Finding a place to stay

Finding a place to rent

Finding a place to rent is almost like doing a job interview. You have to “advertise” yourself and you will have to go for interviews.
The best is to go prepared!

Documents needed

You will need at least the following documents:

A Schufa report (credit report),
proof of employment,
bank statements and
a motivation letter if you like.
In this you introduce yourself .. how big the family is, do you have pets, do you have parties every Wednesday, do you smoke, where you work, etc. A tip from others is to add proof of insurance, such as pet insurance if you have pets or personal liability insurance. You can also add a reference letter from your employer.

When you are not yet sure what type of place you want to get or exactly where consider making use of Airbnb for a couple of months.

It also helps while you are waiting for your furniture to arrive in Germany.
For more information and helpful tips on moving to Germany, visit the page below.

Moving to Germany

Moving to a new country can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The thought of starting a new chapter in your life

Schufa

A “Schufa” is a credit report. It is a bit of a chicken-egg situation. You cannot get a Schufa unless you already live in Germany.
To get around this you can stay in an Airbnb for a couple of months and then get a Schufa, or say upfront that you don’t have one yet, or look for properties that do not require one. If you have an employment contract, you can also ask if they will accept that.
Simple Germany has a good guide on getting a Schufa

Cost of Living

In general, properties are more expensive in Germany than in South Africa, also when renting. Food and clothing prices depend a lot on where you are buying. Medical insurance is also more expensive in Germany,
The most, expensive cities in Germany concerning rent are Stuttgart, Hamburg and Munich
Here are some cost-of-living comparative sites to give you an idea:

Numbeo, Expatica, Destatis, and Mecer
Information from Commerzbank for a family of 4 – in Germany
Sparda Bank Wohnen in Deutschland

More information on the internet

Immowelt.de – a really good source of current information from types of housing, to disputes with neighbours. Available in German

Where to look for Accommodation

Rental agencies

Apps

Other

Immowelt
ImmoScout24
WG.Gesucht.de
Meinestadt.de

Your local paper
eBay
Facebook sometimes has listings in an area
Relocation agents such as Swift Relocation

Furnished short term rentals

Shared accomodation

Mr Lodge if you are looking for a furnished apartment
Zeitwohnwerk – agencies providing furnished accommodation in Germany
Wunderflats
Home2go
Flathopper in Munich
Homelike
Airbnb

Website with shared accommodation in Berlin and Munich
WG Gesucht

Buy or Rent

To buy or rent is a personal choice. Just be aware of the possible hidden costs of ownership.
There was a case recently where owners were charged for fixing the road in front of their properties.
Interest rates are pretty low. Deposits are high.
Simple Germany has a good article on this

Typical property description

“3-Zimmer Wohnung

Die Wohnung bietet eine Wohnfläche von ca. 116,56 m². Diese Fläche verteilt
sich auf den Flur, zwei Schlafzimmer, das Wohnzimmer, das hell geflieste Vollbad, das WC und die Wohnküche.
Die Küche wir nur mit einem Herd und einer Spüle ausgestattet.”

“3-room apartment

The apartment offers a living space of approx. 116.56 m². This space is distributed
between the hallway, two bedrooms, the living room, the brightly tiled bathroom, the toilet and the kitchen-diner.
The kitchen is only equipped with a stove and a sink.”

Important

When you are looking at a property with “3 Zimmer” it does not refer to bedrooms but the total rooms excluding the Kitchen and Bathroom.
Many properties will have no lights installed, only the fittings. You have to get them fitted or fit them yourself. A good place to look for artisans is My-Hammer
Make sure you know what your responsibilities will be for example are you responsible for keeping the pathway clear from snow or for cleaning the staircase (Treppenhaus). In BW you might be responsible for cleaning during your Kehrworche
Living space – Living space can be calculated according to 3 methods. Only in the case of subsidized housing is a method prescribed by the Housing Subsidy Act
- The DIN-277 standard. The floor space (Grundfläche) and living space (Wohnfläche) are the same. The height of the room is irrelevant. Roof areas, balconies, basements and garages are included.
- The Second Calculation Ordinance (II. BV), only up till 31.12.2003
- Living space ordinance (WoFlV – as of 01.01.2004) In disputes the court follows this method. It evaluates the part of the floor space that can be used for living. It is not the same as the Grundfläche(floor space) method-
  Rooms with sloping ceilings can only partially be taken into account. Cellars, laundry rooms, heating rooms and garages do not count towards the living space. Chimneys, pillars and columns do not count towards living space if they are higher than 1.50 meters and have a floor area of more than 0.1 square metres.
Be careful of photos, it could for example be taken with the kitchen fitted but if it doesn’t say a kitchen is included (Einbauküche or EBK), it is not.
It is possible to lease your furniture, Lyght Living and In-lease offers such services

Rental Scams

When looking for accommodation in Germany, be aware of rental scams, which can target unsuspecting renters. Scammers may post fake listings with attractive prices or demand upfront payments before allowing you to view the property. Common red flags include requests for money via insecure methods like wire transfers, landlords who claim to be abroad, or suspiciously low rent for prime locations. Always insist on viewing the property in person, verify the landlord’s identity, and never transfer money without a signed contract. Staying cautious can help you avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.

For more info and tips:

Germanpedia – Rental Scams
About Berlin – Common housing scams

Your rights

We are not at liberty to give any legal advice. The advice we can give is to get everything in writing and know your rights.
For more information about your rights as a tenant, please visit the following websites:

Mieterverein

A Mieterverein (tenants’ association) is a non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding tenants’ rights and offering expert advice on tenancy law, rental contracts, utility costs, and disputes with landlords.

A Mieterverein provides essential support to tenants through:

Legal Advice & Assistance – Members receive guidance on rental agreements, rent increases, and other tenancy issues.
Tenant Representation – They can mediate disputes with landlords and, in some cases, represent tenants in legal proceedings.
Legal Protection – Some associations offer legal insurance to cover court costs in tenancy-related cases.
Education & Resources – They provide training sessions, workshops, and publications on tenant rights and obligations.

Anyone can join a Mieterverein by becoming a member (usually for a fee) of a local association in their city or region.

Examples of Mietervereine in Germany

Deutscher Mieterbund (DMB) – The national umbrella organization.
Berliner Mieterverein – Serving tenants in Berlin.
Hamburger Mieterverein e.V. – For tenants in Hamburg.

Vocabulary and Info

Internet and Television can be included but most times it is not. A very good site for more information (in German) is Ratgeber.immowelt

German Term	Meaning
die Wohnung	This could mean accommodation but mostly it means an apartment or flat.
das Mietvertrag	Rental contract
Immobilienmakler	Estate agent, realtor
Vertrag kündigen	Cancel your contract
das Vermieter	Landlord
das Mieter	Tenant
Wohnen auf Zeit	Temporary living option. Usually only for a couple of months. Most will be furnished.
die Wohngemeinschaft	Shared accommodation. Popular with young people.
die Garage / das Stellplatz	Garage or parking space
das Grundstück	Land or plot
die Warmmiete	Rent with utilities (die Nebenkosten) like heating included. Always refer to your rental contract.
die Kaltmiete	Rent without utilities (die Nebenkosten) like heating included. Always refer to your rental contract.
die Kaution	Deposit. By law, it may not be more than 3 times the “Kalt Miete”. To get your deposit back can take up to a year.
die Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung	A certificate from your previous landlord to show that you have no outstanding rent.
Einkommensnachweis	Proof of income
das Deutscher Mieterbund	German tenants association
das Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS)	Certificate to prove that the tenant is entitled to move into subsidized housing. If an apartment is advertised as WBS, only those with such a certificate can apply.
die Nebenkosten	Additional charges for utilities and services like heating, hot water, trash collection, etc. This is usually a fixed amount for the year, and at the end of the year, you will receive a Betriebskostenabrechnung, which is a statement of how much you paid and how much you actually used. If you used less than what you paid, you will get money back. Electricity (der Strom) is usually not included in the Nebenkosten unless specified in your rental contract.
der Strom	Electricity. If it is not included in your Nebenkosten, you will have to sign a contract with an electricity provider. You can use websites like Verivox and Check24 to compare options. You are also allowed to switch providers.

South Africans in Germany