Back

Housing search

How to find an apartment in Germany

There are different ways to find an apartment. This page shows you which ones work best.

Where can you find an apartment?

You can find an apartment in different ways.

  • Online portals

    Most apartments are advertised on the large online portals. Well-known sites are:

  • Shared flat (WG)

    You can also rent a room in a shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft, WG for short). In a WG you live together with other people. Each person has their own room. You share the kitchen and bathroom.

    You can find WG rooms, for example, on: WG-gesucht 

  • Newspaper adverts

    Many daily newspapers publish apartment adverts. They usually appear on Friday or Saturday. The same adverts are also on the newspaper’s website.

  • Affordable apartments from housing companies

    Rents are often lower at housing companies and housing cooperatives. You apply to them directly for an apartment.

    At a cooperative you usually have to become a member. For this you pay a one-off cooperative share.

    NOTE: These companies often have long waiting lists. Sometimes you wait several months or even years. So keep searching in other ways at the same time.

  • Estate agents

    An estate agent looks for an apartment for you. This person is paid for it. This is called commission (Provision).

    The commission is usually 2 to 3 months’ basic rent.

    Note: You only pay the commission if you get a rental contract through this person. Have the amount of the commission confirmed in writing beforehand.

Important terms in apartment adverts

Apartment adverts contain many technical terms and abbreviations. Here we explain the most important ones. You will then know exactly which costs to expect.

Basic rent, service charges and total rent


The basic rent (Kaltmiete) is the base price for the apartment. It is usually the first number in the advert.
The service charges (Nebenkosten) are added to the basic rent. These are, for example, costs for:

  • water
  • waste collection
  • cleaning of the stairwell and courtyard
  • caretaker
  • aerial or cable TV
  • heating and electricity. These are sometimes included in the service charges, sometimes not. 

Read the advert carefully. Basic rent plus service charges makes the total rent (Warmmiete). The Warmmiete is the amount you really pay every month.
You always transfer the Warmmiete to the landlord at the beginning of the month.
 

Advance payments and back payments for service charges

Nobody knows at the start how much water, heating or electricity you will use. So you pay a fixed amount every month – an advance payment. Once a year the landlord draws up an exact statement. There are two possibilities:

  • You used less than estimated: you get money back.
  • You used more than estimated: you have to pay extra. This is called a back payment (Nachzahlung).

Deposit: security for the landlord

Before you move in, you pay a deposit. This is security for the landlord.

The most important rules on the deposit:

  • The deposit may be no more than 3 months’ basic rent.
  • You pay the deposit once, before moving in.
  • When you move out, you get the deposit back.
  • If something in the apartment is broken, the landlord can keep money from the deposit.
     

TIP: The deposit must be kept in a separate account. You get the money back with the interest it has earned over the years.

Furniture and takeover payments

Most apartments in Germany are unfurnished. It is normal for there to be no furniture in the apartment when you move in. Some apartments do have a fitted kitchen, though. Sometimes the previous tenant leaves furniture or appliances in the apartment. For example a fridge, a washing machine or a wardrobe. If you want to take these things over, you pay money for them. This is called a takeover payment (Ablöse).

NOTE: A takeover payment is voluntary. You do not have to take over the furniture. Feel free to negotiate the price.

Register now

If you live in NRW, we can help you find an apartment. Fill in our form. We will add you to our list. When we find a suitable apartment, we will get in touch and support you with all the further steps.

Go to the form

More tips for finding an apartment 

Finding an apartment has several phases. Click on an area to find out more.

Help & advice

If you live outside our project area, this page lists organisations that can support you.

Get advice

State support

Under certain conditions, the state can cover the rent. Find out more about rent coverage.

Check your options

Was this content helpful?