Accommodation

A popular option – especially for young people – is to live in a shared flat (WG), where you share the flat and rental costs with other people. And you can quickly meet new people in a WG. In WGs, each person has their own bedroom. The bathroom, kitchen and living/dining room are shared. WGs usually involve “casting calls” when there are spots available, to ensure that new members are a good fit for the existing tenants.

In Germany, rentals are typically listed with a “cold” and “warm” rent. The “cold rent” (Kaltmiete) refers to the base rental costs without additional service costs (such as heating, water, waste collection, etc). The “warm rent” (Warmmiete) is the cost inclusive of the essential services and is paid directly to the landlord. As these service costs increase, the landlord may need to increase these costs (Nebenkosten) or present an itemized invoice at the end of each year. Electricity, internet and broadcasting (Rundfunk) costs are paid directly to the providers. The broadcasting fee is mandatory by flat.

When you rent a flat, you almost always have to pay a deposit. The deposit is an amount of money that you pay to the landlord before you occupy the flat. The deposit can also be in the form of a guarantee (usually by a third party who would be responsible for paying any outstanding debts). The deposit may not be more than three times the monthly cold rent and must be deposited in an interest-bearing bank account. After moving out, you as the tenant will receive the deposit back, including the interest. The repayment can take several months.

The rental agreement is an important document that regulates all the details of your tenancy. Make sure that all the terms of the tenancy are in writing. Additional verbal agreements can be challenged later. For the rental agreement, you must provide your landlord with certain documents, such as proof of income or employment contract. A handover protocol document records the condition of the flat when you move in. Read the handover report carefully. You can be held liable for damages not recorded in the handover report when you move out. Be sure to read the rental agreement. It is most likely in German, but you will be held liable for all details in the document.

When you move into a new flat, you must register for electricity services. We recommend that you first compare local electricity providers before choosing a suitable one. With many providers, you can register using an online form and obtain an electricity services contract. You will pay a monthly flat rate and receive a detailed bill of your electricity consumption every year.

If you wish to sublet all or part of the space you rent to a third party, you need permission from the landlord to do so.

Note: subletting without permission can be cause for extraordinary termination of the lease without notice.

All people moving into a residence in Germany must register at the Local Residents' Registration Office within two weeks.