Lawyer Karsten Aßmann Explains How to Create Legally Secure Rental Agreements

“Mündliche Absprachen, unüberlegte Ausnahmen im Bekanntenkreis oder nachträgliche, formlose Ergänzungen rächen sich im Streitfall bitter, da die Beweislast schwer wiegt,” Karsten Aßmann told Osthessen|News.

Property owners renting out residential spaces face increasing legal risks when using standard online templates instead of professionally drafted documents, according to an informational evening held on November 14, 2026, in the Marmorsaal of the Fuldaer Stadtschlosses.

Organized by the Fachstelle Wohnen—a joint institution of the city and district of Fulda—the 90-minute lecture drew a full room of property owners. Bürgermeister Dag Wehner opened the event by welcoming attendees and introducing the work of the Fachstelle Wohnen, which demonstrated how successful housing mediation operates through practical examples.

Aßmann, a lawyer, detailed why oral agreements and informal addendums fail under legal scrutiny. He emphasized that landlords must consistently use written contracts drafted and regularly updated by legal professionals.

“Insbesondere selbst formulierte starre Fristenpläne bei Schönheitsreparaturen oder unpräzise Endrenovierungsklauseln kippen schnell und führen dazu, dass Vermieter am Ende auf den Kosten sitzen bleiben,” Aßmann told Osthessen|News.

The discussion also covered utility cost agreements and minor repair clauses. Aßmann warned that vague formulations lacking specific itemization of Umlagefähige Posten render agreements ineffective. Regarding deposits, he said that the security must remain strictly capped at a maximum of three net cold rents.

“Die Kaution ist strikt auf maximal drei Nettokaltmieten zu begrenzen, und unzulässige Kombinationen mit zusätzlichen Bürgschaften auf erstes Anfordern von Privatpersonen gefährden die Rechtsposition des Vermieters,” Aßmann told Osthessen|News.

The event concluded with advice to abandon outdated template forms to prevent costly legal disputes.

The Fachstelle Wohnen scheduled a follow-up information evening for Wednesday, November 18, at 6 PM at the Haus am Kegelspiel in Eiterfeld-Großentaft. Dr. Sylke Wagner-Burkard, a lawyer and chairwoman of the Haus & Grund Rhön association, will speak on lease terms, tiered rents, and special termination rights.