Requirements for Commercial Lease Agreements in Brandenburg

The comprehensive freedom of contract in commercial tenancy law offers owners in Brandenburg the chance for very profitable and customized deals—but holds the risk of suffering severe disadvantages in case of negligence. A legally secure contract is imperative for commercial spaces.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Have every commercial lease agreement individually drafted or reviewed by a lawyer. Information last verified: March 2026.

The Written Form Requirement (§ 550 BGB)

Commercial tenancy law has few mandatory statutory provisions. One of the most important—and most dangerous—is the rule from § 550 BGB regarding the written form requirement (Schriftformzwang).

If a lease agreement is concluded for a fixed term of more than one year (which is the norm in commercial leases with 5- or 10-year terms), it must be concluded in writing. This means:

1. Document Unity: The entire contract content (including all appendices, parking plans, house rules) must emerge from a closed determination, ideally firmly bound together and paginated.
2. Original Signature: All parties must physically sign the document in the original (no mere email exchange, no copies).
3. Recording of ALL material agreements: Every subsequent arrangement (e.g., the landlord permits a later lease start date or waives one month's rent) must maintain this form and be concluded as an addendum in the proper form.

The Consequence of Violation: If the written form is not maintained ("formal defect" or Schriftformmangel), the contract is by no means invalid. However, the strict fixed term of, say, 10 years, becomes ineffective; the contract is then deemed to be concluded for an indefinite period. It can then suddenly be terminated prematurely by both parties with the statutory notice period of almost six months. This is quite often used as a strategic loophole out of unprofitable contracts ("termination due to form defect").

Core Contents of a Commercial Lease

In addition to the pure written form, landlords in Brandenburg should pay particular attention to these clauses:

1. Precise Description of the Rental Property: Designations like "Hall 1" are dangerous. Rental areas should be exactly identifiable with a marked site/floor plan firmly attached to the contract.
2. Defined Purpose of Use: Describe the permitted use precisely (e.g., "sale of high-quality textiles" instead of just "retail"). A rigid binding of purpose protects the landlord from inappropriate changes in use and excludes unwanted competitive situations (competition protection) with other tenants.
3. VAT Option (§ 9 UStG): Unlike residential tenancy, the commercial landlord can opt for Value Added Tax (they levy 19% VAT on the rent) if the tenant uses the property for transactions that do not preclude input tax deduction. This must imperatively be regulated in the contract, as the landlord otherwise often suffers disadvantages when deducting input tax on their construction costs.
4. Obligation to Operate (Betriebspflicht): Essential, especially in retail. The tenant is obligated to keep the store staffed and open during usual business or center opening hours (protection against looking vacant).

Extension Options (Optionsrecht)

Instead of committing firmly for 15 to 20 years, parties often conclude contracts with an initial fixed term (e.g., 5 years) and unilateral "option rights" for the tenant.

Example: "5 years fixed, with 2 x 5 years extension option for the tenant."

The tenant decides alone whether the contract automatically extends for another 5 years after the first 5 years. When granting such options, landlords must ensure that automatic rent increases (e.g., index clauses) take effect in parallel, since an unprofitable rent would otherwise be "frozen" by the tenant for years. The exercise of the option must be coupled with strict notification deadlines (mostly 6 to 9 months before contract end).

Digital Contract Management with Landager

Maintaining authentications according to § 550 BGB is often chaotic in the paper world. Landager enables the secure management of all commercial lease agreements and addendums in a structured digital file. The system automatically monitors the deadlines of tenant options and alerts asset management in good time before a contract expires.

Back to Commercial Tenancy Law in Brandenburg Overview.