Do I need a lawyer for the court order for payment?

No, the court order for payment can be applied for without a lawyer — online via the central official dunning portal. Rentprime prepares the required details. If the tenant objects and the case moves to contested proceedings, a lawyer's help can be advisable.

What does a court order for payment cost?

The court fees depend on the size of the claim and start at €36 (minimum fee). You can charge these costs to the defaulting tenant as a default loss. Rentprime carries the costs in the claim statement.

Feature

From the reminder to the court order for payment.

When the rent fails to arrive, structure helps instead of stress. Rentprime guides you from the friendly payment reminder through the dunning stages all the way to the court order for payment — and automatically calculates the default interest under Common law (German Civil Code) for you.

Payment method required · €0 for the first 7 days · cancel anytime

§288

BGB

Default-interest basis

5 / 9 %

above the base rate

private / commercial

4 stages

Dunning

up to the court order

prepared

Court order for payment

you file it

Calculate default interest correctly

As soon as a tenant is in default with payment, you may charge default interest. The amount is set by §288 of the German Civil Code (BGB): the base rate plus 5 percentage points for private individuals, plus 9 percentage points for commercial tenancies. Try it out:

Default-interest calculator (§288 of the German Civil Code, BGB)

Live demo

Outstanding claim

€

Days in default

days

Private (+5%)

Default-interest surcharge over the base rate

Base rate (§247 of the German Civil Code, BGB)-0,88 %

Surcharge (§288 of the German Civil Code, BGB)+ 5,00 %

Default interest rate p.a.4,12 %

Default interest

£10.16

in addition to the claim of £1,500.00

The base rate is set every six months by the German Federal Bank (§247 of the German Civil Code, BGB). The value stored here is illustrative — in the app Rentprime always uses the current daily rate.

The reminder stages at a glance

From reminder to court order for payment

Animated

Tier 1

Payment reminder

A friendly note — often that's enough. Day 1 after the due date.

Tier 2

1st reminder

Default sets in, default interest starts running. With a deadline.

Tier 3

2nd reminder

Final out-of-court demand, reminder fees possible.

Tier 4

Court order for payment

Court order for payment — Rentprime prepares it, you file it with the dunning court.

Important about the court order for payment: Rentprime prepares the court order for payment with all details (application for a court order for payment). You file it yourself with the competent dunning court — online via the official dunning portal or by form. Rentprime does not replace legal advice.

Get what you're owed

Reminder stages, default interest and the prepared court order — structured instead of frustrating. So that rent arrears don't pile up.

Payment method required · €0 for the first 7 days · cancel anytime

With my first late payment I had no idea where to start. With the clear reminder stages the matter was settled in four weeks without a lawyer — the tenant paid after the second reminder.

Sabine R.

Landlord · 7 units · Kassel

Common questions

What landlords often ask.

From the moment default begins. With rent, default occurs automatically if it isn't paid on the contractually agreed date (usually the 3rd working day of the month) — a reminder isn't strictly necessary for this (§286(2) of the German Civil Code, BGB). The interest amount follows Common law.