Websites ...

Websites For Flat Hunting

If you want to start your search before you arrive (we recommend it!),
check out these websites and Facebook groups:

Immobilienscout24
www.immobilienscout24.de
ImmobilienScout24 (only in German) is the most common and comprehensive website for flat rentals. It has a
huge database and lots of search filters. If you create an account, you can save your searches. The searches also
sync with the corresponding mobile application that you can download for free.

WG-Gesucht
www.wg-gesucht.de
WG-Gesucht (German and English) has both rooms in shared flats (“Wohngemeinschaft”, “WG” for short) and
entire flats.

Exberliner Flatrentals
www.exberlinerflatrentals.com
This English-only website just has flats in Berlin. Fill out their online form and search the database. If you end up
finding a flat with their help you have to pay a booking fee of 15% plus VAT.

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 More Websites For Flat Hunting
Craigslist
www.berlin.en.craigslist.de
Craiglist (English and German) is a big marketplace not only for flats but also used
furniture, jobs, services, etc. They have both search and wanted functions, as well as
an exchange option.

eBay Kleinanzeigen
http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/s-wohnung-mieten/berlin/c203l3331
eBay Kleinanzeigen (mostly German) is similar to Craigslist.

Crocodilian
www.crocodilian.de
Crocodilian (English) offers furnished rental flats. This could be of interest if you want
to start in a furnished place before moving to your own flat with all your furniture etc.

Arwobau
www.arwobau.com
Just like Crocodilian, Arwobau (German and English) offers fully furnished flats for
temporary accommodation.

Lieblingsmieter
www.lieblingsmieter.de
Here’s another (German) site for searching for flats.

Wohnungssuche-Berlin
www.wohnungssuche-berlin.net/wohnungsanzeigen
This website (German) is fairly basic but could be worth checking out if you don’t
find anything on the other sites.
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 Facebook Groups for Flat Hunting
Wohnung frei in Berlin (Berlin flats)
https://www.facebook.com/wohnung.frei.berlin/?fref=ts

Wg zimmer wohnung in berlin room flat apartment rent (Flat shares)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/easy.wg/?ref=ts&fref=ts

WG, Zwischenmiete, flat-share, Zimmerbörse (Short-term rentals Berlin)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/roomsurfer/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Wohnung und WG Berlin (Both entire flats & shared flats )

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wg.wohnungen.berlin/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Wohnungen und WGs in Berlin – Immowelt (Both entire flats & shared flats)
https://www.facebook.com/WohnungenundWGsinBerlin/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Wohnungen frei in Berlin (Berlin flats)

https://www.facebook.com/Wohnungen.frei.in.Berlin/?ref=ts&fref=ts

WG-Zimmer & Wohnungen Berlin (Both entire flats & shared flats)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wg.wohnung.berlin/?ref=ts&fref=ts

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 Some Helpful Vocabulary
EG Erdgeschoss Ground floor

2.OG Zweiter Stock Second floor

DG Dachgeschoss Roof / Loft flat

qm Quadratmeter Square metre: describes flat size

KM Kalitmiete Cold rent: rent without extra costs

WM Warmmiete Warm rent: cold rent plus additional costs

NK Nebenkosten Additional costs: water, heating, garbage disposal,

street and house cleaning

Zi. Zimmer Room: decribes number of rooms

EBK Einbauküche Built-in kitchen

WG Wohngemeinschaft Shared flat

Prov. Provision Provision: the money you pay the agent for
sorting out a flat for you

Kaution Deposit Normally you have to pay a deposit of 3 cold rents

to the landlord before you move in. You will get it
back the latest 6 months after moving out.
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Prerequisites for Renting a Flat
Before you can sign a rental contract, you’ll need to organize a few things (here’s where the bureaucracy comes in).
Competition is often high for the good flats, so when you go to view an apartment (Besichtigungstermin), you should
bring a folder with all of the following documents. It doesn’t hurt if it is a nice folder and looks extra professional (the
details count!).

What You Need to Bring

A copy of your passport or ID.
Bank account: Most landlords insist that tenants have a valid bank account, preferably in Germany. Theoretically you
could make international transfers from somewhere else, but this is going to inconvenience either the landlord or the
agent and put you at a disadvantage when dealing with agents. So get a German bank account (more on that later)!
SCHUFA Auskunft (credit report): Most landlords and agents require this standardised background credit check. You
can request a SCHUFA Auskunft online (www.meineschufa.de/index.php?site=7) for 24,95€ but need a German
bank account and mailing address. It takes around three days for it to arrive via post. If you need it faster, you can get
it directly at certain Deutsche Post offices
The list is here:
http://www.postbank.de/postbank/docs/Schufa_Bonitaetsauskunft_direkt_in_der_Filiale_30092015.pdf.
Proof of income (last three months): This doesn’t have to be from a German employer.
Mietschuldenfreitheitsbescheinigung (Proof of debt-free status from former landlord): You’ll need a letter/form from
your previous landlord confirming that you don’t owe them any money.
You can use this template:
www.hellerau-gb.de/mieten/downloads/Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung-Mieter.pdf

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 Don`t Forget to Also Bring
Employment contract: This proves that you have a future source of income.
Bewerbungsbogen (application form): These application forms are specific to each
apartment; sometimes you can find the file on the online ad for the flat, other times you
get it at the viewing appointment.
(Optional) CV: Sounds over-the-top, but trust us, it isn’t!
(Optional): Anmeldebestätigung (resident registration form) – more on this later!
Optional): Haftpflichtversicherung (personal liability insurance) if you already have one.
Optional): a letter of recommendation from the new employer. That paper might help to
get a flat if you haven’t lived in Germany before.

Tenant Protection
Signing a contract is one thing. But understanding it and knowing what your rights as
tenant are is another thing.

If you want to be on the safe side, look into a local tenant protection associations
(Mieterschutzbund). These groups represent the tenant’s interests. If you get into a fight
(hopefully not!) with your landlord, these tenant protection associations will help you.

In Berlin, the tenant protection association is called “Mieterschutzbund Berlin e.V.”

(www.mieterschutzbund-berlin.de) and offers a wide range of services and advantages
(in English) in exchange for an admission fee and annual contribution, such as:
Free legal consulting regarding tenancy law
Short-notice appointments
Expert advice by lawyers specialised in landlord and tenant law
Local inspections
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Free “Mieterschutz” magazine (I know, THRILLING) JUST LANDED
 Resident Registration (Einwohneranmeldung)
When you move to Germany you have to register your address with the authorities
within two weeks.

However, before you can register your address, you have to have actually moved into
your apartment (surprise!). At the moment it’s incredibly hard to get an appointment, but
to avoid potentially having to pay a fine you should try to make one as soon as possible.
You can book appointments at any of the Bürgeramt (civil offices) in Berlin, regardless of
where your apartment is. The link for that is here:
https://service.berlin.de/terminvereinbarung/.

You can also go to the office without an appointment, but if you do that then you need
to show up at the office 1.5 to 2 hours BEFORE the office even opens in order to get a
number for an appointment that day! It goes without saying... take something to read!

To register, fill out the registration form (only available in German), here:
http://www.berlin.de/buergeramt/formulare/?detail=52009).

This link shows the form with English translations:

http://www.berlinfo.com/images/anmeld.gif.

2W
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 Make an Appointment What to Bring
Generally speaking, you can register at any Bürgeramt When you go to register, make sure you bring the following
(administrative office for citizens) in Berlin. To find out documents in addition to your completed registration
where to register and the opening hours go to: form:
http://service.berlin.de/buergerberatung-aemter/. Valid passport (non-EU citizens) or ID card (EU/EEA
citizens)
You can also make an appointment online (http://ser- Visa (if required for entry into Germany)
vice.berlin.de/terminvereinbarung/) to minimize the Your rental contract, lease or tenancy agreement
waiting time (highly recommended!!). When you register, Birth certificate (for some specific countries)
they’ll also mail you your personal tax identification Marriage certificate, if applicable
number. This is why it is SUPER important to make sure Landlord’s confirmation that you’ve moved in - (download
you put your last name on your mailbox at your new flat the form here:
as soon as you move in! If you’re only in a place for a few http://www.berlin.de/formularserver/
months, you can also just include the name of the person formular.php?402544)
subletting to you (and whose name is on the mailbox) on You may be wondering why you have to indicate your
the registration form (i.e. “c/o Schmidt”). religious confession.
This is simply so the tax office knows whether or not you
Keep in mind that you have to re-register if you change have to pay the church tax in Germany.
your address or name during your stay in Germany. Don’t
forget to un-register when you permanently
leave Germany.

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 Opening a Bank Account
Opening a bank account in Germany can be rather confusing, so we’ve put
together a short overview. Normal banks are private institutions, whereas
saving banks fall under the jurisdiction of local authorities. That’s why they
have names like Berliner Sparkasse. Banks and saving banks offer different
services at different prices and conditions. This means account charges and
money transfer charges often vary.

The most common form of account in Germany, whether at a bank or saving

bank, is a giro account, also called a checking account or current account.
Most financial transactions are done using this type of account. Employers
transfer wages to these accounts and you can pay for rent, electricity,
anything really with them as well.

To open a bank account, you’ll need your passport AND resident registration.
This can be a bit of a headache (since you need a German bank account to
get an apartment and therefore your resident registration). You need to be
aware of that and either register at your temporary accommodation first or
talk to the bank and explain the situation. The HR department or
the relocation service (if you decided to work with them)
can help you with that.

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 Online Bank
You can also go the online route and open an account (without a resident registration) at the startup N26:
https://n26.com/
They do a short Skype call with you to verify your identity and then set up your account. You only need your passport
to do this.

If you go for another bank, then it’s not a bad idea to bring your work contract to prove your reliability, in addition to
your passport and residency permit. With these documents, you can just go to the closest bank of your choice and ask
to open a giro account (“Girokonto”).

Be Aware Of
It’s nothing new (or specific to Germany), but before you open a bank account, look into:

How high are the bank charges?

Will you get an overdraft facility and what are the current interest rates?

Where can you withdraw money free of charge?

Will you receive an EC card immediately?

Can you withdraw money from cash machines as soon as the account is opened?

When can you apply for a credit card and how long will it take to process?

There are also consumer advice agencies that provide information on banks.
(Verbraucherzentrale: http://www.vz-berlin.de/home)
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 Choosing a Bank
Cashgroup
Cashgroup includes the big national banks such as Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank as well as
the Deutsche Post’s Postbank. Cash machines are widely available in all larger towns and cities
throughout the country, but cash machines in smaller towns and villages are often limited.

Sparkassen
Each city, town and local municipality has a state-owned bank called a Sparkasse. In Berlin it’s the
Berliner Sparkasse. ATMs from Sparkasse are everywhere in Berlin. Very often you can find them
even in subwaystations. Since every local Sparkasse is a member of the Sparkassenverbund, cus-
tomers can withdraw money without charge at any Sparkasse ATM in Germany. However, you have
to pay 2 € /month for a giro account. More information here:
https://www.berliner-sparkasse.de/privatkunden/konten_karten girokonto_online/vorteile/index-
.php?n=%2Fprivatkunden%2Fkonten_karten%2Fgirokonto_online%2Fvorteile%2F.

Deutsche Kreditbank (DKB)

Some banks, like the Deutsche Kreditbank, Citibank and Comdirect don’t charge a fee for a giro
account and give you a free VISA credit card with which you have free access to all ATMs worldwide.
However, make sure you read the terms and conditions for each account to make sure there are no
hidden fees. More information on the Deutsche Kreditbank here:
http://www.dkb.de/privatkunden/konten-und-karten/.

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