Moving to Germany - Finding accommodation

Unlike in many other EU countries, in Germany accommodation is generally rented out without furniture, lamps, curtains and, frequently, even without kitchen fittings. You will find advertisements for accommodation in the Wednesday and Saturday editions of most daily newspapers. Weekly advertisers also provide a good overview of the regional accommodation market.

Contact with the landlord is established either via the telephone number indicated or via a 'box number'. In that case a written application for the accommodation must be sent to the newspaper. The newspaper will then forward letters to the owner of the accommodation.

To publish an 'accommodation wanted' advertisement yourself, the best thing to do is to call the offices of a daily newspaper and ask for advice. There is generally a charge for classified advertisements. If you engage an estate agent to find accommodation, you will normally have to pay two months' rent as commission.

The rent for accommodation depends on the factors of size, furnishing, condition and location. In the centre and surroundings of attractive cities you can expect to pay around EUR 10 a square metre for a three-room flat. In rural areas and in eastern Germany, on the other hand, a comparable flat can be had for around EUR 5 a square metre. The publication Mietspiegel provides a precise overview of local rents for accommodation in a particular town. Ask for a copy at the town hall or a tenants' association. Otherwise use a commercial estate agency portal on the Internet to gain an overview.

Text last edited on: 11/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
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