Following up after a rental application
You applied – and then silence. A short, well-timed follow-up can put you back on the landlord's radar, but the wrong message can annoy them. Here's how long to wait, exactly what to write in German, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to follow up
Wait about four to five days
Popular listings get many applications, and landlords need time to sort through them. Following up the next day reads as impatient; after roughly a working week of silence, one polite nudge is fair.
Reply in the same thread
Answer where you first wrote (the portal message or email), so the landlord instantly sees your original application and documents.
Only once
Send a single follow-up. If there's still no reply, the flat is likely taken – put your energy into new listings instead of repeat reminders.
A polite follow-up message (German)
Guten Tag, vor einigen Tagen habe ich mich für Ihre Wohnung in [Stadtteil] beworben und wollte höflich nachfragen, ob meine Bewerbung angekommen ist und ob es schon einen Besichtigungstermin gibt. Ich habe weiterhin großes Interesse und reiche fehlende Unterlagen gern nach. Vielen Dank und beste Grüße [Name]
Roughly: "Hello, a few days ago I applied for your apartment in [district] and wanted to politely ask whether my application arrived and whether there's a viewing date yet. I'm still very interested and happy to provide any missing documents. Thank you and best regards, [Name]."
Keep it warm and brief. Reference the specific apartment, restate your interest in one line, and offer documents. No pressure, no long explanations.
Never stop applying in the meantime
The biggest mistake is pausing your search while you wait for one reply. Keep applying to new listings every day, and track which ones you've contacted and when – so you know exactly where a follow-up makes sense and don't accidentally write twice.
Track your applications – and follow up in German
WohnungsBewerber keeps a simple overview of where you've applied and reminds you when to follow up after a few days without a reply. It even drafts the polite German follow-up – you review and send it yourself. Free, data stays local.
Add to Chrome – free Free · No sign-up · Data stays local · You send it yourselfKeep going
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait before following up?
About four to five days. Landlords with many applications need time to sort them, so following up too soon reads as impatient. After roughly a working week with no reply, a single polite message is appropriate.
How do I follow up politely in German?
Keep it short, friendly and specific: reference the listing, restate your brief interest, and offer any missing documents. One message is enough – don't send repeated reminders.
How many times should I follow up?
Once. If there's still no reply, the apartment is most likely taken. Move your energy to new listings rather than sending further reminders.
Should I keep applying while I wait?
Yes, always. Never pause on the hope of one reply. Keep applying in parallel and track which listings you've contacted so you know where a follow-up makes sense.