.  See above!  The more flexible landlords are the better they rent their places.  Owners who demand a one year lease right from the start do make life very difficult for themselves and the agent.  Exceptions prove the rule though. ^

Why do lease periods start with 3 months so often?
Majority of tenants are working in IT projects which get renewed every 3 months in 90% of the cases.  Obviously the tenant does not want to rent longer then the initial projects runs. ^

Relationship with landlords?
An agency for furnished accommodation in Munich can only be as good as their contacts are.

The agent is dependent on the landlord and her/his credibility and vice versa.  References of landlords who have been working together with me for years can be provided without any problems.  We are known to be very pro-active and provide a personal service.  This means that we work together to identify the best accommodation solution and not the 2nd best. ^

Relationship with tenants?
Renting a furnished place depends on the correctness of the agent and the owner as well as on everybody’s professionalism.  I believe in thoroghness, diligence and transparence.  We pay respect to all parties and maintain polite and friendly manners.  Keeping everybody updated is mandatory.  In days of email an easy game. ^

Lots of repairs and renovation necessary?
Some landlords are weary about “frequent changes of tenants” since the flat would “suffer”.
I always proof that unfurnished places suffer a lot more, simply by moving around all that furniture.  Furnished places remain as they are and lodgers are just arriving with their suitcase.  Some tenants do have a problem though airing their places well and it is still an illness to have that window half-ajar in winter. Hence the rental contract is very clear on all this and its effects.  Better safe than sorry.. ^

Which kind of furniture is best?
Obviously not all my offers should look the same.  The Ikea stlye is predominant and never wrong though.  Some clear, fresh, functional style.... We are happy to give detailed advice on this. ^

Do flats always have to be available on the 1st of each month?
In actual flat it is quite often an advantage to have flats available during the month.  Consultants for IT projects in Munich for example are often called at “last minute” and are grateful for housing then and there. ^

Which kind of relationship is there between agent-tenant-owner?
It should be a happy triangle.  I liase between landlord - tenant whenever needed, arrange for viewing appointments, negotiate terms and conditions and finalise the rental contract.  Some landlords also have direct contacts with their tenants since they speak good English.  All parties should always be on the same information level which is easy in the days of email.. ^

How long do tentants stay?
Standard answer – between 1 month and 3 years. ^

What do you say to a landlord only wanting to rent for “at least 1 year!”?
Give the tenant the benefit of the doubt.  We have had so many cases of tentants starting on a one or two month booking and see them still happily residing in the same place after one year! ^

What is the disadvantage of renting out a furnished place?
The landlord has to maintain a service mentality.  He is more challenged in the way that he is faced with different mentalities and nationalties.  An aspect which can be very interesting though, also since I cover the rental process mainly so that in an ideal case the landlord only has to sign the contract and hand over the keys.  All prior work to that is done by Liz Frey.  ^

Which kind of furniture should it be?
Neutral to homely to functional. ^

Can you get me a serviced apartment?
With serviced apartment a furnished flat or apartment is meant which is cleaned by a regular cleaning service.  This can be certainly arranged. ^

What is a no-no regarding a rental?
A no-no is an owner who demands a one year lease right from the start with a German tenant.   In days where computer people are called out on projects within a week and given a 3 or 6 months start project there, just no-one can sign up for anything longer.  6 months bookings or 1 year bookings do happen also though but never as a rule or standard. ^

What is a yes-yes regarding a rental offer?
This is a landlord who is offering value for money, a neutral, modern place without any domineering furniture or those big paintings on the wall.  Leave some room for the tenant.  ^

What do you need?
I am always looking out for central places and would very much welcome landlords to call me about their offers in Schwabing, Giesing, Haidhausen, Lehel and Maxvorstadt.  Thank you!! ^

Will there be gaps between different rentals?
A question I do get often.  Depends... prime locations like apartments in Schwabing should not have a problem at all, however places in off-side locations might suffer.  Experience has shown though that it is often an advantage to be able to check between the leases to make sure that things are still in order. ^