Housing guide in Germany

Available types of housing

• Independent apartment (Wohnung): you rent the whole apartment for yourself.
• Room in a shared apartment (WG - Wohngemeinschaft): you share the apartment with others and only pay your room's cost.
• Student housing (Studentenwohnheim): for students enrolled at universities, usually with subsidized prices.

WG or independent apartment?

A WG is cheaper and easier to get as a newcomer. An independent apartment requires a credit history (Schufa) and more guarantees, making it harder for those who just arrived in Germany.

Main search sites

• ImmobilienScout24.de — the most popular site for independent apartments
• WG-Gesucht.de — best for finding rooms in shared apartments
• eBay Kleinanzeigen — varied listings directly from landlords
• Studenten-WG.de — dedicated to students

Documents usually required

• Passport or residence permit
• Last 3 payslips (or university admission letter for students)
• Schufa-Auskunft (credit report)
• Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (certificate of no prior rent debts)

Scam warnings

• Never pay a deposit (Kaution) before seeing the apartment in person.
• Avoid offers priced far below market.
• Don't send personal data or photos of your documents to strangers online.

After finding the apartment

You must register at the city hall (Anmeldung) within two weeks of moving in. This step is mandatory and necessary to open a bank account and deal with German official bodies.