Finding accommodation in Berlin (or any other city for that matter) will be your first step towards settling into your expat life in Germany. You need a permanent home address to open a German bank account, access the healthcare system, receive your salary, and do any other bureaucratic activity.
Accommodation in Berlin is becoming more scarce and costly as the population is increasing, and it may take weeks or even a couple of months of viewing and negotiating to find the right accommodation for you. Note that one of the first questions owners will ask is where you work and what your income is (in some cases, they may ask to see your pay slips or contract). In this article, we will give you some tips about what to expect when searching for accommodation in Germany and how to increase your chances of finding a place to call home!
Things to know before searching for accommodation in Berlin
In Germany, there are two types of rent — cold rent (Kaltmiete) and warm rent (Warmmiete). The former is the rent you pay excluding the utilities (Nebenkosten), whereas the latter is the rent including utilities. Hence, when you hear the price, you should immediately clarify with the owner of the property whether it includes bills (e.g., electricity, water, gas, internet, television tax) or not. Other charges may include council taxes, collection of rubbish, and the cleaning of common areas. Also, when skimming through classifieds and notifications for rentals, keep in mind that when a property is advertised as a three-room apartment, it actually includes the living room, which counts as a room unless it is specified otherwise (e.g., three bedrooms and one living room). It is common for apartments to have a storage room in the basement; however, often, the owners use this space for storing their personal belongings, so check if you will have access to it.
Good to know:
For a flatshare or a houseshare in Berlin, you will need to pass an interview during which you will have a chat with the tenants of the house about your job, interests, and lifestyle. Note that you are not the first, and you won't be the last person to be interviewed for this place, as the demand is extremely high.
Choosing your neighborhood in Berlin
To choose the right neighborhood in Berlin for you and your family, you should consider the levels of noise, access to public transport, closeness to parks and nature, parking availability, and crime rates. Even though each neighborhood in Berlin is more or less self-sustained, it is worth checking in advance what compromises you may end up making if you choose one over the other. Berlin's 96 or so neighborhoods fall under its 12 boroughs (Bezirke), which are equivalent to towns and are governed by the Senate of Berlin. Each neighborhood has its own character.
Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg, and Mitte are among the most popular and central neighborhoods in Berlin, especially among artists and creatives. Friedrichshain, situated along the river Spree, is famous for its bars, clubs, and pubs. Kreuzberg, which used to be famous for its punk scene in the 1980s, is nowadays a multi-cultural mix of old and new. Prenzlauer Berg has already become bourgeois as prices continue to rise due to the many young families who have settled there. If you prefer quieter and more peaceful neighborhoods, you are likely to appreciate Mitte, which has an abundant cultural and historical heritage thanks to its museums and memorials, zoos, a lake, flea markets, and the Tiergarten, where you can relax with friends and family. Charlottenburg is a lively and sophisticated neighborhood with theatres and museums, boutiques and shopping malls, cafes, and gardens. Steglitz, which is close to the city center, hosts vast shopping complexes, cafes, and many office buildings.
Potsdamer Platz, for its part, is a commercial and business district with huge futuristic shopping malls, shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Neukölln, located southeast of Berlin, is nicknamed Little Istanbul because of its multi-cultural background, as well as restaurants and bars where you can enjoy Oriental gourmet dishes. Many artists live here, but you will not find the same high-end shopping that other neighborhoods (i.e., Charlottenburg) offer. Tempelhof is another popular area, with many wanting to enjoy the huge airport park, as is Schöneberg, which has strong ties with the LGBT community. Less popular with expats are Mahrzahn, Hellersdorf, Hohenschönhausen, and Reinickendorf, mainly due to their distance from the city center.
What you will need to book a place in Berlin
To secure a place, you should be able to provide some documents, as well as make some payments (i.e., deposit and first month's rent). Hence, it is important to have some savings aside to cover the expenses of the move, which may also include buying furniture, installing the internet, and hiring a moving company. The deposit (Kaution) is usually three times the price of the monthly rent (bills are excluded), and it will be fully refunded to you when you give back the keys to the apartment at the end of your contract — unless you have done any damages to the house.
Attention:
Beware of scams, which are not uncommon in the Berlin real estate market. If the owner of the house claims, for example, that they are outside Germany and, therefore, they will send the keys by mail after you pay a deposit, consider this to be a scam.
Moving into your new house in Berlin
As soon as you move in, you have to register your address at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt) to obtain a tax ID, Anmeldung (registration), and start receiving mail; failing to do so goes against national law. Note that in the case of sublets or temporary rentals where the owner of the house is not aware of the sublet, the tenants may tell you that it is not possible to register the address because the limit of people already registered cannot be exceeded. In this case, you should keep in mind that living there, even if it is for a short period of time, is illegal, and if the owner of the house finds out, they have the right to ask you to leave.
Good to know:
Some apartments are owned by a housing company (Hausverwaltung), meaning that problems with your apartment (e.g., plumbing issues, pest control, etc.) will be resolved by the company. Not all housing companies are equally responsive and offer high-quality customer service.
Rent prices in Berlin
Berlin has various accommodation options, including apartments, studios, rooms in shared apartments (WG or Wohngemeinschaft), student accommodation, and detached houses. Prices do not only vary spending on the neighborhood and size of the property but also on how new or old the building is. The average rent price for a central bedroom apartment in Berlin is 1,200 euros per month, whereas the same size in the outskirts is 850 euros.
How to find accommodation in Berlin
Nowadays, most of the housing searches are done online. We recommend starting your search from Expat.com's housing in Berlin section and posting accommodation-related questions to the dynamic and interactive Berlin forum. In the forum, you can get a better idea of the types of housing options available, the latest real estate trends, and the most up-to-date average prices. Registering with a real estate agency in Berlin may improve your chances of finding accommodation as they will try to match your criteria with a database of options. If you're already in Berlin or know other expats there, it's a good idea to use your network, as many people in Berlin find accommodation through word-of-mouth.
Good to know:
While you are looking for a permanent apartment, you can stay in temporary accommodation, which is furnished and paid for by night but often works out much more expensive.
Useful links:
WG-Gesucht – Shared flats
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.
