Accommodation in Berlin

Berlin is more popular than ever before and flats are hard to come by. Whether here temporarily or moving to the city for good, if you want to call yourself a real Berliner, you need a place to live! But what housing options do you have? What do you need to know to get started? Here is a handy guide to help you navigate the complexities of renting in Berlin.

Furnished Accommodation

In Berlin, flats or rooms are usually furnished sublets. While they may seem expensive at first glance, this is a good option for when you first arrive. These flats are relatively easy to find, and the rent includes utilities such as internet and energy. Typically, the deposit for a furnished room equals a month’s rent, which is lower than most single flats. It’s also flexible since you can move into a fully-equipped apartment without having to worry about furniture or kitchen utensils. The disadvantage is that you are liable for any damage caused to the furniture, which means that the main tenant has the right to take money out of your deposit for said damage. If you replace someone and become the main tenant, you can often pay the previous tenant for the home furnishings.

If you are only in Berlin for a short time and want to enjoy the luxury of a fully-equipped flat, Airbnb may be a good option for you. For longer stays, a shared flat or your own apartment would be a better alternative as Airbnb can be expensive in comparison and you aren’t able to register with the city.

WG Room

The letters WG are an abbreviation for Wohngemeinschaft – a long German word for shared flat. In a WG, you typically have your own bedroom but share the kitchen and bathroom with other tenants. You can find adverts for shared flats on the website WG gesucht, where you can find a temporary room. However, since apartments in Berlin have become scarce, it is often difficult to find an apartment for an indefinite period. As there are often many applicants for a room in a WG, it is not uncommon to be invited for a “WG Casting”. This is quite similar to a job interview – you meet your potential flatmates in order to get to know each other. This first meeting is to find out if you are compatible with the flat, so you should prepare for questions about your WG experience, your job and your hobbies.

After some time, the current tenants of the WG will inform you if they want you to move in or if they decided in favor of someone else.

Before moving to a WG you should check whether you need to register with the city. If this is the case, always check if the main tenant is allowed to sublet the room before signing a contract.

Your Own Flat

If you no longer appreciate the romance of a shared flat and prefer to rent your own apartment, you should familiarize yourself with some basic terms before you start looking for a place to live:

In Germany, there are two different kinds of rent – Kaltmiete (cold rent) and Warmmiete (warm rent). Kaltmiete is the price just for the room/apartment, while Warmmiete is the price of rent including utilities, such as water and gas, which are calculated from a year’s average and vary according to consumption. If you have used up more than your previous tenant in one year, you may have to pay extra for the annual bill. If you have used less, you will get money back.

Most apartment websites show both cold and warm rent as well as any additional costs. On average, the additional costs are around 2 to 3 euros per m² and thus make up 30 to 50 percent of the rent.

A good rule of thumb is that the Kaltmiete should not exceed one third of the tenant's net income. This will help you determine what you can reasonably afford and qualify for when renting an apartment. The landlord will typically ask for proof of income, such as pay slips, a work contract, or a tax statement as part of the application process.

In Berlin, apartments are in great demand and can be difficult to find. If you want to increase your chances of getting an apartment, you should come with a completed application when you visit the apartment. Make sure your application is complete! Missing documents will hurt your chances of being accepted as a tenant. Continue here to find out which documents you will need to add to your application:

Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung

(a long word that essentially translates to "rental debt clearance certificate" - a document from your previous landlord which states that your rental history is in good standing)

If you can demonstrate good rental history, this can really help with the rental process. This document, given by your previous landlord, certifies that you always paid rent on time and have no debts. It shows to your potential new landlord that you are a reliable tenant.

If you have not yet paid rent before or are new to Germany, it can make the rental process more difficult. When you're asked to submit a rental debt clearance certificate, you can inform the landlord that you've never rented. Since this could be a disadvantage for you, it is advisable to enclose a parents' rent guarantee (see the Rental Guarantee Statement).

SCHUFA

The General Credit Protection Association (abbreviated to SCHUFA in German) is the largest source of information on the creditworthiness of private individuals in Germany. A forecast is made about your future payment behavior based on your previous payment history.

In Berlin, where the demand for apartments is very high and the supply is terribly low, the SCHUFA credit rating is an indispensable document. To increase your chances of getting a flat, you should always bring your SCHUFA with you to viewings! Here you can request your own SCHUFA form.

Proof of income

The landlord requires a proof of income to make sure that you can afford the flat. The law states you can do this with your last 3 payslips. If you have worked for less than 3 months, you should submit a salary certificate certified by your employer and attach a copy of your employment contract. If you are self-employed, you can prove your earnings with your last tax statement.

If you are a student or otherwise without income, you should get a parental guarantee, confirming that they will guarantee the rent payment. Another option would be for your parents to sign the lease on your behalf. In these cases, they would need to prove their income.

Personal Information Sheet

When you visit a flat, you may be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your personal, family and economic situation. You should always answer truthfully, as the landlord is entitled to terminate a rental agreement in case of false claims. Questions about family planning, religion, sexual orientation, or membership in a political party are not allowed and do not have to be answered!

Permit for Subsidized Housing (WBS)

Some housing requires a permit for subsidized housing (abbreviated to WBS in German) in order to rent there. This requirement is usually noted in the housing description for a particular home. Issuing a WBS is income-based and anyone can apply for it if needed for themselves and their partner or family. The forms that are necessary for the WBS application can be filled out and handed in at all Berlin citizen's offices (Bürgeramt).

You can find out if you are eligible for a WBS residence permit here.

An important requirement for claiming a WBS is that you do not exceed the allowable income limit. If your total annual income (after deduction of all costs) does not exceed the income limit of 16,800 euros (as of 2017), you are most likely entitled to a residence permit.

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We do not provide our own accommodation. However, we are happy to help you out with some useful advice!

More Information

Before deciding on the option of accommodation you should check if you need to register with the city. This registration is called an Anmeldung and might be very important for you. Find out more about it here:

Getting Your Anmeldung

When moving to Berlin, it’s important to determine if you need to register with the city before looking for accommodation. If you need this registration, called an Anmeldung, it will affect which type of accommodation you should book. If you are staying in Berlin as a tourist or if you have already registered elsewhere in Germany and you do not intend to stay in Berlin for more than two months, it’s unnecessary to register with the city. However for long-term stays over six months, and especially if applying for study or work visas, registering with the city is a necessary step.

Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung

In order to register with the city of Berlin, you need permission from the landlord. Before you sign the contract, you need to make sure that your landlord can provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for you. With this document, the landlord confirms that you are a tenant in his or her flat. In cases where you are subletting, you should check that the main tenant has permission to sublet the room.

If you are new to the city or recently moved flats, you need to register your new flat with the city within 14 days of moving. It will be required for getting a bank account, tax number, or service contracts (such as internet). You can find specific information about registering with the city, including necessary documents, Bürgeramt (city administrative office) locations, and other information on the city’s official site: