House and Home

Welcome to Your Guide to House and Home in Germany

Explore our essential guides on everything from renting to home upkeep, and even choosing the perfect German bed and mattress.

Moving from One Town to Another in Germany: Key Considerations

Moving from One Town to Another in Germany Moving within Germany, whether it’s to a neighbouring town or a different state, is a process that involves more than just packing up your belongings and setting up in a new home. German bureaucracy is known for its thoroughness, and to ensure

Avoiding mould in your house

Buildings in Germany are designed to keep heat inside. The windows and doors seal tightly and it can therefore be a challenge to ensure proper ventilation. A lack of ventilation encourages the growth of mould or mildew. Mould will grow in damp places and thrives particularly well on cold, damp surfaces.

Waste disposal and recycling

This is a general guide to waste disposal and recycling. Some rules may differ from town to town, for example, the collection of bulky waste, so always make sure about the rules that apply in your town.You can search for “abfallkalender” or “müllkalender” and your town and hopefully find an

Gardening Rules

Did you know your garden and the local green spaces are living habitats for wildlife and insects?If you cut back or trim your plants too soon, you are removing necessary pollen sources for insects, such as bees and butterflies. It can also reduce or eliminate habitat for birds and small mammals

Housing in Germany

Types of Housing Wohnung / Apartment/Flat. Standard residential unit, typically part of a larger building. Atlbauwohnung – An old building, that might be protected. An older, often pre-war building with high ceilings and potentially historic features. Dachgeschosswohnung – Attic or penthouse apartment, often with sloped ceilings due to being on

Beds, Mattresses and Duvets

The sleeping arrangements in Germany is a bit different from what we are used to in South Africa. The average German couple sleeps on a bed base with two single mattresses and each with their own duvet.Some would argue for this but I would at least want to share a

Minijobs and hired help

Are you looking for services like cleaning, someone to look after the kids or help out with the gardening?The sites we list here are currently only available in German. You have the option to hire someone on a more permanent basis (minijob) or use a company to supply the services

Finding a place to stay

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! You will need at least the following documents: A Schufa report (credit report), proof of employment, bank statements and