The meaning of "Küchenübernahme" - Germany

Hi there, I tried doing a search for küche übernahme and didn't find anything. Can someone tells me what it means? I visited a room in an apt today and they want kaution, 1st months rent, and something called "küche übernahme." From what I understand it's the cost of the stuff in the kitchen, stove, dishwasher, etc.

But it didn't sound like I would get that money back. And the other thing is, I'm just trying to take over this other person's lease. So she paid for it whenever they bought it, does that mean that the money is going to her and her housemates? When I leave, do I have to do the same with my "Nachmieter"?

They want you to buy the kitchen off them and yes, when you leave, it will be your job to sell it on again.

A strange phenomenon when renting in Germany is that the "kitchen" is not included. The landlord usually just provides an empty room. You are responsible for putting in cupboards, a sink, a stove, fridge, etc. So the Küchenübernahme is paying for all that stuff in the kitchen. When you then move out, you can either take the stuff with you or sell it to the next person.

Definitely don't pay their first asking price.

IMNSHO, a lot of Germans get ripped off bigtime with the quality and workmanship of their kitchens, at least the mid-level Küchenstudio ones. This is one area in which I've found that Fachladen do NOT deliver. My XH bought from a local family-owned place, thinking the service would be better. It was abominable. I didn't say much, b/c it was really =his= kitchen and he had it set up perfectly for his cooking comfort. But having grown up doing a lot of construction work, the shoddy installation really bothered me.

The last straw was that a plastic roller thingy in the dishwasher broke and every time he called, they'd forgotten to order the part. Finally I went in (wasn't even living w/ him any more) and sat on one of their counters until they ordered the part right in front of me. I told them I was coming by in 2 weeks. I did, and paid cash, and let them know he was moving into a bigger place and said I was sorry we as such small fish had bothered them for small maintenance questions. Apparently a lot of families are loyal to kitchen studios regardless of service, but a demanding American (ex)wifey-pie messed that up for them.

There might be guides out there on fair mark-downs for used kitchens. Do try spelling it the way Ruthie does when you google it.

I believe the landlord is obliged to provide a kitchen sink and stove or stove/oven combo. This usually consists of a white el cheapo cardboard cabinet dealy. He/she may rent only to someone who takes over the current kitchen to avoid the hassle.

Lowball them. They are motivated - read: they don't want to take it with them.

Good luck,
Fruity

I actually am pretty sure they don't need to provide you with anything in the kitchen.

Nope, very often the kitchen will be totally empty.
When people move out they often try and get the next tenant to buy the kitchen units off them - often fo too much money.

You have to balance it -- yes, they probably are charging too much for the kitchen, but if you don't want to pay it, they may find someone else who is willing to. Depends on how hot the market is where you are renting. Do see if they are willing to talk about the price, though. Never hurts to ask.

It's a tricky one, yes. If you don't agree to buy the kitchen they may find popestive new tenants who are.

M.T.

Just in from my source


FF

My landlord bought the kitchen in my wohnung from the previous tenant and I'm paying a monthly fee to use it. However, in February I will put my landlord on notice that I will not pay the $50 Euros each month anymore whether she likes it not for the kitchen as 2 years is long enough to pay for this used kitchen when I've paid the cost of what she paid for it after 2 years. I know the cost as the previous tenant tried to sell it to me and I persuaded the landlord to buy it.

Sounds a bit dubious Lavender and probably not legal on his part. Was there an agreed price/length of time to pay?

29 next birthday?

LR, if you give notice that you no longer wish to pay rent for kitchen units that you don't own, your landlord could remove them.
You had the opition to buy but chose to rent.
Whether you have now paid the sale price of the units or not isn't the (legal) issue.