Last updated on  October 24, 2026

When moving to Germany for study or work, by far the most challenging task is finding accommodation where to register your home address, a mandatory step that is in Germany known as “Anmeldung”. Finding a decent flat to rent in large German cities is often more difficult than finding a good-paying job. Just like in a job market, when searching for accommodation in Germany you are competing against locals and foreigners alike. In theory, you could spend your first couple of weeks in a hotel or a hostel, but to start a normal life in Germany, you are required to register your residential address with local authorities. And to do that, you need to quickly find a more permanent place to stay than a hotel.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is that you will spend your first couple of nights after arrival in a hotel or a hostel, a holiday apartment or with friends and soon move into a fully furnished short-term rental apartment where you can stay for months while looking for a long-term solution. With a bit of effort and luck you can manage to arrange your short-term rental before arrival in Germany and thus skip the first step (i.e., a hotel stay or similar accommodation).

Home Rental Landscape in Germany

Germany is a densely populated country with housing shortages typically in the largest and the most popular cities such as Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt or Cologne. Generally, 50% of Germans are homeowners while the other 50% live in rented properties. Private individuals own more than 60% of all residential rental properties in Germany. The rest is owned by housing companies, housing associations, housing cooperatives and local councils.

For Germans it is not uncommon to live in rented properties for their entire lives. Besides that, many Germans spend years and even decades living in the same rented property. Therefore, the rental contracts are usually open-ended as tenants are expected to stay for quite a number of years.

Since most tenants in Germany stay in the same property for years, flats and houses are usually rented unfurnished. That is, often there is no built-in kitchen while electric wires are sticking out of the ceilings with no light bulbs attached to them. Hence, for tenants in Germany it is common to make significant investments in the apartment they are renting, such as buying a new kitchen set, including all kitchen appliances, light fixtures and even laying their own floor.

Nevertheless, short-term rentals of fully furnished housing units are also available for those who are planning to stay in Germany for less than a year. However, furnished short-term lets are usually for a predefined period (usually 3-12 months) and are significantly more expensive than long-term home rentals. On the other hand, a contractor’s room is an inexpensive short-term rental alternative for groups of temporary workers.

A popular form of apartment rental in Germany is “Wohngemeinschaft (WG)”. It is when several individuals unrelated by kin jointly rent and occupy a single apartment or house. A “Wohngemeinschaft” usually translates as ‘shared flat’ in English. Shared flats offer flexibility and affordable costs. Besides that, it should be noted that subletting is legal and quite common in Germany.

Rooms are counted differently in Germany than, for example, in the UK or the US. A living room, bedroom, nursery as well as a study count as rooms whereas a kitchen, hallway and a bathroom are excluded. Also, a 3-room flat is not the same as a 3-bedroom flat. It is just a 2-bedroom flat. However, a 1-room flat can be both, a regular single-space studio apartment or a much more spacious studio apartment with a separate kitchen, so read the listings carefully.

A home rental listing in Germany can be managed by different persons. It can be a landlord (either an individual owner or a property manager representing a housing company), a real estate agent, an outgoing tenant searching for a new tenant to replace them or a tenant looking for someone to share a flat with or to sublet a room to. So, always make sure you know who you are dealing with.

Home Rental Prices

Rent is for most foreigners living in Germany by far the biggest cost of living, swallowing up to 40% of their disposable income. Needless to say, rents for flats around Germany vary widely between 6 euros per square meter and well over 20 euros per square meter per month, depending on the location, age of the building and condition of the apartment. The national average is around 8 euros per square meter but in large cities be prepared to pay way more than that. Salaries for the same jobs are usually higher in metropolitan areas than in small towns and rural areas to help compensate for increased cost of living. To check the current home rental prices in a particular German town type ‘Mietspiegel city name’ into Google search. Alternatively, you can use these two resources: Deutschlandatlas and Immobilienscout24.

Student Housing

It goes without saying that student dormitories (or student halls of residence) are by far the most popular and most affordable form of student accommodation in Germany. What’s more, the rent which is in the range of 250-500 euros per month already includes all utilities such as heating, water and electricity. However, waiting lists for rooms in student dormitories are often for several semesters and, therefore, students must also explore other options such as those outlined above. Nonetheless, apply to the local student services (‘Studierendenwerk‘) immediately after receiving an acceptance letter from the university so as not to miss the nearest deadline. Luckily enough, it is possible to book a room in a German student dormitory from abroad. If you need advice or help, feel free to contact your university’s international office (‘akademisches Auslandsamt’).

In addition to dormitories, some foreign students in Germany stay with a host family or with senior citizens who are letting rooms to students at reduced prices or completely for free in exchange for help with day-to-day activities that students are providing to them. The latter is known as living for help (“Wohnen für Hilfe”).

Landlord’s Confirmation of Residence

When moving to a new property in Germany your landlord should sign you a confirmation of residence also known as tenancy confirmation. This document is in German called “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” and it is absolutely essential so that you can register your address (“Anmeldung”) at the local citizen’s office (“Bürgeramt”). The citizen’s office will issue you a “Meldebescheinigung” which translates as city registration certificate. With this document you will be able to apply for a residence permit and tax ID, register for health and social insurance and open a bank account.

Documents Needed to Rent a Flat in Germany

Renting a flat on your own is the most challenging of all home rental options as you will have to prove that you are a reliable and financially strong individual to pay the rent all by yourself. Since in Germany it is immensely difficult to kick out tenants, your landlord expects to see sufficient proof of your financial stability. Often said, applying for a flat in big German cities is like applying for a job. You will have to make a strong first impression and communicate fast. So, make sure you have all the necessary below listed documents ready at hand before applying.

• Proof of identity – a valid passport or a national ID card
• Residence permit to show you are legally in Germany. For new arrivals a passport with an entry visa or just a passport for those who do not need a visa. As an alternative, an admission letter from the university or an enrollment certificate can be used by students.
• Proof of income – last three salary slips or for new starters in Germany an employment contract stating their salary. As a rule, your net salary should be at least three times the base rent (“Kaltmiete”). Official tax returns can be used as an alternative proof by freelancers. Students, trainees and people with low incomes can use a rental guarantee (“Mietbürgschaft”) from their sponsor such as a friend or relative living in Germany or an employer.
• SCHUFA credit report – as a newcomer to Germany you will have no SCHUFA status (see the SCHUFA explanation below). As an alternative proof you can use a similar credit score from your home country or bank statements from your home bank.
• Tenant self-disclosure form (“Mieterselbstauskunft”) helps landlords assess your suitability as a tenant on the basis of personal and financial information you disclose in this form. (If this document is required, you will receive the form from your landlord or real estate agent during an apartment viewing or by email.) An example can be downloaded here.
• No rent arrears confirmation (“Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung”) from your previous landlord confirming you have no overdue rent payments (not always required but helpful). You can download a free copy here. Since you are coming from abroad you can use a similar reference letter from a previous landlord in your home country.
• CV (usually not necessary but helpful)
• Motivation letter (not necessary but helpful)
• Private liability insurance (“Haftpflichtversicherung”) is usually not explicitly required but it is a strong signal to your landlord that you are ready to compensate them for potential damages.

Important German Rental Terms

“Anmeldung” refers to city registration, the first important step when settling down in Germany. All residents in Germany must register their home address with the local residents’ registration office (“Meldebehörde” at the local “Bürgeramt”). To do that you will need a “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” from your landlord. (See the section ‘Landlord’s Confirmation of Residence’ above).

“Ablöse” is a financial compensation the new tenant pays to the outgoing tenant for investments they have made in the apartment. Sometimes the property rental ad is managed by the outgoing tenant who is looking for somebody to take over from them. If the flat was originally rented without a kitchen and the outgoing tenant bought and installed the kitchen set, they may leave it in the flat if you pay them the “Ablöse”. If you refuse to pay, the outgoing tenant may continue looking for somebody else who will agree to pay.

“Kaltmiete” vs “Warmmiete”: When discussing the rent in Germany you will hear two different terms: “Kaltmiete” (‘basic rent’, literary ‘cold rent’) and “Warmmiete” (‘inclusive rent’, literary ‘warm rent’). The basic rent is the money you pay per month for renting the living space only. The inclusive rent is the basic rent plus “Nebenkosten”. The “Nebenkosten” consist of building operation and maintenance costs as well as some utility costs such as water or heating. However, internet, electricity and gas are usually not included as you will sign separate contracts with suppliers of these services and pay directly to them.

“Mietkaution”: In Germany, just like elsewhere in the world, when moving in you are asked to pay a security deposit (literally a rental deposit) to cover potential damages and/or unpaid bills. By law, the security deposit may not exceed three monthly base rents. This amount is usually paid into a special bank account (blocked savings account or escrow account) set up in accordance with § 551 of the German Civil Code and it is fully refundable including accrued interest after moving out, provided there are no damages or overdue bills.

“Rundfunkbeitrag” (colloquially a GEZ fee) is a mandatory public broadcasting fee used to finance public TV, radio and digital media. It is paid in the amount of 18.36 euros per household per month (as of 2026) no matter how many people live in the household. If another person in your household is already paying the public broadcasting fee, you can add their contribution number when registering for it (the registration is mandatory for all residents aged 18 and older).

SCHUFA is a credit agency that tracks financial creditworthiness of all registered residents in Germany. Your SCHUFA credit score tells the landlord how likely you are to pay your bills on time. Many landlords and, especially, real estate agents require it from potential tenants. SCHUFA will start collecting your financial data automatically once you have registered your address in Germany, opened a bank account and signed contracts with utility companies that will be sending you the bills. You can request your SCHUFA credit score at any time (you are entitled to one free credit report per year, whereas instant certificates for landlords cost 29.95 euros). It typically takes three to six months of data collection to build your first credit score. If you request your SCHUFA certificate too early, that is, as a newcomer to Germany, you will get an empty report with no score, which is absolutely normal.

“Wohnungsbesichtigung” or flat viewing in English is not just an opportunity to inspect the property but also your chance to make a good first impression. In large German cities it is common to be one of several dozen applicants. So, you must stand out. Dress up nicely and bring all the necessary documents with you. Make a list of questions to ask to show serious interest. To better estimate the running costs ask to see the energy performance certificate (“Energieausweis”) and a recent breakdown of service charges. Negotiating the rent amount or the size of the security deposit is not recommended. Make a follow-up call a few days after the viewing to confirm your interest.

“Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” is an important document signed by your landlord used for city registration. (For more details see the ‘Landlord’s Confirmation of Residence’ discussed above in a dedicated section.)

“Wohnungsübergabe” (apartment handover) takes place in the flat you will be renting where you get the keys after signing an “Übergabeprotokoll” (handover certificate). This certificate contains listings of all meter readings and pre-existing damages. It is recommended to take pictures of the flat as well. Also make sure you can get your name on the letter box and doorbell.

German Rental Property Scams

For a foreigner, especially a newcomer to the country, finding accommodation in Germany can be a highly stressful experience. Scammers know that you are under time pressure and try to use it to their advantage. Although it is impossible to prevent every possible fraud incident, you should be familiar with at least the most common home rental scams to steer clear of them. These articles explain how to spot usual tricks used by rental scammers: Reddit, Germanpedia and the European Consumer Centre Germany.

Useful Resources to Help You Find Accommodation in Germany

There are plenty of online and offline resources where German properties for rent are advertised. They include newspapers and magazines (both, in print and in digital format), real estate agencies and real estate portals, community groups in social media and property adverts on the local community boards (universities, supermarkets, large employers, etc.). Some platforms are primarily used to post adverts for short-term accommodation while others are more suitable for finding long-term rentals.

Temporary Shelter for the First Couple of Days

Most foreigners arriving in Germany spend their first nights with their friends or in a hotel, hostel, B&B or a holiday apartment. Such accommodation can be easily arranged from abroad but it won’t provide you a much needed residential address that can be used for legal purposes. Some of the platforms where you can find and book short stays are listed below:

The Best Resources for Short-Term Accommodation

Short-term accommodation (typically for 3-12 months) in fully furnished high standard flats is an excellent option for many foreigners after their arrival in Germany. This type of rental is also called “Wohnen auf Zeit” because it is agreed for a fixed-term. Just like a short holiday stay, it can be arranged from abroad, if necessary. But, the major benefit of this kind of accommodation is the address it gives you which you can use for city registration. This is a relatively care-free but expensive form of accommodation. (An inexpensive low-standard alternative is a contractor’s accommodation known as “Monteurszimmer”, which is designed for small groups of temporary staff such as contractors or agency workers.) Always make sure that the landlord is ready to sign you a confirmation of residence (“Wohnungsgeberbestätigung”) before ordering. If there is no search filter for landlord’s confirmation of residence, look for it in the description of the particular offer. Different platforms listed below have different payment conditions, guarantees and methods of scam prevention, so choose carefully.

Finding Long-Term Home Rentals in Germany

When looking for a long-term apartment rental in Germany you have two basic options. That is, you can rent a flat on your own or join somebody in the form of the so-called “Wohngemeinschaft”, shortly “WG”, and share a flat (and a rent) with them. Sharing a flat is obviously the more affordable and often also more flexible choice from those two but, unfortunately, none of them can be arranged from abroad. Students have a couple of other, more economical options as well, such as rooms in student dormitories, finding a host family or staying with elderly citizens looking for assistance. For each of these types of accommodation there are different places where to look for offers, such as those listed below:

Resources for Student Accommodation

Conclusion

Finding permanent accommodation in Germany can be a rather challenging task, especially when moving from a foreign country to one of the popular German cities. You should be aware of this potential challenge but shouldn’t let it discourage you from pursuing your dreams. Therefore, start looking for accommodation in Germany early enough so that you can make the first arrangements before you leave your home country. Particularly, if you are a third-country citizen, you should make sure that you can quickly find a semi-permanent or permanent place to live where to register your residential address. You need a city registration to have your residence permit issued and start a normal life in Germany.