German tenancy law requires clean handover of premises

Under §546 of the German Civil Code (BGB), tenants must return rented space in a “broom‑clean” condition at the end of a lease, meaning it must be free of personal items, cleaned, and ready for re‑letting. Landlords may set a written notice giving the former tenant two to four weeks to remove abandoned goods; if the deadline passes, the landlord may dispose of the items and claim the costs as damages.

For business premises, the clearance process is more complex. In addition to the basic clean‑up, companies must respect contractual deadlines, coordinate any required demolition or restoration, and handle special waste such as electronic equipment, archives, or hazardous materials in accordance with environmental regulations. Failure to dispose of such waste properly can expose the company to legal liability and additional costs.