Rent apartment in Germany | E&V (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to find rent in Germany? ›

Finding a house to rent in Germany is difficult for foreigners. It can take up to 6 months to find a decent place to rent in Germany. Check multiple property rental platforms daily to find an apartment to rent. Be the first to message the landlord.

It would be hard to get by for less than €1,000 a month in Germany, and this rises to around €1,500€ - €2,000€ in the cities where rents are higher. Students can usually cover living costs for around €850 a month. Travel is fairly affordable, even in big cities, and food and drink prices are average for Europe.

Nevertheless, foreigners who do not receive Schufa information can also prove their solvency in another way. For example, you could bring a letter of reference from your foreign bank, or even better, from a German bank account. Another option is to voluntarily offer a guarantee.

The government subsidised the building of social housing with grants, guarantees and tax incentives. And because rents remained affordable for so long, people were happy to continue renting for long periods.

With rental prices well below 10 euros per square meter of living space, these cities, including East German and West German metropolises, not only offer affordable living but also a high quality of life. According to Wohnung-jetzt.de, living is cheapest in Chemnitz, Gera and Gelsenkirchen.

Housing Costs in Germany

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center of the Bavarian capital ranges from USD$1,227-$1,500, while a three-bedroom rents for USD$2,201-$2,690.

Tenants in an accommodation establishment who do not yet have a residence in Germany do not have to register as residents in the rented apartment if the rental period is less than three months.

Also, landlords are typically not disposed to negotiate rental prices and there is often a preference for in-person property visits. It is also essential to plan for the likelihood that obtaining permanent accommodation may take months, necessitating temporary housing and, thus, an increased rental expense.

According to the law, you are entitled to receive a free Schufa report once a year ("Datenkopie nach Art.

What is a bad Schufa score? ›

Generally, a SCHUFA score above 90 is considered to be a good one. However, you should know that a SCHUFA score of 95 % and below already indicates a certain level of risk to financial institutions, companies offering financing terms for products and of course, most importantly landlords.

The sooner you start looking for a rental apartment, the better. The demand for apartments in Germany is high, especially in major cities such as Berlin, and Munich and properties are often snapped up quickly. It's advisable to start searching for your dream home at least three months before you plan to move.

400,000 new apartments per year — an unattainable objective

With the supply of housing in Germany so low, and demand so high, rents are also skyrocketing.

For instance, the average rent in Germany is €942 per month. However, when you search homes for rent in Berlin and Munich, expect an average rent of €1,745, whereas, in Frankfurt and Stuttgart, you'll find a lower average rent of €920 per month.

House Quality. In Germany, houses are usually built to last, you usually only buy one house in your life, maybe even to hand it on to the next generation(s). That means, German houses usually have a rather high quality, but are expensive, so most people rent and save some money before buying.

To be eligible for this permit, you must have lived in Germany for at least five years (or three years if you are married to a German citizen). You must also be able to provide proof of your employment, financial resources, and German language skills.