Many Germans reside in rented apartments. Housing, especially at the more affordable end of the scale, remains in fantastic demand. The housing market in Germany has altered recently. Housing has actually ended up being limited, especially in larger cities. This likewise has an impact on prices and rents. Nevertheless the amount of rent or the purchase rate for a house depends basically on where (city/state) you live or where the home lies (location/district).

The presently most costly German cities are Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, Freiburg im Breisgau, Ingolstadt, Hamburg, Mainz, Darmstadt and Berlin. In these cities, citizens typically pay over 30% of their earnings for lease.

A summary of the quantity of rent in Germany - broken down by Federal state - can be found on the homepage "Rent level survey in Germany ". The rent level survey corresponds to the typical lease without extra expenses (heating, electricity, water, and so on). The amount of lease can be really various and depends upon where you live.

A cheap apartment on the borders provides not only cost benefits however also the chance to live away from the big city in a green environment. The suburban areas are particularly suitable as a place to live for young families with kids. The city centre can generally be reached rapidly for commuters thanks to the good transportation connections in Germany.

There are no constraints for immigrants when looking for or buying property. You can rent a house or buy a residential or commercial property in Germany from your native land. In doing so, however, you need to observe the legal provisions suitable in Germany that use to the purchase of residential or commercial property (for instance a notarial contract).

For the first few weeks up until you have actually found a home to rent or buy in Germany, you have various choices to find accommodation.

2. Find housing

The most typical method to find an appropriate apartment - be it for rent or for sale - is through real estate ads on the Internet or in relevant papers, which release apartment or condo ads not just in their print versions but also on their own websites. In addition, you will find numerous Internet websites that you can utilize to look for residential or commercial properties across the country and individually, or put an ad there yourself looking for an apartment or condo. Sometimes, instead of the contact details of the landlord or the housing administration, there are likewise code numbers or code letters in the housing provides - so-called codes. You should respond in writing to an advertisement with a box number and send out the letter to the newspaper. This will then be forwarded to the proprietor from there. You likewise have the option of working with a realty representative for your house search. This can be an advantage particularly in cities.

Please note: Please note that if the brokering succeeds, the realty agent can charge a brokerage fee or brokerage commission. But this uses just if you work with the broker. If, on the other hand, the property manager commissions the broker to find potential occupants for his apartment, he needs to pay the commission. The representative's commission for you as a renter may not exceed two net cold leas plus VAT. When offering property, the amount of commission in Germany can be freely agreed, there are no legal requirements. In practice, owners and realty agents base their setting of the commission on the "customary" policies in the particular Federal State.

If you have troubles discovering an apartment, you can call the Housing Office in the city or municipality in which you are looking for a home. Apartments are typically brokered straight there. If this is not the case, the Housing Office staff can assist with useful addresses and information. In a lot of cities and towns there is Social housing.

Please note: As a guideline, social housing can just be leased to individuals with low incomes. To do so, you require a certificate of eligibility for social housing, which you can get from the local Housing Office.

Tip: Since it is not so simple to get a house in numerous regions in Germany, it is important to be well prepared when making an application for an apartment.

3. Tenancy agreement

A basic distinction is made between fixed-term and open-ended occupancy agreements, however limitless contracts are the guideline in Germany. Most occupancy contracts for homes are Model agreements, which differ in scope and do not constantly use to the individual rental scenario. You can discover an example in German and English on the Tenant Protection Association website.

As a guideline, rental agreements are concluded in composing. However, there is no responsibility to do so. Even if the same legal regulations apply to spoken occupancy contracts, a composed occupancy arrangement can be crucial proof in case of a conflict.

Tip: Make certain you have a composed tenancy arrangement that includes all the relevant information. Use the list for the occupancy agreement.

Please note: Before concluding the tenancy agreement, you ought to take a close look at each room with your property manager, discuss any renovation work and likewise examine the performance of the heating, electrical appliances, sockets, etc. If flaws are visible before moving in, these need to be noted in a protocol (Moving-in procedure). Should you see any deficiencies quickly after moving in, please submit these to the property owner in composing as soon as possible.
The same treatment ought to be carried out when moving out of the apartment or condo and the condition of the apartment tape-recorded in a protocol (Moving-out procedure).

4. Rental deposit

A rental deposit is normally concurred in the tenancy contract. The amount of the deposit can be negotiated. The deposit might be a maximum of 3 net lease (leaving out running costs and expenses for heating and hot water supply) (regular monthly rent without additional expenses).

The rental deposit is transferred from the renter to the property owner. The renter might pay the deposit in 3 month-to-month instalments. The very first instalment is due at the beginning of the tenancy. The property manager must separate the cash deposit from his/her other assets in a special account (bank account). Other forms of deposit are possible, but should be concurred between the renter and the proprietor. For instance, a bank warranty, the production of a joint cost savings book, a savings book with a blocking notice are imaginable.

After the end of the lease the landlord needs to repay the deposit with the interest accumulated in the meantime if she or he has no more claims versus the tenant.

5. Rent

The rent for a rented apartment or condo consists of the net lease (omitting running costs and expenses for heating and warm water supply) and the costs for the supply of heating, hot water, potentially gas in addition to the operating expenses for the domestic complex (gross rent). The electrical power expenses are normally billed independently on the basis of a contract that you have to conclude yourself with the electrical energy provider.

If your landlord wishes to increase the lease over time, she or he can only do so under particular conditions.

6. Defects in the apartment

If defects or faults take place in the house during the rental period, the tenant is obliged to notify the proprietor of the defective condition of the home so that he or she can correct the defect.

Tip: If you report a problem to the property manager, it is essential to set a due date to fix the flaw.

Until the problem has actually been treated, the rent might be lowered to a sensible degree. However, get guidance before you lower the lease, as there is a danger of termination by the proprietor in case of an unjustified reduction.

In cases in which the property owner does not treat the problem, you can either contact the local housing evaluation workplace or the building regulations office. You can also make the most of the fee-based guidance from the regional rental association or a lawyer.

7. Termination of housing

Basically, the law distinguishes in between the normal and the extraordinary (instant) termination of the lease. It is extremely tough for property owners to end an occupancy. Tenancy law typically secures the occupant and therefore provides for high official obstacles. Tenancy law obliges the proprietor to give factors for termination, whereby just particular reasons for termination are permitted.
According to the law, different periods of notice use to tenants and proprietors if the occupancy is to be terminated.

Notice duration for occupants:

Tenants can usually end an open-ended rental agreement always with a notification duration of 3 months. The length of stay does not matter.

The notification of termination must remain in writing. In order to end in due time, the proprietor needs to be alerted no later than on the 3rd working day of a month so that the existing month still counts. Saturdays are considered working days.

There are cases in which the tenancy contract for occupants includes shorter notification durations than the regular 3 month notice period. If a 1-month or even 14 day notification duration has been agreed in the contract for the renter, the tenant can terminate the contract with this brief notice. Conversely, this does not use: The proprietor needs to observe the statutory notice durations and should not shorten them in his/her favour.

Please note: If the occupancy arrangement states "waiver of termination" or "exemption of termination", this suggests that termination is excluded for a particular amount of time. The right of termination might be omitted for a maximum of 4 years from the time the agreement is concluded. If the termination exemption runs longer according to the contract, the clause is ineffective, so that the occupant can terminate at any time with a period of 3 months.

Notice durations for the landlord:

- as much as a rental duration of 5 years, landlords who have a factor for termination need to notify of 3 months.

- If the renter has been residing in the apartment or condo for more than 5 years, the notice duration is 6 months.

- If the occupant has been residing in the house for more than 8 years, a notice duration of 9 months uses.


If there are major factors for an extraordinary (immediate) termination, the property owner must provide this in composing.

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8. Housing benefit

Housing advantage is a State advantage to supply financial backing to individuals on low earnings. You can get financial backing from the State to cover your housing expenses. There are two kinds of housing advantage:

- as rent support if you rent a home or a room or

- as mortgage and home maintenance support if you reside in an apartment or house that you own.


You will only get the grant if you are in fact in the Federal territory and are entitled to flexibility of motion according to the law on the general liberty of movement of Union people (FreizüG/ EU). You can just receive housing benefit if you submit an application to the regional housing advantage office, the town, city, district or district administration. You will be offered thorough recommendations there.