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Before you can move into your dream apartment, most landlords require proof of a regular income. They want to be sure that you are able to pay the rent. But what documents can serve as proof of income and how can you present them? For example, a PDF proof of income that you have received from your employer or bank can be useful. Can I provide meaningful proof myself? And what do you need to disclose anyway? Read on to find out more about proof of income and how you can use it successfully in your application folder for tenants.
The right proof for different sources of income
People often use the terms proof of salary and proof of income interchangeably when renting an apartment. However, only those who are employed and receive a salary can strictly provide proof of salary. Proof of income also includes income from self-employment, pensions, parental allowance, child benefits, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits, investment income, interest income, and income from renting. Depending on your employment situation, different documents are suitable as proof:
- As an employee, you can use your salary or wage slips from the last three months. If you do not have these, you can ask your HR department or use an income statement template, for example the free form from the Federal Employment Agency (link to the template as a fillable PDF).
- For self-employed persons whose income fluctuates from month to month, the income tax assessment notice or bank statements are suitable proofs.
- If you receive social benefits or income replacement benefits such as unemployment benefit, social assistance, basic income support or parental allowance, it is best to submit the approval notices from the authorities as proof of income. Current bank statements are also generally accepted.
- Pensioners can use their current pension statement, while recipients of social benefits can submit the relevant approval notices.
Regardless of their employment situation, rental applicants can use providers such as rentcard to create an online proof of income by linking it to their bank account. The advantage over all other templates is that you can create this proof yourself without having to black out bank statements, HR departments or paperwork and it looks more serious in your application.
The application folder for tenants: Proof of income and more
When putting together your application folder for the apartment, you should not forget other important documents in addition to proof of income. These include a Schufa credit report, a certificate of no rental debt from your previous landlord and, if applicable, a rental guarantee. Read this article to find out which documents belong in an application folder for a new apartment.
Self-disclosure and proof of income: your rights and obligations
You may ask yourself: “Do I have to provide proof of income if I want to rent an apartment?” Landlords commonly want to see proof of your income before you are allowed to sign a rental agreement. The self-disclosure is another important document in the application folder for the apartment. It allows the landlord to find out more about you and your financial situation. However, remember that you have a right to data protection. If a tenancy agreement is not concluded, the landlord or landlady destroys the proof of income and all other documents you have submitted. Digital application folders can help with this. They usually only store your data on the server where landlords can view it. In the event of rejection, you can withdraw access from the landlord and thus protect your data from possible misuse.
With the right proof for your new home
Proof of income plays a central role in the search for a new apartment. With the right proof of income template or PDF and a well-prepared application folder for tenants, you can increase your chances of getting the rental contract for your dream apartment.
Keep the above tips in mind and start your apartment search with confidence.