This is your essential guide to finding a place to rent in Berlin! We are all aware of how challenging it may be to locate housing in Berlin. Why? because thousands of individuals, like you, aspire to reside in Germany’s capital.
● Necessities for Living in Berlin
Whether renting a room or an apartment in Berlin, you should always be prepared with the necessary paperwork. Although you could still be able to rent if you don’t have this proof, it’s more likely that they will prefer to rent to someone else who does (and you do not want that to happen).
The more documentation you can provide when applying for a rental is preferable due to the current low availability and high demand.
- A copy of your passport or ID card.
- Payroll for the previous 2 or 3 months or proof that you are solvent.
- A rental application, often known as a Wohnenbewerbung.
- The Schufa: the “Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Kreditsicherung” (thank God for the abbreviation) is a document that you must apply for as proof that you owe no debts to any German bank or institution. If you do not have a German bank account, you can provide bank statements indicating that you always pay your rent on time. This will be necessary in nearly all circumstances, so keep it on hand at all times!
- The deposit, also known as the Kaution, is normally comparable to two or three months’ rent and serves as a promise to the landlord that you will leave the flat in the same condition in which you found it.
- A letter of recommendation or positive references from your former landlord: With the rising demand for apartments in Berlin, you’ll need to stand out from the mass of possible tenants. How? Get references from prior landlords showing that you are an excellent renter!
● Additional Expenses To Consider When Renting A Flat In Berlin
Depending on the terms of the contract, some of the following charges may be included in the final rent. If you don’t, you can be caught off guard, which we don’t want. Do we?
Here are some additional expenditures you may incur in addition to the rent for the apartment:
TV Internet Tax
Power, water, and heating
Gardening and community maintenance
Garbage tax
Insurance for your home and liability
● Renting an Apartment in Berlin
If you want to be one of the lucky ones to get housing in Berlin, you’ll need to get your act together and follow these tips:
- Begin looking as soon as you know you’re going to Berlin.
- Always emphasise that you are looking for an apartment or housing in Berlin whenever you speak to someone. Word of mouth often opens up
a lot of options; you never know who could know someone who is leaving their room in Berlin and is seeking for somebody to share an apartment with in Berlin.
- Do not wait to be requested for documentation; instead, submit as much as necessary.
- Verify the rental agreement with a native German to ensure that everything is in order.
- Take before and after photographs of the unit and room to avoid any complications with the deposit return.
- Be cautious of internet scams: Is it necessary for you to pay in advance? They ask for a copy of your ID so that they can send you the keys so you can go inspect the flat?
- Search for lodging only on reputable websites that provide assurances such as insurance protection, free cancellation, and so on. Urban
Ground is one such trusted brand for Renting Apartments in Berlin.
● Finding a Flat Share in Berlin for Students
Avoid the hot season; the worst time to hunt for housing in Berlin is after the Erasmus application deadline and before classes begin. Always look ahead of time and during the off season!
Provide all necessary documentation (and more) the first time; if they ask you for documents that may be missing, you will be overtaken by the person who submitted everything the first time.
● Consider the Following
As previously stated, Berlin is experiencing a housing scarcity, making it difficult to locate acceptable apartments in the city. But, if you know what you want and have reasonable expectations, you should be able to locate a place to live in about a month.