How to rent an apartment in Germany 2023

Renting in Germany is quite a difficult topic, a lot of people come every year, or change their place of living. There are cases when many people apply for one apartment. Therefore, it is not enough to quickly find and apply to the interesting apartment, you need to be prepared to provide a package of documents that may vary for different offers.

Steps to find an apartment

There is a simplified description how a search process might look like.

• First of all you need to find an apartment that would meet your desires and requirements. The easiest way is to use internet sites which are specified for this purpose.
• In most cases the landlord will want you to add the required documents, such as payslips, employment contract, Schufa report, a cover letter describing you and your situation, etc.
• If you have been selected by the landlord to view the apartment, a date and time will be set for you to visit it. During the pandemic, only one person could visit the apartment at once, but in most cases several people will be viewing the apartment simultaneously. If you are satisfied and want to continue, you may be asked for printed documents and information about yourself.
• On the next step, if you were chosen by a landlord, it is time to discuss all the details and sign the contract, make a deposit, and specify the date of obtaining the keys. It is also important not to forget to document the original condition of the apartment, at least take pictures, especially of existing damages.
• As the last step you need to register the new address in the Citizens Office.

The above steps are highly generalized and simplified, but their purpose is to give a rough understanding of the process of renting a home.

Renting a furnished apartment.

In the case of a furnished apartment, the process may look even easier, because it is mainly rented for up to 6 months, and some documents might not be needed. Sometimes just an employment contract would be enough. Therefore, this accommodation option has clear advantages for those who have recently arrived in Germany and don’t have all necessary documents yet.

So be prepared that the search for a flat can take several months, especially if you are looking at options below market value. Check the average renting price for Germany to do not miss profitable deal. But in the case of more expensive apartments your chances increase, because less people are interested in them, but you must have an appropriate income to apply for them.

A lot depends on chance, and you can never predict which apartment will become your cozy nest. So I wish you good luck in this difficult task.