Housing in Germany

Finding a home in Germany means learning a new kind of language — one spoken in bricks, beams, and balcony railings. A charming Altbauwohnung with vintage flair, a bright Penthouse floating above the city, or a snug Einliegerwohnung tucked into a family home — each space tells its own story.

This page guides you through the many housing types you’ll come across in Germany. Some are steeped in history, others designed for modern living, and a few blur the lines between the two. Long-term, short-term, furnished or not, solo living or shared spaces — there’s something for every lifestyle and life stage.

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 the top floor.
Einliegerwohnung – A smaller, separate apartment within a house, often referred to as a “granny flat.”
Entangewohnung – An apartment in a multi-story building, typically on one level.
Loft – A large, open-concept living space, often converted from industrial or commercial use.
Maisonette – A duplex apartment spread over two floors, often connected by an internal staircase.
Penthouse – A luxurious apartment located on the top floor of a building, often with a private terrace.
Souterrainwohnung – A basement or semi-basement flat, typically located partially below ground level.
Terrassenwohnung – An apartment with a private terrace as a prominent feature. Must have a terrace
Wohngemeinschaften (WG) – A shared apartment or house where tenants share common spaces like the kitchen or living room.
Haus – A standalone building intended for residential use.
Einfamilienhaus – Single-family house
Mehrfamilienhaus – A building designed for multiple separate family units or households.
Furnished house/apartment – A fully furnished house/apartment available for short or medium-term rental, often similar to vacation rentals like Airbnb.

Vocabulary and Information

die Wohnung	This could mean accommodation but mostly it means an apartment or flat
der Lebensraum die Wohnfläche der Wohnraum	The living space includes all the floor space of the rooms that belong exclusively to this apartment. Immowelt has a very good explanation of how living space is calculated
das Haus	A house – can also mean home or domicile
das Einfamilienhaus	A free-standing residential building, typically for a single-family
das Mehrfamilienhaus	Multiple separate housing units for residential inhabitants are contained within one building or several buildings within one complex. Units can be next to each other or stacked on top of each other
das Zimmer	Room.
die Küche	Kitchen. Most properties (for rent as well) do not include a fitted kitchen and you will most likely have to fit the cupboards, oven, fridge, etc. You will have to look at the “Ausstattung”. If you want a place with a fitted kitchen look for one with an “Einbauküche”
Das Badezimmer	Bathroom. Many bathrooms in apartments only have a shower or the shower is inside the bath
das Wohnzimmer	Living room
der Flur	Corridor, hallway
das Treppenhaus	Staircase It can be a shared space
der Herd	Stove
die Spüle	Sink for washing up
die Garage / das Stellplatz	Garage or parking space
das Grundstück	Land or plot
das Etage	Elevated floor
das Erdgeschoss	Ground floor
1. Etage, 1. Stock, 1 Obergeschoss	First floor. It is the first elevated floor and not the ground floor

Resources on the web

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

Disputes

If you’re renting a property in Germany and feel that your landlord is treating you unfairly, there are several organizations and legal channels that can help:

Mieterverein (Tenants’ Association): The Mieterverein is a tenant’s association offering legal advice and support. By becoming a member (for a small annual fee), you can receive assistance on tenant rights, disputes, and issues with your landlord. Find your local association for more details.
Schlichtungsstelle (Mediation Service): Some cities offer mediation services where disputes between landlords and tenants can be resolved outside of court. These services aim to facilitate a fair compromise between both parties.
Legal Counsel: If the issue is severe, you may consider hiring a lawyer specializing in Mietrecht (tenancy law). Legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) may cover these costs if you have it.
Mieterschutzbund (Tenant Protection Association): Similar to the Mieterverein, the Mieterschutzbund offers advice and support to tenants facing unfair treatment. They can assist with issues like rent increases, deposit disputes, or necessary repairs.
Amtsgericht (Local Court): If disputes cannot be settled through mediation or tenant associations, you can file a complaint at your local Amtsgericht (local court), which handles tenancy law disputes.

Keep records of all communications and issues with your landlord to support your case, if necessary.

Television Licenses

Television Licence (der Rundfunkbeitrag/GEZ-Gebühr) Television Licenses The first thing you are likely to get in your new mailbox after registering at the Bürgeramt is a reminder to pay your TV & radio broadcasting fees. The 2024 fees are €18.36 per month and can be paid quarterly (€55.08) or €220.32 per yearThe fee is mandatory. Every household in Germany has to pay the fee even if you do not own a TV or radio. It does not matter if you have subscriptions to Sky, Netflix, etc. You can apply for an exemption or a reduction.When you rent a place where it

Registering at the Local Town Office

If you plan to stay in Germany for longer than 3 months, you will need to register at your local Bürgeramt (Town office).This is called a Meldepflicht and is compulsory. More about the law can be found in BMG (in German) or in EnglishIt must be done within two weeks after moving into your residence. ” Anyone who moves into a residence shall register with the registration authorities within two weeks of moving in. (2) Anyone who moves out of a residence and does not move into another residence in Germany shall deregister with the registration authorities within two weeks of moving out. Deregistration shall be

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