Rent an Apartment in Germany [2024 GUIDE] - Navigate Germany

Whenever you move to a new country, the first task is to rent or buy a house or apartment. This article shares several important details you must know before signing a lease to avoid unneeded anxiety.

Rent A Home or Buy it! What’s Better?

Germans prefer to rent a home rather than buying it. As per stats, 57% of German households were rented dur8ng last 30 years. The European average is around 70% of all citizens. Germany has the lowest percentage of private property owners by far within the EU.

An expat friendly mortgage firm, Hypofriend, has a calculator to help you decide whether to buy or rent a property.

How to Find a Place to Live in Germany?

Hiring an estate agency to rent an apartment is easy but it would be expensive. Estate agents work as middle men between owners and buyers but the commission is paid by the seller in case of renting a home. When hiring an estate agent it’s important to check payment terms before you sign the contract. You can check different websites And social media groups to see what apartments are available for rent. Make a list and meet the owners to find a rented home.

Facts About German Apartments for Rent

Before you search for a home in Germany, you should know that unfurnished apartments are common. You must know a few facts about apartments in germany.

Included Bathroom

Bathrooms are always included in German rented apartments. Building a shower into the bathtub is typical especially in smaller flats.

Excluded Kitchen

Unfurnished apartments do not include a kitchenette in Germany so you need to design your own kitchen. Installing a kitchen and buying furniture might take weeks so keep patience and prepare yourself in advance. 

When you visit the apartment or see photos with a kitchen included, confirm If it’s included in your lease. If it isn’t, the prior tenant will take it. Here are the possibilities to have kitchen:

Get Former Tenant’s Kitchen

You can consult the previous renter if he wants to take the kitchen or if he can sell it to you at a price.

Search Apartments With Kitchen Included

Restrict your search and find and find an apartment that has a Einbauküche (built-in kitchen) included in the lease.

Rent A Furnished Apartment

Check different websites to find a furnished apartment. Due to an increase in the number of foreigners in Germany, the market for furnished flat rentals decreased.

Buy Your Own Kitchen

You will find a number of options when you decide to buy your own kitchen but it will cost you more in terms of getting a new kitchen but in paying higher rent. If you need a kitchen for the long run, get a cutting-edge integrated kitchen which might take up to two months to complete and will cost you up to thousand euros.

Excluded Appliances

Appliances like washers and dryers are also excluded just like kitchen. You need to buy your own appliances so check the dimensions during your visit to the rental apartment so you can buy a perfect size.

Excluded Utilities

Warmmiete (warm rent) and Kaltmiete (cold rent) are the terms used for pricing of a flat in Germany. Cold rent is the first price you see on a property whereas the warm rent is the price after adding things like water, heating, rubbish collection, and cable TV. You also need to sign a contract with an electrical provider as such utilities are not included.

Involved People to Rent an Apartment

This is not just the matter of one or two persons. Whenever you are renting a house, the landlord (Vermieter), a prior tenant (Vormieter), a property management company, an agency, or a tenant (Mieter) and the person in charge of the listing (WG-Bewohner) are involved. Review the listing carefully before making any decisions.

Apartment Floors

Flooring in Germany is as follows:

• Keller (Basement)
• Basement (Ground floor)
• Etage (Floor)
• Dachgeschoss (Top floor)

Apartment Rooms

As mentioned earlier, the kitchen and bathroom do not count as a room. A 2-bedroom apartment (2 Zimmer Wohnung) is good to have a living room and a bedroom.

Platforms To Locate A Rental Property

It is the time to start your search and find a rental property through different platforms.

Rental Property Websites

Most popular rental property websites in germany are;

• Immobilienscout24.de
• Immonet.de
• Immowelt.de
• Wohnung-jetzt.de
• Meinestadt.de
• Wg-gesucht.de

Websites For Furnished Apartments

It is very popular to rent a furnished short-term apartment for a smooth arrival. Most popular furnished short-term rental property websites are;

• Homelike
• Housing Anywhere
• Wunderflats

Spotahome

Price for a furnished long-term apartment is always higher than that for an unfurnished apartment, but it includes internet access and does not require a SCHUFA record.

Things to Remember

• When looking for furnished house, attach landlord’s certification of residence, or Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, when stating that registration is possible.
• Obtain services like a bank account and a mobile phone contract.
• Provide your employer with an ID number for the German tax system to get paid correctly
• Build a credit history to rent a long-term apartment.
• Understand the various bureaucratic hoops for a smooth transition to Germany.
• Avoid Airbnb as they don’t let newcomers register which is an enormous hurdle to adjust in a new culture.

Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents help to search an apartment (Makler). Engel & Völkel is a well-known firm. By law, the person hiring the real estate agent will pay the fee (Bestellerprinzip) but there are no charges if you see a listing managed by a Makler.

Tips to Apply for a Rent-to-Own Apartment

German landlords have high requirements of documentation and find trustworthy renters because of the strong tenant rights in Germany. Here are the tips to get the right apartment for you.

Be Fast

Contact via phone call to state your interest and ask when can you visit the property (Wohnungsbesichtigung).

First Impression

First impression is lasting so be courteous, confident, and well-dressed.

Improve Your German

Make an effort to improve your German so you can communicate and show that you want to improve your language skills. It will prove that you plan to stay for a longer period of time.

Complete Paperwork

Here are the documents you must have to show that you are a reliable person to rent a home. These documents will protect you by making sure that you know your rights.

Required paperwork:

• A copy or scan of a driver’s license or passport
• Tax returns or proof of earnings
• Bank statement
• Guarantor’s details
• schufa score (Requested most of the time)
• A Rent-Freedom Certificate (Not always requested)
• An association of Mietbürgs (Not always requested)
• A letter or form of application (Sometimes requested)
• A third party’s liability insurance (Beneficial)

Avoid Bringing Pet During Visit

Many landlords do not allow pets, so if you bring one during your visit, it will lowers the chances to get a good apartment. Mention your pet to see if you can make a deal!

Be Patient

Finding a rental apartment might take months, so set your expectations low, and be patient.

German Rental Agreement

German rental contracts are in various forms and sizes. They must include:

Terms of Rental Agreement

Rental agreement shares your responsibilities as a renter and clarifies any potential misconceptions as it includes:

• The length of the agreement
• Amount of deposit
• Rental amount
• Details of additional expenses.
• Amount of data available to the public.
• Pet rules
• Regulations regarding repairs
• Cancellation of agreement

Rental agreements are limited to the duration if the landlord want to keep the apartment after the agreement expires. Rental agreements with an end date are illegal in Germany without a valid justification.

Rental Costs

Rental cost is the cost per square meter. Apartments in urban areas are more expensive than those in the suburbs.

According to N26 2022, average rent for flats in Munich is 19.64 Euro per m², Frank Fury 16.49 Euro per m², and Stuttgart is 15.31 Euro per m². Rents are high in cities such as Hamburg, Leipzig, and Cologne due to increased demand in Berlin. The most expensive town is Karlsfeld, in the Dachau region, 12 kilometers northwest of Munich where the rent is €10.86 per square meter.

The average monthly rent in Dublin is €1,300. The price of a one-bedroom apartment in a German metropolis is about €700 and outside the city it is approximately €530. Three-month deposit is standard in Germany whereas utilities are not included in the rent and stated in the rental agreement. Rent and utilities are two different things so the contract must state the difference between the two and it should include what utilities are added in the deal.

Deposits

Before moving into your new house, you need to pay a deposit (Kaution) which can be more than three times the net cold rent, as per law. Your landlord will keep your security deposit until you stay in the rented apartment and will give you back within three to six months after you’ve moved out. If there are some damages or repairs needed, the landlord will deduct the amount from your deposit, so take care of the house and notify the landlord of any damages well in time. Whatever amount of deposit you pay must be written in the agreement as you have to get it back when you leave the apartment.

Pet’s Code of Conduct

If you plan to adopt a pet, confirm from your landlord and make sure to mention this in your agreement.

Furniture And Appliances

If you’re renting a furnished apartment, mention details of the furniture and appliances you’re getting.

Notice of Intent

Notice period is three months for both parties under a rental agreement in Germany.

House Rules

Rules and regulations must be clearly stated. It might be about separating the waste or handling it. It should also include what repairs are covered by whom.

Rent Increments

This depends upon the landlord but you must confirm it. Your landlord might include the price that he needs to increase in the future. There are limits that a landlord is bound to increase which is a total of 20% over three years. Rent will increase again after three years.

Payment Method

Bank transfer is a common method to make payment, so the landlord’s bank account information must be mentioned in the agreement. Set up the standing order two days before the due date in your online bank account to avoid any late payments.

Signing the Contract

It is highly recommended to get professional help to review your rental agreement before you sign it. Internet consulting site yourXpert is available where you can ask a question or fill out the form. You will receive a response from a lawyer within 24 hours.

Things to Do Before You Move In

Before you settle into your new residence, there are a few more tasks to complete.

Photos of Your Flat

Take pictures and videos of your new apartment as soon as you get the keys so you can have a record of things you got and how your flat looks like. This is good for the time when your landlord or property management will change.

Registration Process

Register your new address with the local authorities within two weeks of moving in.

Surname on Your Doorbell and Letter Box

Once you are registered, your surname must appear on the letterbox and doorbell which is helpful to send and receive letters. 

Home Internet Contract

Have a good internet connection as soon as you move and register. Sign a contract to get your internet service immediately as it will take up to six weeks.

Utility Billing Service

Pick an electricity provider wisely as you need it when you move in. You can contact the previous provider but if you find a different one, you can save your euros.

Household Insurance

Secure your belongings with the household insurance. This is always a good idea as you have bought new things for your new place.

Keep an Eye Out for Postal Service Letter!

Each household pays a license fee for the public broadcasting stations in Germany. Once you complete the Anmeldung, you will receive a letter regarding Rundfunkbeitrag in which you will be requested to register and pay.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a new house in Germany, this guide will help you a lot. Read your rental contract carefully and if you can’t understand anything, hire a professional lawyer to review your agreement. Avoid making late payments and try to build a good credit score. Have a good home!