How many hours must a residential property manager complete?

20 hours within a period of three calendar years (Section 34c(2a), first sentence GewO).

When does the first period start?

On 1 January of the calendar year in which the licence was granted or an employee took up the activity subject to training (Section 34c(2a), second sentence GewO).

Do online courses count?

Yes, as guided self-study if the provider runs a verifiable learning check; classroom courses, in-house training and other suitable formats are also possible (Section 15b(1) MaBV).

How long must evidence be kept?

Three years on a durable medium or digitally, counted from the end of the calendar year in which the course took place (Section 15b(2) MaBV).

DE · Expiry & renewal tracking

Keep track of the Section 34c training obligation

German residential property managers and the employees directly involved must complete 20 hours of further training within three calendar years, starting on 1 January of the year the licence was granted (Section 34c(2a) GewO). Records are kept for three years (Section 15b MaBV); failing to train is an offence.

Anyone who commercially manages the common property of flat owners, or residential tenancies on behalf of third parties, is a residential property manager (Wohnimmobilienverwalter) and needs a licence (Section 34c(1), first sentence, no. 4 of the German Trade Regulation Act, GewO). These businesses must complete 20 hours of continuing training within a period of three calendar years; the same applies to employees directly involved in the licensed activity (Section 34c(2a), first sentence). The first period starts on 1 January of the calendar year in which the licence was granted or the activity was taken up (second sentence).

The content follows Annex 1 of the Real Estate Agents and Developers Ordinance (MaBV), for example tenancy law, the Condominium Act, the operating and heating cost ordinances, annual accounts and building services. Training may be classroom-based, guided self-study with a verifiable learning check, in-house or in another suitable form; the provider must meet the quality requirements of Annex 2 (Section 15b(1) MaBV). A qualification as Immobilienkaufmann/-kauffrau or Geprüfter Immobilienfachwirt counts as training; for holders the obligation starts three years after the qualification (Section 15b(1) and (4)).

The business collects evidence of the training for itself and its employees subject to the obligation, with names, date, scope, content and title of the course and details of the provider. The evidence must be kept for three years on a durable medium or in digital form, starting from the end of the calendar year in which the course took place (Section 15b(2)).

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At a glance

Scope	20 hours within three calendar years (Section 34c(2a) GewO)
Who	Residential property managers and employees directly involved (Section 34c(2a), first sentence)
First period	From 1 January of the year of the licence or of taking up the activity (Section 34c(2a), second sentence)
Content	As set out in Annex 1 MaBV (Section 15b(1))
With a professional qualification	Obligation starts three years after the qualification (Section 15b(4) MaBV)
Evidence	Kept three years from the end of the calendar year of the course (Section 15b(2))

Who is responsible?

The obligation applies to the business and its directly involved employees (Section 34c(2a), first sentence GewO). For the business itself it is enough if the evidence is provided by an appropriate number of employees who supervise the persons directly involved in management and may represent the business (third sentence). On request, the manager must promptly tell the client about qualifications and training completed in the last three calendar years, which can be done by referring to its website (Section 11 MaBV).

If the deadline passes

Failing to complete the training, or completing it incorrectly, incompletely or late, contrary to Section 34c(2a), first sentence GewO is an administrative offence (Section 144(2) no. 5a GewO). It is also an offence not to keep evidence for at least three years (Section 18(1) no. 9 MaBV) or not to give the client the information under Section 11 in time (Section 18(1) no. 7).

Calendar years, not 36 months

The period covers three calendar years and always starts on 1 January (Section 34c(2a), second sentence GewO). If the licence is granted during a year, the first period is therefore shorter than 36 full months.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add an entry for each person subject to the obligation and enter 31 December of the third calendar year of the current period as the due date.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the day itself.
Employees can upload their attendance certificates through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the managing director of the property management firm; emails arrive in each recipient's language. If a date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours must a residential property manager complete?: 20 hours within a period of three calendar years (Section 34c(2a), first sentence GewO).
When does the first period start?: On 1 January of the calendar year in which the licence was granted or an employee took up the activity subject to training (Section 34c(2a), second sentence GewO).
Do online courses count?: Yes, as guided self-study if the provider runs a verifiable learning check; classroom courses, in-house training and other suitable formats are also possible (Section 15b(1) MaBV).
How long must evidence be kept?: Three years on a durable medium or digitally, counted from the end of the calendar year in which the course took place (Section 15b(2) MaBV).

Sources

Last checked: Sep 30, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for continuing education for residential property managers (§34c, 20 h/3 years) (Germany)

A ready template for continuing education for residential property managers (§34c, 20 h/3 years) (Germany) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each continuing education for residential property managers (§34c, 20 h/3 years) (Germany) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each continuing education for residential property managers (§34c, 20 h/3 years) (Germany) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.