The possibility of finding an apartment can appear complicated, specifically if you're coming from outside of Germany. On this page, we will offer you a run-down of key info and tips you'll need for securing lodging in Berlin. The market is competitive, so be sure to start early!

We likewise urge you: beware! Do not consent to something prematurely, make big payments without having gotten the key or contract, and do not sign anything without reading and comprehending the entire file first. You can never be too safe, and if it sounds method too great to be real, it probably is.

Location

Where in Berlin should I live?

Finding long-lasting accommodation in Berlin can be challenging, however with the ideal technique and a little bit of versatility, you can secure an excellent location to live. Many trainees face this difficulty, but here you will find all the necessary info to start with your search.

The Hertie School lies in the heart of Berlin, in the Mitte district. Berlin is a huge city divided into twelve districts, each with its own smaller neighbourhoods. If you choose to live near the school and spending plan is not a major issue, focus your search on main areas such as Mitte, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg, Neukölln, Charlottenburg, or Schöneberg. These districts are popular, which often makes them costly, congested, and loud.

However, we constantly recommend our students think about less central districts like Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Spandau, Tempelhof, Reinickendorf, Pankow, Lichtenberg, and Köpenick. These locations use cost effective trainee dorms, are less crowded, supply access to Berlin's greener side, are typically more affordable in all aspects, and you won't have to deal with the traffic sound of the city centre. This will be the ideal description for "Far from Campus, but near everything!".

Remember that Berlin has a well-connected and reliable public transport network, permitting you to reach the Hertie School from practically throughout less than 45 minutes, which suggests you will have the ability to "Study in the heart, however stay/live in the soul". You can check travel times and paths using public transport at www.bvg.de. so you can "Live wise and travel easy!"

Types of lodging and where to discover them

Short-term

Especially as a global student, it might be most convenient to book short-term lodging initially and after that look for something long-lasting as soon as you have gotten here in Berlin. Going for viewings spontaneously and even visiting a place several times is simpler when you're here in person.

You might have a look at the following options:

- Hotels
- Hostels - see, for example, www.hostelworld.com for various hostel listings with user evaluations
- Furnished flat firms - www.uniplaces.com; www.thestudenthotel.com; www.visionapartments.com; www.crocodilian.de; www.lieblingsmieter.de; www.white-apartments.com; www.siliconallee.com; www.nena-apartments.de; www.ota-berlin.de; www.belvillage.com; www.schoenhouse.de; www.smartments-business.de; www.vondereurope.com; www.berlin99.com
- Private short-term rentals - www.wefindflats.com; www.nestpick.com; www.housinganywhere.com; www.exberlinerflatrentals.com; www.coming-home.com; www.tempoflat.de

Long term

There are various options depending on your requirements:

Student dorm rooms - Student halls or Student dorms in Berlin variety from a few of the most economical kinds of housing on the outskirts of Berlin, to elegant newly built dorms with lots of amenities consisted of in the structure. For practically all of these dorms, you may need to get on a waitlist to protect your area. Overall, it's an excellent option if global, dormitory-style living with students from other Berlin universities is what you're trying to find. StudierendenWERK, House of Nations, Berlinovo and StudentHouse Plänterwald in der Eichbuschallee|HOWOGE are some examples.
Modern alternatives to student dorms - Some private housing companies like the The Social Hub, the Urban Club and Neon Wood provide an alternative to standard student dorms. They can function as a mix of trainee lodging, long-term leasings, hotel rooms and communal/co-working spaces. Their contemporary ideas for trainee accommodation and sleek designs can be extremely appealing however also more expensive than routine trainee dorms.
Furnished/unfurnished room in a shared flat ("WG") - A Wohngemeinschaft or WG is a shared apartment. Sometimes students on a year-long exchange or working specialists opting for a task abroad will sublet their spaces and post openings on housing search sites and social networks groups. By subletting a room, you likewise minimize needing to provide the home yourself.

You can likewise create a WG of your own if you're looking for a location with other individuals. You can apply for empty houses that you can then furnish with the people you're moving in with. This might be good if you want to stay put in the exact same apartment or condo throughout your studies and even after finishing. This generally would involve a long-term agreement and as a result more effort on your part, however it would likewise mean not having to think of moving every year. Do note that leasing provided flats can be a lot more pricey than renting an unfurnished one.

You could try browsing Wg-gesucht, craigslist, immowelt, immobilienscout24, ebay-kleinanzeigen or uniplaces.

Once you get to Berlin it can also be beneficial looking in regional newspapers like Berliner Morgenpost, Berliner Zeitung (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and Tagesspiegel (Saturdays). Zitty and Tip are local culture publications which also have some listings for accommodation.
Studio house (furnished/unfurnished) - If you 'd rather have your own space completely, studio apartment or condos are the method to go. These tend to be a bit more expensive given that you 'd be bearing all the expenses. But if your budget plan permits, leasing a studio might be an excellent choice. Similar to provided WGs, leasing pre-furnished studio houses will be more pricey, however you would conserve the trouble of furnishing it yourself.

Possible locations to browse include: https://www.thelocal.de/rentals?city=berlin (an English search variation of Immobilienscout); https:///www.immobilienscout24.de - German only; https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de - German only classifieds; https://www.lieblingsmieter.de; https://www.wohnungsboerse.net; https://www.woloho.com - weekly newsletter of regional listings

Hertie-specific housing markets

After you register at the Hertie School, these two closed groups for our neighborhood are great resources:

Hertie Housing and Marketplace - A Facebook group particularly created for Hertie students to find housing and purchase and offer furniture. It's safe and efficient. Search for much shorter sublets and send out the owners messages as soon as you discover something that fits you.
Hertie School Connect - Our internal networking platform, where members of the Hertie School community post both expert opportunities and housing accessibilities!

Necessary files

What documents do I require to protect an apartment or condo?

Finding a totally free apartment or condo is half the fight won. To prove you can legally lease a place, proprietors in Germany generally wish to see the documents listed below. It's excellent to keep them handy so you can proceed with any potential offers without delay. Note, though, that depending upon the type of housing, not every file may be necessary (particularly for short-term or student housing).

SCHUFA-Auskunft (credit check) - SCHUFA is a German company that supplies official credit checks. Many rental companies and property managers will ask you to provide one, especially if it's for a long-lasting agreement. You can easily use for one on this website. Some short-term and student-focused locations don't need a SCHUFA, however.
Einkommensnachweise (proof of earnings) - Most rental agencies and proprietors will require proof that you have stable, routine income, e.g. your last three paychecks, a verification of scholarships payments, etc.
Bürgschaft (guarantor) - If you do not earn sufficient cash yourself, you can ask someone to be your guarantor and promise to pay your rent if you do not. They would sign a main file and offer an ID to guarantee this (you can discover design templates online or get a kind from the landlord or housing firm).
Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung - Confirmation from your former property owner that you are not in defaults.
Ausweis (image identification) - Your passport or a national recognition card.

Tips: what you ought to know

For your search

These tips might assist you get replies from landlords and make the procedure more fulfilling:

Begin your look for a long-lasting area after you remain in Berlin - This is a sure-shot method of knowing what you're getting into. In-person watchings and meetings with prospective landlords and flatmates will increase your possibilities.
Have a message template so you can send out requests quickly - Time is of the essence here. Keep search engine filters and notices on and your message design template for property managers ready. As soon as a house turns up, make certain to personalise it a bit and hit send!
Take your time preparing the very first message - The only method for possible landlords to get a great idea of who you are is through your very first message. Make sure to include not only the professional side of your life however also the more individual elements. What are your pastimes? How do you invest your spare time? When can you move in? It need not be too long; just an elevator pitch is great.
Include a social networks handle - It can assist to let individuals understand that you're a genuine person. Including social networks handles might increase your opportunities of getting replies. Read the complete advertisement - Often people see pictures of a location and send a message without checking out the description. Not only can you miss essential information in this manner, but likewise often people consist of code words at the bottom for you to utilize in your message so that they know if you truly read the advertisement or are simply sending messages to everybody. Also, it's generally a great concept to read whatever before using, simply so you understand what you're entering.
The lodging must allow for an Anmeldung (city registration). You desire this in order to have actually a signed up address in Berlin and to be able to proceed with other administrative procedures in Berlin (e.g. opening a checking account, making an application for your house authorization if you require one).
Make the apartment hunt your priority - Be relentless and devote at least two weeks, if not a month, to finding an apartment. Also, be flexible with conference times and locations.
Don't forget to follow up - The competitors is high! Each landlord gets many messages. Don't get lost in the crowd, and follow up regularly (not excessively) with locations that you really like. This will keep you on top of an inbox and show that you're interested.
Keep all required documents convenient - Having all files on hand and not investing too much time scrambling for them will assist you fast and flexible when the right place happens.
Find groups and link with individuals - Sometimes you can avoid messaging the property owner if you understand the previous occupant who can put in a great word for you. This saves time and energy for everybody involved. Social network groups can be excellent for this.
Once you've gotten an offer ...

Look out for step-up leases - Sometimes property owners include a step-up lease in their contract, suggesting your rent would increase regularly over an amount of time or per year. Keep in mind of this when you're going through the contract.
If you're wanting to rent an entire apartment together with other students and develop your own WG, be aware that a person or more of you will probably be asked to function as the main tenant or Hauptmieter. The Hauptmieter pays the whole of the rent to the property owner and is therefore also accountable for the other flat mate( s). Therefore, just pay additional attention and believe over who will be the primary tenant.

Navigating German terminology

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides a helpful list of housing-specific German terms here.

Legal resources

In Germany, tenants have many legal securities. Should you deal with problems with your home or have disputes with a landlord, roommate, or neighbour that need legal mediation, you may wish to join one of Berlin's tenants' associations.

For a small yearly cost, members of the tenants' association can consult with attorneys who can examine rental contracts, supply counsel on rental conflicts, and legal recommendations.

Berliner Mieterverein
www.berliner-mieterverein.de

Berliner MieterGemeinschaft
www.bmgev.de

A few other organizations in Berlin supply totally free counsel for renters in Berlin

Mieterservice at ASUM
Multiple places in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Tel: 030 293 431.
[e-mail safeguarded] www.asum-berlin.de.
DE - Free

Kiezladen Zusammenheit.
Dunckerstraße 14.
10437 Berlin.
DE - Free

Mietrechtsberatung.
OH: Tuesday, 18 - 19 Uhr.
No appointment required, just come by (early)

Finding accommodation in Berlin

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- Data policy.
- Imprint

When it comes to discovering accomodation in Berlin, it's extremely important to start your search early.

Please keep in mind that the presented lists are not intended to be extensive and are supplied for informational purposes just. The Hertie School accepts no responsibility or liability for any company listed on this page or for any services offered by them.