FAQ for landlords

Our placing service is free of charge for the landlord.
Even the execution of viewings, hand overs and apartment returns as well as the drafting of contracts and the assessment of tenants by Mr. Lodge is free of charge. Mr. Lodge obtains the commission from the tenant.

If you offer your apartment on Mr. Lodge the presentation on all important internet portals for furnished apartments in the greater area of Munich is entirely for free. Mr. Lodge carries these expanses.

• Can I send in my own photos/videos?
  The high quality of the photos and videos as well as a homogeneous presentation of all offered apartments and houses is very important to Mr. Lodge. Therefore it is not possible to use photos/videos sent in by clients. It is mandatory that photos and a video are made of all properties. The quality of the online presentation is deciding for the placing of your apartment or house. Hence we only use up to date as well as professional photo- and video equipment. 
• How much does the photo-/video service cost?
  The fees depend on the size of the property. Detailed information can be viewed here.
• What is important for the photo shooting?
  It is often the case that object are still occupied at the time of the photo shooting. We want to present your apartment or house as neutral as possible. Therefore please keep in mind that for the shooting everything is arranged adequately inviting. A bouquet of flowers is a friendly gesture. Beds should be made and personal things should be stored out of view if possible. 

• Fully furnished apartments and houses only
  Most of our clients stay in Munich for only a limited period and arrive with just their suitcases. Therefore it is better, if as well as being fully furnished the apartment also has a fully equipped kitchen with crockery, cutlery, pots + pans, kettle, microwave, water boiler, dish washer (for 2-rooms or more) etc. If possible a washing machine or wash-dryer should be available in the apartment as well as bedlinen, towels and a vacuum cleaner. Also important are electric appliances like TV - preferably with cable or satellite, DVD-player, stereo and highspeed internet. You are welcome to request a list of inventory from our interior design consulting service.
• Is it good to provide for internet access as a landlord?
  We recommend the provision of an internet connection. This makes your apartment more attractive and is a deciding criteria for many potential tenants. Apartments without internet access are a no-go for many clients.
  Unfortunately liability issues cannot be entirely settled to everyone's satisfaction. We have heard of very few irregularities from the vast number of landlords we provide service for. Very few tenants have requested liability. Our pre-drafted rental contracts contain a liability clause.
  
• What service provider does Mr. Lodge recommend?
  For DSL internet access we recommend www.alice.de or www.m-net.de. 
  The charges are below 30.00 Euro/month (2011) and contracts can be placed without telephone connection and can be terminated after 3 months.
  If cable-TV is available already, Kabel Deutschland or the Kabel & Medien Service provide internet access which can be easily booked. It is cheaper and usually available within 24 hours.
• Is a wireless internet stick sufficient?
  That depends on the tenants. It is sufficient for some - for other absolutely not enough. The bandwidth is considerably less, i.e. 5 to 10% of a DSL connection.
• Is a fixed-line phone important?
  There are seldom any requests. It is definitely more convenient to have in an apartment, but the monthly bill is bothersome for the landlord.

• Tenants, who have permission to sublet.
• Owners

To all applies: You have a fully furnished and equipped apartment or house in Munich which is available for rent for at least three months and is of a certain standard.

Most of our clients are in Munich for a few months or years for professional reasons. Many are highly qualified specialists, working on a specific project for well-known companies. These international clients are looking for good to very good quality properties (1- to 4-room apartments and houses). Here you can view an excerpt of the list of renowned companies we have worked with for years: References.

We are one of the few real estate agents that are members of the General Credit Protection Agency (Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Kreditsicherung e.V. - SCHUFA). Since 2011 we obligatorily use the services of the SCHUFA while concluding a contract - if possible or necessary. In addition we are a member of  CREDITREFORM,  the largest german office for commercial disclosure. We want to provide you with the highest possible standard of security and strive to do business with reliable and solvent tenants only. However we cannot give a guarantee. Mr. Lodge cannot be held liable for potential loss of rent or damages. 

• High rate of return
  Furnished rentals usually produce a higher rate of return. The initial necessary investments in furniture and equipment are on the long term  balanced by the higher rents. However as a landlord you are more subject to market forces, with fluctuations of rental prices upto +/- 20 or 30 % depending on the state of economy (see also Determination of a rental price).
• Your property stays available
  The tenant is usually in Munich for the period of a project so the rental period is limited (on average 6 to 12 months). The landlord has the advantage that the property is always available for own usage or selling. Compared to the normal market, the segment of furnished letting demands a higher flexibility of landlords and Mr. Lodge: It is a constant challenge to tend to the changing wishes and expectations of the tenants.
  
• Investment advice
  If you are about to make an investment decision please call us (contact: Mr Norbert Verbücheln Tel. 089-34 08 23 -16). We know the needs of temporary tenants looking for furnished accomodation. We have brokered and care for several thousand rentals over the last few years and can therefore often give definate advice about properties up for sale. 
  
  

• Mr. Lodge is not just an agent for your property, we also see ourselves as a contact for both the landlord and the tenant throughout the tenancy.
  If you are not personally in Munich (whether permanently or temporarily) we will try our best to provide you and your tenant with any help you may require. Please remember that we do not usually charge the landlord a commission fee. If the property requires complicated or an undue amount of work however we will have to charge you for our services. This is especially the case for properties which require extensive repairs i.e. when the equipment (electrical appliances, furniture etc.) or the plumbing is old.
  
  If the property requires complicated or an undue amount of work, as well as the support of our technical or interior design service, however we will have to charge you for our services. This is especially the case for properties which require extensive repairs i.e. when the equipment (electrical appliances, furniture etc.) or the plumbing is old.
  
  
• What can happen (examples):
  
  • the TV/dishwasher/Stereo is broken
    remedy: repair or exchange for a new model after consultation
  • small appliances or equipment (i.e. coffee machine) is broken:
    remedy: usually the acquisition of a replacement
  • water damage/burst pipes:
    remedy: plumber (if necessary a 24h service), contact the insurance company 
  For smaller repairs/replacements or in case of emergencies we usually decide on the spot what's necessary and bill you for the actual costs or the repairman's invoice will be sent to you for payment. 
  For larger repairs we will arrange with you how the matter is to be handled.
  Please inform us if you leave for vacation and how we can reach you or who represents you in that period of time.
  
  We always try our best to work to the landlord's and the tenants satisfaction. Please understand however that sometimes we cannot fullfil everyone's expectations for lack of time or, especially if the requests are very extensive, for lack of personnel. We would be very grateful if you could assist us as much as possible.

• 
  Cash payment into the landlords bank account
  Because of the short rental periods for furnished accomodation (mostly 6-12 months) the deposit is usually paid directly into the landlord's bank account and is returned to the tenant at the handover of the apartment and transfered to the tenant's bank account within 2 weeks of the end of the contract. 
  
  This simplified procedure has proved in practise to be best as the tenant can often move into the apartment 1 or 2 days after the initial viewing and the deposit can be returned without delay at the end of the tenancy, which is important for the tenant. The landlord is obligated to deposit the tenants money free of the risks of insolvency.
• Savings account
  This is the most popular way of providing a deposit for an unfurnished flat. It is not very practical however for the relatively short lets usual for a furnished apartment however. Usually a small sum must be paid by the tenant at the end of the tenancy ie for cleaning costs. It is very time consuming however for the landlord to take the sum directly from the savings book, or he can send the tenant a bill and only return the savings book when the bill has been paid. The tenant however is often no longer living in Munich, or even Germany, once he has moved out of the apartment.
• Bankers guarantee
  This is the most common form of deposit If the apartment is rented by a company - some companies will not rent an apartment unless the landlord will accept a banker's guarantee. The guarantee must be properly drawn up and not expire immediately at the end of the tenancy. Problems can occur when the tenant repeatedly extends the tenacy. In such a case it is best to insist on a guarantee for an unlimited period. 

• 
  Mr. Lodge is only an agent and cannot be held liable for upholding the contract.
• Liability/Deposit
  The tenant is liable for any damage caused by him- or herself to the apartment or house and its furniture and equipment. The deposit (usually double the monthly rent) serves as a security measure for the landlord's claims in case of damages that require repair or equipment that is broken and needs to be replaced. If you think it likely that you will have a difference of opinion with the landlord when you move out, please be sure an employee of Mr Lodge comes to the handover. We will take a neutral position.
• Household contents insurance
  As a landlord there is only limited possibility of getting a contents insurance since you are not using your furnished apartment yourself. We recommend to consult your insurance agent. Please note that insurance company will have many contractual exclusions of liability, which means that they will not pay compensation in many cases (see below).
• Liability insurance of the tenant
  It only compensates for damages caused by the tenant to third parties, e.g. a tenant living next to them. Since he/she is renting the apartment it does not compensate for damages to furniture or equipment.
• Sources of danger to the apartment
  Please inform the tenant during the handover of possible sources of danger:
  Water damage caused by the washing machine or the growth of mold due to the wrong routine of airing/heating. 

The tenant has to register and pay fees for radio and TV broadcast devices himself at the TV licensing office (GEZ - Gebühreneinzugszentrale).

The landlord. If a client is definitely interested in your property, we will contact you and transfer the most important details, e.g. how long the client wants to stay, if he is moving in by him/herself etc.
Of course, you as the landlord decide who you want to finalize a contract with.
Mr. Lodge can consult you in this matter.