Asking what the deposit covers in German

1. 1
   Kaution/kaʊ̯ˈtsi̯oːn/

   depositnoun

   Money put down before moving in and returned after moving out if nothing is damaged.
2. 2
   abdecken/ˈapdɛkən/

   to coververb

   To pay for certain costs with money.
3. 3
   Schaden/ˈʃaːdən/

   damagenoun

   Harm done to a thing.
4. 4

   Abnutzungwear and tear

5. 5

   abziehento deduct

6. 6

   Übergabehandover

7. 7

   Zustandcondition

8. 8

   zurückzahlento pay back

9. 9

   Dübelwall plug

10. 10

    beschädigento damage

The sentences3 of 10

1. Wann bekomme ich die Kaution nach dem Auszug zurück?

   When do I get the deposit back after I move out?

2. Was genau soll die Kaution eigentlich abdecken?

   What exactly is the deposit supposed to cover?

3. Wer bezahlt, wenn ein Schaden in der Küche entsteht?

   Who pays if something gets damaged in the kitchen?

Pronunciation

• Kaution/kaʊ̯ˈtsi̯oːn/

  The ending -tion sounds like tsyohn and carries the stress; at the start, au is one single sound.

• abdecken/ˈapdɛkən/

  The b in "ab" sounds like a p.

• Schaden/ˈʃaːdən/

  The a is long, as in "Rat".

Good to know

Kaution

For a rented flat, landlords usually ask for a deposit, often up to three months' base rent. You get it back after you move out if nothing is outstanding.

Übergabeprotokoll

When you move in and out, the condition of the flat is usually written down, often with photos. Both sides usually sign it.

Schönheitsreparaturen

This means work like painting, which the lease can regulate. Read exactly what it says before you sign.

Questions

What does abdecken mean when talking about a deposit?

Abdecken means to pay for certain costs with money. You can ask "Was genau soll die Kaution eigentlich abdecken?" to find out what the deposit is for.