Certificate of No Rent Arrears: PDF & Word Template

Create a free certificate of no rent arrears: with a cut-off date, a reservation for service charges and no waiver of claims – PDF and Word.

FAQ

Does a landlord have to issue a certificate of no rent arrears?

No. The Federal Court of Justice has ruled that tenants have no right to one (judgment of 30 September 2009, VIII ZR 238/08). However, they can request a receipt for each payment (§ 368 BGB).

Can a new landlord require a certificate of no rent arrears?

Not according to the data protection authorities’ guidance, because tenants have no right to obtain the certificate. If an applicant provides it voluntarily, the landlord may take it into account.

How does this differ from a previous landlord’s certificate?

Usually, there is no difference. Both terms refer to confirmation from the current or previous landlord that there are no rent arrears. Some previous landlord’s certificates also include information about the tenant’s behaviour; this template omits that.

What about operating costs for which no statement has yet been issued?

The certificate identifies the outstanding accounting period and makes clear that any additional payment due for that period is not covered. This preserves your claim arising from the later statement.

Can I issue the certificate while the tenancy is still ongoing?

Yes. You then confirm payments up to a specified date, no later than today. The certificate describes the tenancy as “is ongoing”.

Is the certificate of no rent arrears available as a PDF?

Yes. The template creates a PDF and a Word document from your details. Empty fields appear as placeholders in square brackets.

Will my details be stored or transmitted?

No. The certificate is created entirely in your browser. The PDF and Word document are generated on your device; nothing is sent to us or to third parties.