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Apply for payment of rent arrears to secure accommodation
Rent debts can arise due to inability to pay and possibly lead to the loss of your accommodation.
If you have rent debts, these can be covered under certain conditions if this serves to secure your accommodation.
You will receive this support in the form of a loan or a grant. Unlike a loan, a grant does not have to be repaid.
The prerequisite is that you are not in a position to pay the rent arrears on your own. The decision as to whether you receive assistance is always a case-by-case decision. You can still apply for support even if you have already been given notice to leave your flat due to the rent arrears.
The authority will check whether all the requirements for taking over your rent arrears are met. You can also seek advice on how to clear the rent arrears by paying in instalments, for example.
There is no legal entitlement to the assumption of your rent arrears.
Responsible authority
the social welfare office
Social welfare office is,
- if you live in an urban district: the municipal administration
- if you live in a rural district: the district administration
Note: Some rural districts have transferred responsibility to larger towns in their district. If you live in a rural district, the district administration office or the municipal administration of your place of residence can tell you which authority is responsible.
If you receive citizen's allowance, the local job centre of the city or district is responsible for you.
Details
Prerequisite
- the costs of your current accommodation are reasonable
- Your landlord or landlady has agreed in writing to the continuation of the tenancy
- You have declared your intention to stay in the flat for the longer term
- there is no possibility of eliminating the emergency situation on your own, for example by agreeing to pay in instalments
- future rent payments are secured, for example through direct payments from the responsible benefit provider
Procedure
- You can apply for the transfer of rent arrears in writing or online. If necessary, you can also arrange a counselling appointment in which your personal and financial circumstances will be examined.
- You submit the application with supporting documents in writing or online.
- The responsible benefit provider will review your application.
- You will be informed whether or not your rent debts will be taken over.
- If your rent debts are taken over, your rent debts will usually be paid directly to the landlord or landlady in the form of a loan from the responsible benefit provider.
- If the rent arrears are taken over as a loan, the loan claim will be repaid during the period of benefit receipt by means of monthly offsetting.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
- Application for payment of rent arrears
- current statement of claims or rent account statement
- Reminder, notice of termination or eviction notice
- Tenancy agreement or rent certificate
- Service charge statement
- Proof of income for the last 3 months of all persons living in the household, for example
- Payslips
- Job centre notifications
- Income of the children
- List of all other expenses including supporting documents, e.g. insurance policies
- Bank statements for the last 3 months
- if applicable, proof of other debt obligations, for example
- Payment by instalments
- Credit agreements
- if necessary, rejection of an instalment payment by the landlord or a bank
- Identity card or residence permit
- further proof if necessary
Costs
none
Miscellaneous
none
Legal basis
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Zwölftes Buch (XII) - Sozialhilfe:
- § 36 Sonstige Hilfen zur Sicherung der Unterkunft
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 21.08.2025
