House Hunting in Germany: Tips, Costs & Scams for Indian Expats

When is the best time to begin searching for a house?

Actually, there is no ideal time to begin searching for accommodation in Germany. However, it is preferable to start searching for apartments at least 2-3 months before arriving in Germany. At times there are significant lead times due to high volume of applications. It also allows you to have enough time to look for different flats, and deal with delayed responses. You may also need to provide proof of residence during your visa appointment in some cases.

Factors affecting when to start searching for accommodation

While there are many factors that affect house hunting, here are the most important ones that you need to take care of.

• University Start Dates

If you are opting for a student dormitory, university start dates are a very important factor. As student dorms are usually very popular among students, it is advisable to apply for it as soon as you receive your admission letter from the university. Winter semester begins in October and summer semester begins in April, so you need to start searching for accommodation in July-August and January-February respectively.

• City of your accommodation

When moving to cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, etc. with high demand, it is recommendable to start searching even 4–5 months earlier. These cities have a lot of demand and also some apartments are very costly. You may not prefer to live in certain areas depending on your requirements, such reasons can lead to additional delays in house hunting. Smaller cities and towns have lesser demand, and therefore you can start searching 2–3 months before moving to Germany.

• Types of accommodation

Along with the city, the type of accommodation is also a very important factor in deciding when to start searching for a house. If you are looking for a student dorm, then the lead times are very high. Sometimes it’s because of unavailability of the spots, while sometimes due to other reasons. Therefore, it is always safe to apply for a spot as soon as you get an admission letter from the university. On the other hand, most listings of WG’s take place about 1–2 months before the move-in date, so you need to be patient with that. You have to contact landlords frequently on the status of your application, or even your roommates for the update.

Overcoming Housing Hurdles in Germany

House hunting in Germany comes with a lot of challenges. Even after applying for accommodation, you need to take care of certain things before moving in. If you are searching for accommodation in larger cities, it may take over 5–6 months in some cases due to high demand. Additionally, the apartments may be smaller due to higher rates in those cities, so you should be prepared to pay higher rents for smaller flats.

Scams are universal, so there have been cases where offers are too lucrative to be true. Do not transfer money before visiting the property. Double-check the items and furniture in the apartment with the online listing to avoid any additional charges later.

Apart from this there are additional costs that may come as a surprise, so it is better to understand them beforehand.

• Fake apartment viewing

In this type of scams, scammers usually live in the apartment that you are looking for. They follow all the process from house viewing, signing the rent contract, paying deposit, etc. Once all the formalities are done and when you try to move in, the keys don’t work. These types of scams are very difficult to avoid because everything looks normal, you even get to know the person from whom you are going to rent the apartment. To avoid such scams, verify with neighbours. Ask about who lives there in the neighbourhood to make sure everything is fine.

• Identity Theft

Scammers list fake apartments and when you apply for the apartment, they ask for your documents. As soon as you submit your documents, the apartment gets de-listed and the scammers steal your identity. They can use it to steal others as well as scam other people in your name. To avoid this, watermark your scanned documents or send your documents only after visiting the place once.

• Bribe

Although accepting and offering bribes is illegal, there are certain tenants who ask for bribes to forward your application to landlords. This is illegal and unethical. To avoid this, directly contact the landlord or take advice from a lawyer on this.

• Additional rent

In Germany, there is a regulated law on how high a landlord can charge you. It is called “Mietpreisbremse” in German. However, there are certain loopholes in it. Therefore, landlords add false information on the rental agreement by adding unnecessary charges and items. For e.g., they may show the apartment as furnished and charge you accordingly, however, when you move in you find that the apartment is actually unfurnished. Although it is not a scam, it is illegal. You can avoid this by taking help from Mieterverein or a lawyer. 

Housing Etiquettes

Housing etiquettes hold so much importance in fostering good relationships with landlords and neighbors. The most common housing norms are mentioned below for you to keep in mind when moving into an apartment in Germany. For cultural tips and expectations when renting in Germany as an Indian expat, explore our article: Expectations for Indian Expats Renting in Germany .

• Quiet Hours

Germans value peace and quietness, especially in residential areas. Quiet hours are observed from 10pm to 6am and on Sundays and holidays. Therefore, avoid loud music or noisy activities at these times. You can inform your neighbors in advance if you are hosting a party and try keeping noise as low as possible.

• Cleanliness

If you are living in a shared apartment, maintain cleanliness in the shared spaces. Take care of communal supplies like toilet paper, cleaning products, etc. Avoid putting your personal belongings in the shared spaces. Report any maintenance problems to the landlord to avoid further damages.

• Pet Policies and Smoking

If you have a pet, make sure if you are allowed to have it in the apartment or not. Many landlords require permission. Ensure pets do not disturb other neighbours. 

There are smoke alarms in every apartment. Smoking is usually prohibited in the inner spaces like bedroom, kitchen, etc. so use designated smoking areas to smoke and avoid any false alarm ringing. 

• Security measures

Always check if you have locked the apartment properly or not. Remember, once locked, the main doors of the apartment can not be opened without a key. So always remember to carry the key with you. Losing the key can compromise others’ security as well.

Conclusion

While you may be familiar with where to find accommodation, you may not be aware of difficulties it may cause you. Housing scams are becoming universal and therefore it is always advisable to take precautions. Germany values etiquette a lot and therefore it is also necessary to live in a certain way in Germany so that you may not disturb others unknowingly. Start finding the house at the right time to avoid being scammed due to urgency. We hope that you find this article useful. Stay safe, stay aware and happy house hunting!!