Hanover is the capital and the largest city in Lower Saxony. With a population of over half a million, Hanover is the thirteenth largest city in Germany. Living in Hanover will be rewarding as the city, although compact, has so many different sides — on the one hand, you have an abundance of shopping and dining out or nightlife options, and on the other hand, you can relax on sandy beaches and city parks or indulge into the culture in one of Hanover's museums.
Besides being a tourist destination and a popular city among expats, Hanover is also a student city with six higher education institutions. All these factors automatically mean that accommodation in Hanover is in high demand, and therefore, finding your next home may be a challenge, which we can help you overcome by offering some valuable information. Keep reading!
Reasons to set up home in Hanover
Hanover looks to the future, and the city and its surrounding areas aspire to become climate-neutral in the next few years. To achieve this ambitious goal, Hanover has launched a funding program for small and medium-sized businesses that wish to transform their operations with sustainability projects and take responsibility for protecting the climate. What a great and encouraging initiative for expat entrepreneurs who have been considering starting their businesses in Germany.
Overall, the city has a vivid community vibe, caring about and protecting the rights of its vulnerable members, such as seniors, people with disabilities, refugees, and children. For example, once a year, the self-help day takes place when residents can obtain information about self-help groups meeting to discuss issues such as addiction, chronic disease, mental illness, and more. Also, Hanover is known for being a diverse city, a reputation that it has gained through hard work on integration and immigration challenges on the basis of coexistence, participation, and giving a voice to marginalized groups and individuals. Last but not least, Hanover has a very active citizen service office where residents can address their concerns and receive support and guidance.
From Hanover, you can access the rest of Germany easily by any means of transport, and that is one of the reasons Hanover is a popular destination among travelers, students, expats, and business travelers. It's also easy to get around Hanover on bike, on foot, by bus or train, and, of course, by car. As the city is making efforts to be as green as possible, it is encouraging to know that 50 percent of residents' everyday journeys are made by public transport, bike, or on foot. Whereas the remaining 50 percent is done by car, there's a tendency for this number to decrease.
Good to know:
Hanover has 23 lakes with dedicated bathing sites, which are characterized by excellent and good quality waters. Hence, during the warm months, every day can feel like you are on holiday!
Popular neighborhoods in Hanover
Stretching over some 204 km², Hanover is divided into thirteen districts and 51 neighborhoods, including Mitte, Vahrenwald-List, Bothfeld Vahrenheide, Buchholz-Kleefeld, Döhren-Wülfel, Nordstadt, Oststadt, Südstadt, and Kronsberg. The city center is also the city's business hub, hosting big firms, local authorities such as the town hall, and many shopping malls and boutiques.
Südstadt has much to offer, with numerous shopping facilities for daytime entertainment and nightclubs for a vivid nightlife. The area is also very popular among young families, as it has the highest number of schools in Hanover. Südstadt is well connected by subway, and the main railway stations are only a few stops away. Also, the city's biggest lake, Maschsee, a great recreational area ideal for jogging, swimming, and skating, is close by. The lake hosts a legendary three-week summer festival called Maschseefest every year, where bands pay tribute to world-famous musicians.
To the north of Südstadt is List, with its historic buildings near the main shopping street Lister Meile and numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants. The district is characterized by late 19th-century townhouses and garden architecture arrangements of green and multipurpose areas. It is also connected to a city forest by the name of Eilenriede, which is a green area very popular among athletes and those who seek relaxation. The region offers good infrastructure and convenient transport connections.
Hannover-Linden is favored among students. It is multicultural and home to Limmerstraße shopping street, numerous clubs, and bars. Here, the local events and nightlife are a great alternative to the busier city center. They are part of the culture and are known by the term Limmern, meaning “meet up”, or snacking with friends or neighbors and enjoying the day together.
Nordstadt, Herrenhausen, and Zoo are quieter but equally popular neighborhoods. Rent in these areas is convenient, especially as Nordstadt is very famous for the Leibniz University Hannover, which is one of the best public universities in the area. Herrenhausen is fantastic for visiting the Herrenhausen Gardens, which will help you understand the past of the Kingdom of Hannover. Hanover Zoo is the fifth oldest zoo in Germany, and, other than being a fun place, it works to conserve some endangered animal species, such as the polar bear.
Rent prices in Hanover
Unlike many German cities, rent prices in Hanover are very affordable, although they vary according to the type of housing, neighborhood, and comfort level. In general, you will need an average of 800 euros for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center and about 600 euros for the same size but on the outskirts of Hanover. Prices vary a lot depending on the building and the neighborhood. Alternatively, if you want to reduce your living costs, you can consider living in a shared house or renting a room in a home.
Finding accommodation in Hanover
It is important to start the apartment search on time, as the city is also a student city, meaning that at the beginning of each semester, there's a lot of movement in the real estate market. Therefore, we would suggest starting your search from inside your network. If you don't have any contacts in Hanover (yet), you can create some by engaging in Expat.com's friendly Hanover Forum, where seasoned expats can guide you and give you insights by sharing their experiences and tips. Also, you can begin your search directly at Expat.com's Housing in Hanover registry. One important thing to keep in mind during your research is that some houses' rent includes all utility bills (Warmmiete), whereas other house owners ask you to pay your bills on top of the rent price (Kaltmiete). Either way, this will clearly be stated in the rental contract.
When viewing a place, you should have all the necessary documents with you, such as your German residence permit, employment contract or most recent payslip, and possibly a recommendation letter from the owner of your previous rental. Some house owners may even ask for SCHUFA Auskunft, which is your credit score, but this is not available for newcomers in Germany. Viewing apartments in Germany is almost like interviewing for a job, as due to the high demand, house owners are in a privileged position and have the luxury of picking and choosing among many possible tenants. Thus, it is crucial to make a good first impression and create rapport with the person who is showing you the place.
To book the place, you should usually pay a two- or three-month deposit, which you will get back at the end of your tenancy if you have not made any damages, and the rent for the first month. After successfully finding a place in Hanover, it is important to understand the rules of the condominium and organize all the documents related to the new address. If you wish to terminate your contract before its official end date, you have to do so in writing at least three months before your planned day of evacuation or at the agreed time with the house owner. Otherwise, you may lose your deposit.
Attention:
Due to the high demand, scammers are not scarce in Germany. Never pay money in advance if you have not seen the place, met the house owner or a reliable contact in person, and have not signed a contract.
Useful links:
Hannoversche Allgemeine local newspaper
Home Company real estate agency
Zeitwohnen Hannover real estate agency
Studentenwerk Hannover for student accommodation
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
