A Personal Reference Letter For Apartment is a essential document in the German residential rental market, where written references are highly valued and often required in rental applications. This document is typically requested when individuals are seeking to rent a new apartment and need to demonstrate their reliability as tenants. The letter should comply with German data protection laws (GDPR and BDSG) and housing regulations, providing specific information about the tenant's payment history, property maintenance, and neighborly conduct. It serves as a trust-building tool between prospective landlords and potential tenants, while carefully avoiding any discriminatory content as per the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). The document is particularly important in competitive rental markets like Berlin, Munich, and other major German cities where landlords rely heavily on tenant references for selection.

1. Letter Header: Date, recipient's name and address, and reference line

2. Introduction and Relationship Context: Establishes who the referee is and their relationship to the tenant, including duration of acquaintance

3. Tenant Payment History: Confirmation of rent payment reliability and financial responsibility

4. Property Care: Description of how the tenant maintained previous property and respected house rules

5. Neighborly Conduct: Information about the tenant's behavior regarding noise levels and relationship with neighbors

6. Closing Recommendation: Clear statement of recommendation and referee's contact information for further questions