Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: what the landlord confirmation is, what it must contain, the legal deadline, and what to do if your landlord refuses to sign.
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is a one-page confirmation, signed by whoever gives you the room, stating that you have actually moved in. Without it you cannot complete your Anmeldung — the city of Göttingen requires it on paper. It is not a favour: § 19 of the Bundesmeldegesetz makes it a legal duty for the housing provider, who must confirm your move-in within the same two-week window as your registration. The statute provides for no fee, and in practice the confirmation is issued free of charge. Failing to issue it, issuing it late or issuing it incorrectly is an administrative offence punishable by a fine of up to €1,000 under § 54 BMG. Here is what the document must say and how to get it without drama.
What the document is — and what it is not
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (you will also see it spelled Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung — same thing) exists for one reason: to stop people registering at addresses where they do not live. Since 2015, German municipalities no longer take your word for it. They want the housing provider to confirm the move-in.
It is not:
- a rental contract — the city does not want your lease, and you should not hand it over instead;
- proof that you paid anything;
- something you can write and sign yourself. Self-issued confirmations are only valid in the narrow case where you are the owner-occupier of your own home.
It is a short administrative form, usually downloaded from the city's website, filled in and signed by the housing provider. To see where it sits in the sequence, read our step-by-step guide to the Anmeldung in Göttingen.
Who counts as your "Wohnungsgeber"
This trips up a lot of students, because the German term means housing provider, not strictly owner. Depending on how you live, the signer is different:
| Your situation | Who signs |
|---|---|
| Room in a Studentenwerk hall | The Studentenwerk / hall administration |
| Flat or studio rented directly | The landlord, or their property manager (Hausverwaltung) |
| Room sublet inside a shared flat | The main tenant who sublets to you |
| Room in a flat where you all sign one lease | The landlord, for each named tenant |
Whether the sublet is authorised by the owner is a question of tenancy law, and it is worth checking for your own protection — but it is a separate question from registration. § 17(1) BMG ties your duty to register to actually moving in, and § 19(1) ties the main tenant's duty to confirm to the same fact. An unauthorised sublet is a problem to sort out with the main tenant; it is not a reason to skip your Anmeldung.
If you are moving into a shared flat, check who is legally in charge before you sign anything — our guide to finding a WG in Göttingen explains the difference between a main-tenant sublet and a proper joint lease, because the same distinction decides who signs your confirmation and who owes you your deposit back later.
What must be on it
The form is short, but it has to be complete, otherwise the counter will send you home. It must state:
- the name and address of the housing provider (and of the owner, if they are not the same person);
- the move-in date — the real one, since it starts your two-week registration clock;
- the full address of the home you are moving into, including any staircase or flat number;
- the names of all the people moving in who are covered by this confirmation;
- the signature of the housing provider.
Watch the move-in date: if your landlord backdates or postdates it "to keep it simple", they are putting an incorrect statement on an official form — and you are the one who arrives at the counter with a document that does not match your situation.
The deadline, the cost, and the fine
Three facts worth knowing by heart:
- Deadline: two weeks after your move-in. That is the landlord's obligation under § 19 BMG, and it is deliberately aligned with the two-week window you have to register.
- Cost. § 19 BMG imposes the confirmation as a duty of the housing provider and provides for no payment in return; it is normally issued free of charge. If a landlord asks you to pay for it, point them to § 19 BMG and raise it with the Bürgerbüro rather than paying to unblock your file.
- Fine: up to €1,000 (§ 54(2) no. 3 and § 54(3) BMG) if the confirmation is missing, late or incorrect.
Sham registrations are a different order of magnitude, and the two sides are not exposed to the same amount. Offering or providing an address for a registration when nobody actually moves in is expressly prohibited by § 19(6) BMG and can be fined up to €50,000 (§ 54(1) and § 54(3) BMG) — that is the seller's risk. On your side, registering at an address where you do not live is an offence too: § 54(2) no. 1 BMG covers anyone who "does not register, or registers incorrectly", up to €1,000.
That last point matters for students in a hurry: never buy an address. Offers of a "registration address" against payment, on classified sites or in student groups, are a Scheinanmeldung — a sham registration. It is an offence on both sides, and you would be building your entire German paper trail — tax ID, bank, residence-permit file — on an address that is not yours. If an ad smells like this, our anti-scam checklist tells you what else to look for.
If your landlord refuses or stalls
Refusals usually come in three flavours, and each has an answer.
"It's only one semester, you don't need to register." They are wrong, and it is not their call. The registration duty is yours, not theirs, and it applies to a stay of more than three months. Send them the request in writing, mention § 19 BMG, and give a short deadline.
"I'll do it later." Put the request in an email so the date is on record, restate the two-week deadline, and ask for a scan followed by the paper original. Keep every message.
Silence. Contact the Bürgerbüro. The registration authority is the body that can act on a housing provider's failure, and it can start the fine procedure. Bring what you have: your lease or booking confirmation, your written requests, proof of the move-in date.
One nuance to keep in mind: a landlord who refuses is often a landlord with something else to hide — an unregistered sublet, a deposit above the legal ceiling, or charges that do not match the rules on Kaution and Nebenkosten. It is worth checking the whole tenancy rather than just chasing the form.
Practical timing for an incoming student
Ask for the confirmation at handover, when you collect the keys, in the same breath as the move-in inspection. Halls of residence usually hand it to you automatically with the welcome pack — private landlords often need reminding. Whether you end up in a Studentenwerk hall or on the private market, the reflex is identical: keys in one hand, signed confirmation in the other.
Then photograph it, email yourself the scan, and take the paper original to your Bürgerbüro appointment. And remember that once you are registered, two things follow automatically: your tax ID, and a letter about the broadcasting fee.
FAQ — The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
Is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung compulsory in Göttingen? Yes. The city states it has been compulsory since 2015 and must be presented on paper at your Anmeldung appointment. No confirmation, no registration.
Can my landlord charge me for it? § 19 BMG makes it their obligation and provides for no fee in return; it is normally issued free of charge. If you are asked to pay, raise it with the Bürgerbüro before you do.
How long does my landlord have to give it to me? Two weeks from your move-in date. Not issuing it, issuing it late or issuing it incorrectly can be fined up to €1,000 under § 54 BMG.
Can the main tenant of my flatshare sign it? Yes — the main tenant who provides you with the room is your housing provider for registration purposes. Check separately whether they are allowed to sublet: that protects your tenancy, but it does not change your duty to register.
Can I write it myself if the landlord won't? No — self-issued confirmations are only valid for owner-occupiers. If your landlord refuses, contact the Bürgerbüro with your written requests as evidence.
This single page is the smallest document in your move and the one most likely to block it. Ask for it on day one, check the move-in date and the address, and take it straight to your Anmeldung appointment. Our student services cover the rest of the arrival paperwork, and if you are still looking for a room in Göttingen, start with the listings on Studroof.
This article is informational and does not replace official sources. Check § 19 BMG, § 54 BMG and the Göttingen registration page. For a dispute with a landlord, seek advice from a tenants' association or a lawyer. Last updated: August 2026.