Housing in Germany

Types of Housing

Flat – Wohnung / Apartment.
Atlbauwohnung – An old building, that might be protected
Dachgeschosswohnung – penthouse but usually with slanted walls
Einliegerwohnung – Granny flat
Entangewohnung – Apartmentbuilding
Loft
Maisonette – duplex apartment
Penthouse
Souterrainwohnung – basement flat
Terrassenwohnung – must have a terrace
Wohngemeinschaften (WG) – Communal flat or house
House – Haus
Einfamilienhaus – Single-family house
Mehrfamilienhaus – Multifamily house
Furnished house (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.

Television Licenses

Television Licence (der Rundfunkbeitrag/GEZ-Gebühr) The first thing you are likely to get in your new mailbox after registering at the Bürgeramt is a reminder to