There are several online property listing platforms, for example: You can also rent a room in shared accommodation, known as a “Wohngemeinschaft”, or WG for short. In shared accommodation, you share the living space with other people. Rooms in shared accommodation are listed on the platform wg-gesucht.de. There are also short-time-rentals. You can only rent these properties for a limited period of time.

Many newspapers advertise accommodation, usually on Fridays or Saturdays. Property listings can also be found on newspaper websites. You can also contact the housing office in your town or community. An estate agent may also help you find suitable accommodation. But remember that if you use an agent, you will have to pay a fee, or commission, which is usually the equivalent of two to three months’ rent.

The advertisements usually tell you how much rent you have to pay for the property. But this is often only the basic rent Glossary . In addition to this, you will also have to pay for utility charges Glossary . These include water rates, cleaning of the communal stairs and waste collection. Heating and power may be included in these service charges, but this is not always the case. Ask the landlord or landlady what is included in the utility charges and if you will have to pay for anything else.

The basic rent, or cold rent, plus the utility charges together are referred to as the total rent or warm rent Glossary . You should pay the total rent into your landlord or landlady’s account at the beginning of every month.

Apartments are usually unfurnished, although they often have a fitted kitchen. You often have to pay for things left behind by the previous tenant, such as a fridge. This payment is known as “Ablöse”, or settlement Glossary .

Landlords or landladies typically ask tenants to pay a deposit. This should be no more than the equivalent of three months’ basic rent. This deposit will be paid back to you when you move out. If you want to find out if your rent is too high, check the rent index Glossary . This index shows you average rent prices in a particular city. Simply search online for “Mietspiegel” along with the name of your city.

At the start of the year, you won’t know how much water, electricity or gas you will use. This is why you make an advance payment for these services each month. At the end of the year, you either receive a refund or you have to pay a little more.

All details about the rent and deposit are outlined in the tenancy agreement. This agreement also tells you whether you have to redecorate the apartment when you move out. When you move in, you often have to sign a handover report. This report documents any damage in the apartment. This ensures that the landlord or landlady confirms you did not cause any existing damage. Be sure to read the tenancy agreement and handover report carefully before signing.

If you want to move out, you usually have to give three months’ notice. This is called the notice period for accommodation Glossary . Always remember this notice period to avoid paying rent for two places simultaneously. To terminate the tenancy, you must send a written letter to the landlord or landlady, typically at the end of the month.

To avoid conflict with your neighbours, remember to follow a few simple rules. Quiet hours are normally between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. During these times, you should avoid noisy activities. Sundays and public holidays are also considered quiet times.

In Germany, there are separate bins for different types of waste: one for paper and cardboard, one for organic waste (fruit and vegetable waste) and one for general waste. Bins are often located in front of the house. You can dispose of your waste here. Glass or electrical appliances, however, must be taken to special collection points or containers. Plastic, cans and packaging waste should be disposed of either in a yellow bag or in yellow bins. In cities, there are often recycling bins for plastic and packaging waste in your neighbourhood. For more information, contact your town council or local authorities.

All other regulations can be found in the house rules. These may tell you whether you’re allowed to have a dog or cat in the apartment, or if you are responsible for cleaning the hallway or pavement in front of the building?