Filling Out the Mieterselbstauskunft (Tenant Self-Disclosure Form) Correctly
The Mieterselbstauskunft (tenant self-disclosure form) is the document practically every Hauptmieter and landlord wants to see - and at the same time the document with the most illegal questions on it. Below: which fields you must answer, which you may, and which you simply leave blank.
Download the free Mieterbund template, fill in only the admissible fields, redact anything the landlord has no right to know, and export as a PDF. 30 minutes of effort, 0 EUR.
What is the Mieterselbstauskunft anyway?
The Mieterselbstauskunft (also called the "Mieterfragebogen", tenant questionnaire) is a one-page form in which you give a prospective landlord or Hauptmieter the basic facts about you and your ability to pay. It's not a legally required document - but in practice almost everyone expects one. A fully completed Mieterselbstauskunft signals: you have your act together.
How to do it
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Download the free Mieterbund template
The Deutsche Mieterbund publishes a vetted template that only contains legally admissible fields. Avoid templates from commercial providers - they often ask for too much.
Open Mieterbund template ↗ -
Fill in the required fields honestly
First name, surname, date of birth, current address, profession, employer, monthly net income, number of people moving in, pets. You can't leave these blank - they have a direct connection to your ability to rent.
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Leave inadmissible fields blank
If the template asks about religion, pregnancy, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, union membership, or criminal history with no link to housing: just cross it out or leave it blank. That is your legal right (AGG §§ 1, 19).
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Sign digitally
Apple Preview: Tools - Annotate - Signature - Capture via trackpad/camera. Adobe Reader: Fill and Sign - Sign Yourself. Never as a JPG, always as a PDF.
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Strip EXIF data and metadata
Before sending the PDF, check the file properties to make sure your full name, computer ID or other metadata isn't embedded. In Apple Preview: Tools - Annotate - Reduce File Size. Adobe Reader has a "Remove Hidden Information" tool.
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Send with a watermark
Add a watermark like "For WG application Reuterkiez 04/2026 only - do not forward" across the page. Online tools:
pdfwatermark.com. Protects you against your form being passed on to third parties.
What landlords are allowed to ask
The following questions are admissible under current case law:
| Area | Admissible | Inadmissible |
|---|---|---|
| Person | Name, date of birth, marital status | Pregnancy, family planning, religion, ethnic origin |
| Employment | Profession, employer, fixed-term/permanent | Union membership, political activity |
| Income | Net amount, additional income if any | Exact sources, detailed bank statements |
| Creditworthiness | Insolvency in the last 5 years, statutory declaration | Criminal record unrelated to housing |
| Flatmates | Number of people, pets | Breed-specific dog questions, relationship status |
| Previous tenancy | Reason for termination | Direct contact with previous landlord without your consent |
Fields you're allowed to fib on
Sounds bizarre, but it's settled case law: for questions the landlord is not allowed to ask, you may answer untruthfully - any later termination on grounds of false information is unenforceable (BGH rulings have confirmed this multiple times). Examples:
You may give a false answer to these questions
Pregnancy, family planning, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, union membership, political activity.
In practice, leaving the field blank or crossing it out is more relaxed. If the landlord follows up, politely point to the AGG.
When the Hauptmieter sends their own template
Hauptmieter often send their own Mieterselbstauskunft with questions that openly violate the AGG ("What's your religion?", "Are you pregnant?"). You have three options:
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Option 1: Leave fields blank
Just cross them out or put a dash on the line. In 80% of cases that's silently accepted. Anyone who follows up is usually not a great future flatmate anyway.
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Option 2: Send your own Mieterselbstauskunft
Send your own correctly filled-out Mieterbund version instead of theirs. Briefly explain: "I've prepared my Mieterselbstauskunft in the standard Mieterbund format - it covers all the legally relevant points."
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Option 3: Polite correction
For really problematic questions you can politely point to the AGG: "I can't answer the pregnancy question for legal reasons. Is that a problem for you?". Quickly clarifies whether the person is professional.
When do you actually need the Mieterselbstauskunft?
- WG application - almost always in the second step, after the first contact message.
- Casting (in-person flatmate interview) - bring a printed copy along, plus payslips.
- Before signing the rental contract - often updated one final time.
Not in the first message
Don't send the Mieterselbstauskunft unsolicited with your first WhatsApp. It feels overeager and pushy. Wait for the Hauptmieter to ask: "Send me your Selbstauskunft, please."
Common questions
Do I have to send payslips with it?
The Mieterselbstauskunft asks for income, but doesn't require proof. In practice, applicants send the form + 3 payslips together. More on that in our proof of income guide.
How long is a Mieterselbstauskunft valid?
There's no official cut-off. Rule of thumb: refresh after 6 months, because your job, income, or living situation may have changed.
Can I fill it out in English?
In theory yes, in practice unwise. Most Hauptmieter expect German. Use the German Mieterbund template and add an English translation as a second page if needed. WG-Lotse helps with the German cover letter.
What if I'm self-employed?
Add a current Steuerbescheid or a BWA for the last 6 months. Instead of a fixed monthly net, enter your average monthly income. Hauptmieter are often skeptical of freelancers - a BWA snippet or a Burgschaft helps a lot.
What if I'm a student with no income?
Enter "Student/in" as your profession. In the income field: BAfoG decision, scholarship, or maintenance from your parents. Add a Burgschaft from your parents - that convinces almost any Hauptmieter.
What to remember
- Use the Mieterbund template, not commercial templates.
- Required fields: honestly. AGG-violating fields: leave blank or cross out.
- Send as a PDF with a watermark - not a JPG, not unprotected.
- Send only on direct request, not unsolicited in the first message.
- Refresh every 6 months.
The Mieterselbstauskunft is just one piece of your application. Read our full WG application documents checklist for the order and the connection between all the documents.