Moving to Germany comes with a lot of challenges, especially if you are a non-EU resident. It becomes tricky with a lot of options available, high demand and costs. However, patience and persistence are the keys to finding the best place to live, called home. This article will guide you through the hassle of finding accommodation in detail.
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Knowing Housing Market in Germany
Before understanding different types of housing, we need to understand the concept of “Altbau” and “Neubau”. As a young student, moving to Germany, I didn’t know this concept, however, it did not affect me a lot because I was lucky enough to find accommodation within the student dormitory. Altbau refers to apartments or buildings that were built before WW2. They have high ceilings, wooden floors and historical details.
However, they come with higher maintenance charges and heating costs. Neubau buildings are the ones built after WW2. They have modern designs with efficient heating systems and modern amenities. They may have elevators and underground parking systems as well.
To find more about renting accommodation in Germany follow this guide to help you set your budget and other important details. Let’s now dive into different types of housing available.
Student Dormitories (Studentenwohnheim)
This type of accommodation is usually managed by student unions (Studentenwerk). These are hot favourites among international students because they are cheaper than others. There are approximately 200,000 spots available throughout Germany and allocated based on first-come-first-serve basis. If you are interested in one of these, I would recommend looking for one right from the time you get your offer letter from the university. These dorms have rent around €250-€300 per month.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cheap rent | High Demand |
| They are generally near to university | Kitchens and bathrooms are shared in most dorms |
| Socialising is easy as most international students prefer it | You can’t choose your dorm mates |
Shared Apartments (Wohngemeinschaft or WG)
If you are a group of students or professionals coming to Germany together, a WG is the best option. This is popular among young professionals. A WG is a private flat with a personal bedroom and shared kitchen and bathroom. The rent is around €300-€500 per month per person.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sharing the rent and utilities reduces monthly cost | Although you have a personal room, you have to share other facilities clashing daily routines and reduced privacy |
| Socialising is easier. You can make local friends easily | Language can be a problem because of people coming from different countries |
Private Apartments
Private apartments are heaven for someone who values privacy. Private apartments are not so popular among students but very popular among professionals. You have your privacy and independence all the time, additionally it provides flexibility as you don’t have to adjust with other’s schedules. They vary from studio apartments to one bedroom units. The usual rent can go from around €600 per month to €1500 per month depending on the size and city.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You have privacy and independence | High rental costs |
| You can decorate according to your needs | You need to submit more documents than usual |
| You have freedom to negotiate your leasing terms with the landlord | You are responsible for everything like cleaning, maintenance, etc. |
Temporary Accommodation (Homelike) and Family Apartments
If you have not figured out where to live when you arrive in Germany, choosing a temporary accommodation like Homelike, hostels, Airbnb, etc. can be useful. In some cases, you may have accommodation for a longer term but after a few days of arrival, at this time such temporary accommodations are very useful. They have varying charges depending on the rush and timing of the year.
Homelike allows you to settle in quickly and explore different neighbourhoods without the immediate pressure of finding a long-term rental. Another significant advantage of using Homelike is that you can use the address of the rented apartment for your registration in Germany. This registration, known as “Anmeldung,” is a crucial step to officially establish your residency in Germany. With the registration confirmation, you can, for example, open a bank account, which is essential for living in Germany. Homelike not only provides a comfortable temporary housing solution but also simplifies important formalities upon your arrival.
Please use the search tool below to find the ideal temporary accommodation with Homelike*. Simply select your city, check-in and check-out dates, as well as the number of guests, and you’ll be directed to Homelike* with your search parameters pre-filled.
Family apartments are bigger versions of single apartments with multiple bedrooms and facilities to accommodate a full family.
[homelike_search]
What tools and platforms can you use to find a house?
There are several ways to find a house in Germany, both online and offline. Offline methods yield good results if you are finding something with personal touch. Many landlords still give advertisements in newspapers, magazines, etc. You can have a look at it and contact them directly. Universities, community centres and supermarkets also post such advertisements on notice boards. Another effective offline way is to hire real estate agents. Some companies have a huge network of these agents who can really help you find apartments as per your requirements.
Online portals and apps are a more convenient way to house hunt. You can filter results based on your budget and requirements. Let’s have a look at some popular online portals.
As the name suggests, it helps in finding shared apartments and roommates. You can find information about the city, rent, area of the apartment, etc. on the online portal and filter accordingly.
It is the portal widely used for finding private apartments and long term rental flats. It also has a wide range of apartments available. You can sign up to emails for receiving updates directly.
It is Germany’s leading online platform with over 1.5 million apartment listings. It also helps you in buying and renting apartments, lands, and also foreign real estate.
Most of the student dorms have individual websites for their particular dormitory. It is easy for students to navigate through this website according to their preferred city. They also have important information on city life, tourist places, etc. to attract students.
How to apply for an accommodation?
Before starting to apply for apartments, you need to gather all the necessary documents that you will need to submit at the time of your application. Remember, applying for an accommodation might look like a job application because of ample paperwork. Germany runs heavily on paperwork, so the landlord may ask you to submit a lot of documents before finalizing your contract. You have to prepare “Selbstauskunft” which translates to self disclosure and includes all your important details like salary, job, identity, etc. We have prepared a detailed checklist for you so that you don’t miss anything.
- Passport/ID: A valid passport or any identification document that is essential, like a driving license.
- Proof of income: Your recent salary slips up to 3 months or may be even 6 months in some cases depending on the landlord. If you have started a job recently and do not have salary slips, then you can ask your employer to provide a letter of confirmation stating your salary and job status.
- SCHUFA Credit Report: It is a credit report that provides information on your credit worthiness. Generally, student dorms do not ask for such reports, it is required for private rentals specially. It contains information about your credit score, payment history, debts, credit inquiries, etc. You can find information on the SCHUFA report in the next section.
- References: A reference letter from your previous landlord or someone living in Germany really goes a long way in securing accommodation. However, it is optional.
- Proof of employment: Submitting a letter of employment or a letter from your employer ensuring your employment and salary status is one of the basic prerequisites for a WG. However, it is not necessary for a student dorm.
- Proof of Enrollment: While a proof of employment is necessary for a shared apartment, proof of enrollment is important for student dorms. Student dorms are supposed to provide accommodation only to students. Therefore, without confirming student status via an offer letter from university, you may not get a spot in student dorms.
- Visa: Ensure you have a valid visa for the duration of your accommodation. If you are changing your accommodation after coming to Germany, then you will be required to have a residence permit instead of visa.
- Application Form: Fill out the application forms handed out to you by landlords. This is also optional and only required by some landlords. However, this is a prerequisite for a student dorm.
If you are clear with the documents, let’s move on to applying for accommodation. The application process is generally very easy, however long and tedious before you actually get accommodation. For student dorms, you need to apply on their online portals. If you do not find anything online, you can contact the student unions of the particular city or university. You can also reach out to them directly via email. DAAD also has information on their website on student dorms. In some dorms, application starts 6 months before the move-in date, so have a close look on it.
You can apply for a WG or shared apartment via online portals mentioned above. They have details of landlords and flats in detail. You can also directly contact the landlord if contact details are available. Schedule viewing as soon as possible as the housing market in Germany is very competitive, especially in bigger cities like Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin. If you cannot visit yourself, ask your friend or family member to do it on your behalf. First impressions are very important, so don’t miss out on these appointments.
What is the SCHUFA report and how to apply for it?
As mentioned earlier, a SCHUFA report is the credit report that provides information on your credit worthiness. Remember, this report is only required for renting private apartments and not for student dorms or WG. The SCHUFA report basically rates your ability to pay bills. SCHUFA gathers data about you from different companies in Germany. Here are the basic details that SCHUFA collects:
| General Information | Financial Data | Payment Faults |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Existing bank accounts | Bounced checks |
| Birth Date | Credit cards | Private bankrupticies |
| Birth Location | Cell phone contracts | Enforcement notices |
| Current Address | Leasing contracts | |
| Previous Address | Current/Past loans | |
| Credit/Mortgage enquiries |
If you are new in Germany, then you may not be eligible for a SCHUFA report as you first need to register yourself in Germany (Anmeldung). In this case, you can rent a WG or a student dorm initially, as you may not require a SCHUFA report for renting them.
You can get the SCHUFA report via post or through the app. There are also third party paid applications that allow you to get the SCHUFA report instantly. You can apply to receive it via post on their website. You need to fill in some personal details, and you can get it delivered in 5-7 working days.
After Securing Accommodation
After securing accommodation, prepare for a smooth transition to Germany for a better experience. Here’s a checklist on what to do after securing accommodation.
Sign the contract
Read the contract carefully before signing. Clear all the doubts with the landlord and be honest and transparent about your requirements. Check the key details like monthly rent (warm or cold rent), security deposit amount (Kaution), rent duration and termination date, rules and regulations of shared spaces, etc. After moving in, carry out a thorough inspection of the apartment and take photos of any damages to avoid disputes at the time of moving out.
Registration (Anmeldung)
City registration is the first important step in integrating into Germany. This could be your first process after reaching Germany. It is a mandatory process where you register your address to the local authorities. You need to visit the citizen’s office (Bürgeramt) within the first 14 days of arrival to Germany. You need to provide your passport, rental agreement/contract and confirmation of the landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) signed by your landlord to register your address. Registration will form the basis for your next steps in Germany like opening a local bank account, applying for health insurance, applying for a SCHUFA report, etc. Additionally, you will receive important documents on this postal address. You need to re-register your address every time you change your address.
It is essential for students as well because not complying to this can lead to exmatriculation. I forgot to register my address upon arrival and therefore I was not able to apply for health insurance leading to my exmatriculation from the university for about 2 weeks. No need to worry as you can enrol back as soon as you have the health insurance and registration. But it is always precautionary to take care of it within the first 14 days.
Set up utilities and pay security deposit
If you are moving to an apartment without furniture and basic utilities, set it up as soon as possible. Take photos of electricity meters to avoid being charged for previous usage. Reach out to internet providers and sign the contract according to your requirements.
Pay security deposit in time to avoid any abrupt termination of lease contract. Also, punctuality in paying rents and security deposits can lead to good relationships with the landlord.
Follow rules and regulations
Every apartment has some predefined rules. You can find it on notice boards in the common areas of the flat. It includes a waste disposal system, noise regulations, and common area usage.
Setup broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)
As it is a mandatory requirement, register yourself at ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio as soon as possible. If you move to a WG, check with other tenants if they are paying, and you can register with them so that you can split it with them.
Conclusion
At the beginning, it may sound overwhelming to secure accommodation in Germany. However, if you follow proper rules and prepare your documents properly, it becomes easy to find a house in Germany. Finding accommodation in Germany can be exciting as well as tiring, depending on how flexible you are with your requirements. Nevertheless, I hope you will find this article useful in your house hunting. To find more details about rents in individual cities and complete overview of renting accommodation in Germany, follow our detailed guide to navigate the German rental market. Good luck with house hunting!
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About the Author: Deep Parikh
