House clearance · 7 min · 10 August 2026
Clearing a flat after a death: a guide for relatives
Notice periods, documents, keepsakes: what relatives should know before a loved one's flat in Berlin is cleared, and the right order to tackle things in.
After a relative dies, grief is quickly joined by organisation. The flat has to be given notice on, cleared and handed over – often under time pressure. This guide helps you do the right things in the right order.
The tenancy agreement
Heirs have a special right to terminate: within one month of learning of the death, they can give notice on the tenancy with the statutory notice period of three months.
What to secure before the clearance
- The will and certificate of inheritance (Erbschein)
- Insurance policies, bank statements, pension notices
- Photos, letters and keepsakes
- Jewellery and valuables
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