Finding an apartment in Germany

The German rental market moves fast in the big cities, and understanding the vocabulary and process before you start looking will save you weeks.

Where to search

• ImmoScout24: the largest listings platform, used by agents and private landlords alike; a paid tier speeds up your applications.
• WG-Gesucht: originally for shared flats (Wohngemeinschaften), now also lists full apartments; strong for shorter-term and furnished options.
• Facebook groups and local Telegram channels: especially useful in Berlin and Munich, where private landlords often skip the big platforms entirely.
• Immowelt and Immonet: smaller but worth checking, particularly outside major cities.

Warm rent vs. cold rent

Listings quote two prices:

• Kaltmiete (cold rent): the base rent only, excluding utilities.
• Warmmiete (warm rent): cold rent plus a Nebenkosten (utilities) advance payment covering heating, water, building maintenance, and waste. Electricity is almost always separate from both.

Always budget against the warm rent, and ask for the last Nebenkosten settlement (Nebenkostenabrechnung) if you can. It shows whether the advance payments have historically covered actual costs or left the previous tenant with a large annual top-up bill.

The deposit (Kaution)

Landlords can legally request up to three months' cold rent as a deposit, usually paid in three monthly instalments after signing. Insist on a separate, interest-bearing escrow account (Kautionskonto). Some landlords will offer to hold cash directly, which is legal but harder to recover cleanly at move-out. Ask your letting agent or landlord to confirm this in writing.

SCHUFA for landlords

Nearly every landlord will request a SCHUFA credit report before signing, alongside a Selbstauskunft (self-disclosure form covering income, employer, and household size) and proof of your last three payslips. As a newcomer without a German credit history, come prepared with an employment contract and, if possible, a guarantor or several months of rent as a buffer.

Viewing an apartment (Wohnungsbesichtigung)

Group viewings with 10–20 other applicants are common in competitive cities, so arrive early, bring your documents pre-assembled (SCHUFA, Selbstauskunft, payslips, ID copy), and follow up with the agent by email within hours, not days. Check for mould around windows, test water pressure, and ask directly about heating type (Fernwärme, Gasheizung) since it affects your utility costs significantly.

Key clauses in the lease (Mietvertrag)

• Kündigungsfrist: notice period, typically three months for tenants regardless of lease length.
• Staffelmiete or Indexmiete: clauses allowing scheduled or index-linked rent increases; read these carefully before signing.
• Renovierungsklausel: obligations to repaint or renovate on move-out; many older clauses are unenforceable, but check current case law or ask an advisor.
• Haustierklausel: pet permissions, often requiring separate written consent.

The Nachmieter system

Many leases, especially shared flats, get passed directly from tenant to tenant through a Nachmieter (successor tenant) arrangement: the outgoing tenant finds their own replacement and hands the lease over directly to the landlord, sometimes skipping the open market entirely. Networking in local expat and university groups is often the fastest way into these listings, particularly in tight markets like Munich.

Anmeldung and housing

You cannot complete your Anmeldung without a signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord confirming your move-in. Make sure your lease or a separate confirmation document includes this, since some short-term or subletting arrangements don't provide it, which will block your registration. For the full appointment checklist, see our Anmeldung guide. Click here to download the sample forms, including the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.