How to find somewhere to live in Germany

Moving to a new country is a huge step, and finding somewhere to live is often a top priority for many people. It can be tempting to rush this step and just get yourself a place as quickly as possible, so you can get on with enjoying your new life.

However, finding a place to live is an extremely important part of relocating, and one that needs a lot of consideration to make sure you get the most out of moving to Germany. Everyone will have their own priorities and things to consider - individual business travellers have different needs from families - but here are the key steps you need to take.

1.  Scout out your spot

Start off with the big picture, and take a look at the whole of Germany. Each German federal state has its own unique characteristics, such as food, culture and job opportunities. Take some time to research the different regions and see which match best with your interests, lifestyle and career goals. Then zoom in a little closer.

Within your selected region, take a look at the different towns and cities. Which of them has the facilities that you consider essential for a happy life? That might mean a wide selection of cinemas, easy access to a lake or a big automotive industry.

Then, you just keep zooming in. Which neighbourhood suits you? Do you need to be able to walk to a gym? Do you need off-street parking? How about easy access to a swimming pool? Do you want the buzzy nightlife of a hip, central district or the peace and quiet of the suburbs?

While Google Maps, Reddit and tourism information websites can help a lot with doing this research from afar, it is worth considering paying an in-person visit to some of your shortlisted areas to see if you feel at home there or not. By staying in serviced apartments for a short period, either to scope out a few different cities, or even just different neighbourhoods within a city, you can get a better sense of what it would be like to live somewhere.

2. Find your home

First of all, make sure you have a grasp of some of the housing terminology in Germany, so you know you're looking at the right type of place for you.

• Wohngemeinschaft (WG): Shared accommodation, popular among students and young professionals.
• Mietwohnung: General rental properties, ideal for singles, couples, or families who don't want to share. Typically unfurnished.
• Möblierte Mietwohnung: Furnished rental properties. These are convenient for short stays, but often significantly more expensive than unfurnished places.
• Untermiete: This is sublet tenancy, which is a temporary housing option where you rent from an existing tenant.
• Kaltmiete: Literally meaning "cold rent", this means rent only covers the basic accommodation costs, not including utility bill costs.
• Warmmiete: "Warm rent" means that additional costs such as water bills and waste disposal are included.
• Serviced apartments: The Germans have taken the English for this, and these are places that are fully furnished, with utility bills costed in, and often with extra services such as housekeeping and laundry included.

Many properties are advertised online these days, so you can start your search before arriving in the country if you want to. Sites such as Immobilienscout24, WG-Gesucht and Immowelt are great places to start. However, newspapers are still a treasure trove of accommodation adverts in Germany, and are only available to those already with feet on the ground. You can check the local Mietspiegel, or rental price index, to find out the average cost of accommodation in different areas and how much landlords are allowed to charge.

Taking a place unseen is never recommended, and things can move very quickly in the housing market. This means that being nearby and available to do viewings is essential to get you the best chance of bagging your dream house. By staying in a serviced apartment in your chosen area, you can go to viewings and get to know the area and your potential neighbours a little better as well. 

3. Get moving

Once you've found a place, you need to apply for it. This is likely to be one of your first hands-on experiences of German bureaucracy.

If you're renting, you'll need to provide the landlord with a host of documents. These typically include three months of bank statements, credit checks and even a letter of introduction telling them about yourself. If you're new to the country, you'll probably be asked for proof of why you are there - an acceptance from a university or a job offer, for example.

If your contract is in German, which it probably will be, make sure you understand it before signing anything. Visiting your local tenants' association (Mieterbund or Mieterverein) is a good step if you are unsure about anything in your contract.

Bear in mind, unfurnished apartments in Germany are extremely unfurnished. You will very likely have to fit your own light fixtures and kitchen units. Given the time it can take to secure and furnish an apartment, it often makes sense to have temporary accommodation arranged for your first month or two after arriving in Germany.

Staying in serviced accommodation means that you can relax in a comfortable home, where you can cook and do your laundry, perhaps where someone else will even take care of the cleaning, rather than having to live out of boxes and eat takeaway while waiting for new flooring and kitchen to arrive.

Being there counts

As with most things in Germany, the in-person touch can go a long way. From finding apartments in the papers to getting to know a neighbourhood, being physically present in the locality can make a huge difference to how successful your house-hunt is. Staying in a hotel for weeks is out of most people's budget, but a serviced apartment can make for a great start to life in Germany.

Not only do you get more space than in a hotel, you can also get more facilities. From a full kitchen where you can cook up a storm to a home-office space or from a gym in the building to an amazing roof terrace - it all depends on what you decide you want. Not to mention, there is never an extra fee for wi-fi, and plenty of places have parking or let you bring your pet along! Who needs hotels when you can have a real home away from home?