🚀 Brand New eBook written by us: Get Your Keys! The Expat's Handbook to Renting in Germany. Start reading Chapter 1 for Free: 👉 www.simplegermany.com/get-your-keys-yt/
For anyone out there who is either considering or currently planning a move to Germany (especially from North America), I highly recommend subscribing to this channel. These two are spot on in every single one of their videos. I moved here from California over two years ago, and I wish I'd found this channel beforehand. They are excellent. Jen and Yvonne are practical, no-nonsense content creators who do not waste time prattling on about useless things. They're also extremely likeable.
This video just became my bible! I'm moving to Berlin at the end of August. Thank you so much for putting this together. Yours has been the most clear, concise and organized information I've found so far!
Hi, did you have any luck in finding the apartment and settling in, in Berlin? If so, do you have any concrete advise, my spouse is moving in Munich next month and I am following suit so any info will be welcomed and appreciated.
A additional information: Larger companies and authorities too, are mostly aware of the flat situations in the bigger cities in Germany. Often they give support to find a flat, sometimes they offer for a introducing period (6~12 month) a company owned flat. You should ask.
I simply followed your guide before attempting to rent a new house. After compiling all the documents you suggested, our 1st attempt was a success, the house owner liked us and we will sign the contract very soon 🥳 I also showed to them that I can speak some German language and in the process of learning it. Thank you so much!
Wow, this is a great video. I can only imagine the editing that went into this, not to mention the research, filming, and everything else. I get overwhelmed editing 10 minute videos sometimes, lol! Thanks for your great content!! Please keep it up!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I wish I could like this video multiple times so that more people will be able to see it! This is such useful information.
Maybe you should mention that the confirmation over email or telephone is legally binding. So, if as a tenant, I give a confirmation to the landlord over an email that yes I want to rent the apartment, I cannot later step back and tell the landlord that I do not want to rent the place if I haven't signed the physical contract. A friend of mine had to deal with a lawsuit because of this.
Hey Ankur, thanks for the insight. That is in fact true, depending on the type of rental contract, you don't necessarily need to sign a physical contract (however, we would say that that is still the norm). This article in German gives great insight on the legal side of when a rental contract is binding or not (in German, but translatable with Google Chrome): www.mietrecht.org/mietvertrag/mietvertrag-per-e-mail-whatsapp-sms/ Generally speaking, don't agree to a purchase, unless you really want it 😉
Great job! I can add something. I'm not sure if it's a berlin thing or east german thing, but here(berlin) the landlord could also be a cooperation(Genossenschaft) where you don't have to pay a provision, instead you have to pay a "community fee"(Genossenschaftsbeitrag). A fee to become a part of the community. It's mostly a bit higher, but the rent is smaller. So you save money in the long run and they are always permanent contracts. But it's hard to get such an appartment, because today you have to know someone who already is a part of the community to enter. That's not because they are high society 😄, just because you nearly can't find an affordable appartment anymore in berlin. So they are mostly full. As an example i had 2 appartments bevor in a neighbour district called Prenzlauer Berg. The first was 32 qm 1 room(+kitchen, +bath) appartment for 280 € cold rent. I got thrown out because the owner wants to make it an airbnb tourist appartment. I don't know what it's price now, but i'm sure, more than i had to pay. The second was 2 room(+ kitchen, +bath) 38 qm for 320 € cold rent and now it's refurbished and you have to pay 840 €/month cold rent. Maybe you can understand the protests better now. And yes, you are right that sometimes you have scam. Like 1 room, no kitchen, no bath, 25qm for 500€/month cold rent. Don''t keep it! Even pets have a better treatment. Now back to the cooperation. I had to pay 900€ in the first place. That was the fee to enter the community. But my rent is 240 €/month cold for 34 qm (+kitchen, +bath) and i can get internet up to 250MBit(not included in the rent). So it's hard to get in, but it's worth it.Have a nice day you 2. Edit: When you leave the cooperation you get the money back. Like it's with the provision.
Thank you so much for that insight! Those prices from the past and the Genossenschaft sound like a dream 😅. Indeed, I have heard of them here as well, but just like you said, it is super hard to get in, so for foreigners it is even harder. Maybe something worth achieving when wanting to stay in Germany longer, but for a first apartment I think it is kinda hard.
@@simplegermany It wasn't always this hard to get in. But more and more people have the same problem in Munich and Hamburg too. So yes, i think the idea building comunities to own houses is spreading. Sadly still not enough.
What do you expect when there's too many people and no counter to capitalism core principles which in its Essence will always aggregate the wealth with the rich- in other words gross inequality. You see when I was born there were two and a half billion people on earth and now it's almost four times the population. It's an overgrowth of humans
Maybe the rise of the price is because the State intervened in the market instead of leaving it to the free forces of the market: supply and demand. Otherwise, it has no sense that Berlin is so expensive when it has so much unemployment and other cities keep prices relatively stable.
I would like to share that I found a good flat (3 rooms and kitchen included) in Munich after 2 weeks arriving here for work, which is a record! according to what my coworkers told me. Now looking forward to bring my family quickly. Thanks for the tips.
Thank you! Thank you! Your site and these videos. I'm doing it. I'm moving to Germany. I've wanted to do it for years. So many barriers explained here on this channel
Excellent job this is the best video of renting in Germany there is in TH-cam, chest pains in this video I liked it subscribed and watch all the rest of the videos in your Channel keep up the good work soon I will be in Germany greetings from a Venezuelan living in Peru
Thank You Ladies. Eventhough I don't plan on moving to Germany, the info was very nice to learn about. I really enjoyed the knowledge that you shared. I was stationed in Germany in the 70's and 80's so I enjoy any info about German life. Thanks again.
Wow, I am planning to move to Germany and I have been exploring this topic for quite some time, and half of these things nobody even mentioned. Big thank you. I think everybody moving to Germany and in search of apartment there should see it!
Hola Edgar, based on your previous comment, we are looking into Ukrainian subtitles. Is your wife Ukrainian by any chance? If so, would she be willing to double check the quality of the translations once they are done? 😊
Thank you for making such an in-depth video explaining everything, it helps ease my fears. I wish to move to Germany so I've been researching basically "all that could go wrong" since I have anxiety and I don't want to forget about something or do something illegal without knowing 😖. I will watch the Schufa video as well because I want to rent a small apartment. Keep up the great work! 👍🏻
Hi, I wanted to ask, Do I still need SCHUFA when i have never came to germany berfore and comming for the firest time for studies and have a blocked account.
Hi Jen & Yvonne. Thank you for your videos. I've been planning to work and move to Germany in the near future. Thank you for your efforts in making these videos for us expats. This helps us a lot.
pheww... never knew I will be watching this video again very carefully and even write things down. Thank you very much! leveling up from student to work in Germany is definitely the next level seriousness! O:)
This is so detailed and well explained 🥺! I wish I came across this video earlier 😭. For the past two weeks, I have been trying to rent a flat in Dusseldorf (I am from London) and it has been so hard because barely people replied to my email! Now I am better prepared and I will try to call them immediately 💪! Thank you so much! This is a must watch! 🙌
Thanks for all your great videos. Would you consider making a short documentary on acquiring a kitchen? Maybe if you have a friend or family member who's in the process of getting one? Finding a builder, design process, fees and permits, etc?
Hallo ihr Beiden! Ich (deutsch) mein Freund (italiener) lebend in der Schweiz schauen immer eure Videos und freuen uns sehr auf jedes Neue. Wir sprechen englisch miteinander und von daher passt das super. Es freut mich, dass ich ihm auch so mehr über mein Land in dem ich gross geworden bin, sowie die Sprache zeigen kann. Ihr macht das grossartig und seid sehr sympathisch. Vielen dank und weiter so ;)
Even I'm a German it was so interesting for me. Thanks for the good work 😃🌹 Germany allows up to 11 sorts of "Nebenkosten". This ment hundreds of €uros different, sometimes.
The need for a Schufa score differs a lot between cities or even districts. My last three landlords didn't demand it, instead they wanted to see my latest payslip to make sure I was able to afford the flat. I have also seen requests for the three latest payslips, or a disclosure of your financial situation, which is just a form which you have to fill in without giving any proof (lying about any information given there might be considerd a fraud though, should your landlord ever go to court over e.g. missed rent payments, afaik).
Thank you for compiling this invaluable information. Your video, in conjunction with the guide on your webpage, has been beneficial in decrypting the intricacies of the renting matter in Germany. I'd like to offer a suggestion for enhancement. While the guide is comprehensive for individuals seeking permanent relocation to Germany, it could be further enriched by incorporating a chapter tailored to those moving for temporary work assignments spanning a couple of years. It seems that opting for a Furnished Short-Term Rental Properties is the logical choice in such scenarios. However, the term "Short-Term" can be somewhat confusing upon initial reading. Saludos desde Venezuela
I was going to suggest something like that. This video made me wonder if it is possible to rent a furnished flat in Germany for more than just a couple of months. If someone is planning to stay there just for one or two years and then move to another country, it is kind of pointless to seek for a regular place like the ones described in this video.
Wow 🤯, more than helpful I would say! Amazing video! ❤️ I will need to watch this one more than once, because there are so many things to do. Please more videos about this and if I could ask for another videos like this one but about energy companies that use clean energy, like solar for example... Wich one is better and more reliable, I would love that. I live in Spain and had some problems with some energy companies, it was a real nightmare, but now, finally I found some good honest, reliable energy company, so I think this is a great topic for people to know more about those companies. Danke schön! 🌹😘
Thanks for your suggestion! We will record a video in the future about energy companies. In the meantime, you can check out our written guide about the topic: www.simplegermany.com/best-electricity-provider-germany/
We have moved to Frankfurt 1 week ago from India and I have been following your blog/Videos from last 6 months. It was definitely helped us and guided us to get started. Is there a guide or plan to do a video on furnishing an unfurnished apartment? Where to shop (new/second Hands), what would be approx cost to setup a home, how does installations works in Germany (restrictions from landlord, etc)
Thanks for the request. We will add your ideas to our list of possible videos to record. In the meantime, IKEA is a popular place to buy new and affordable furniture. For used things, a flea market near you might be an interesting choice. The costs highly depend on what items you would like to purchase and the quality.
I furnished a one bedroo. apartament without kitchen for around 6000€, everything was new. Another apartament costs from mainly ebay second-hand: 600€ bedroom furniture with new mattress n topper, office and a chair 250€ (new), monitor 300€ (new). Sofa 150€, sofa table 50€, tv console 200€, tv 650€, Komode 30€. Philips hue smart lamps plus light fixures 400€.
Hi there, I wish you guys well in Frankfurt. May I ask how you got around the SCHUFA situation when you just arrived in Frankfurt without the record? Did you also use the website recommended by Jen and Yvonne?
"Heating costs are not included" often applies to apartments which are heated by using natural gas. The tenant must conclude an individual contract with the gas supplier; similar as for electricity which is not included in the "Nebenkosten".
Thank you veeeeeeeeery much, we want to rent an apartment, now, and we don't know nothing , in our country it's very easy to rent an apartment, but there is very different
Finally got around to watching this just to be knowledgeable in the process, even though I have no inclination to ever move there (yet). But ach, mein gott my head is spinning with all that info! Such detailed and useful stuff despite how much there is, thank you!
This is the first time to comment on any video, but i have to say both of you are amazing. And you have shared a really useful information. I will memorize it by heart, thank you very much
Thank you for this very informative video! This provided me all necessary information I need beforehand! I'll be relocating to Cologne from the Philippines at the beginning of May and the struggle is R-E-A-L. 😅
Dears, thank you so much for such conclusive and detailed content. Your charachters are adorable as well. Makes the viewer feel safe, if that makes sense :) Cheers.
Ladies, thank you for another outstanding video with a lot of details and information! Could you try to explain, why do german people tend to rent accommodation rather than buy it, e.g. taking out mortgage at 2% and down-payment of 5-10% of cost? Just a simple calculation for price of rent before covid and war: - 700 euro/month kaltmiete - 12 months = 8 400 euros - 40 years = 336 000 euros. That time a flat could be bought for 100-200 tEuro, which is already economically efficient. In the end, you have your own flat. When you rent, you just lose your money and in the end you have neither flat, nor money. Nothing to pass to your next generation (if have so). Besides, I did not take into consideration rental price increase, which is definitely exists no matter what happens in the world. P.S. Together with my wife, in our 38, outside Germany, we paid off three mortgages (flat, house and another flat) and cannot imagine how to live in rented flat paying a bunch of money to unknown person.
Good question! This is a very complicated question :) The vast majority of Germans rent a flat rather than buy one and there are a few good reasons for that. We will add this topic to our list of ideas for possible videos :)
That highly depends, whether the AirBnB host will give you a Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung. As we state, most don't and without it you can't do your Anmeldung, which is crucial do get your life on tracks in Germany.
Thank you. I couldn’t have said this better myself except my German is not at that level yet 😂. I agree Jen and Yvonne are amazing and their videos are outstanding.
Wow 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 what an amazing video. You both are outstanding as always. I am new to your channel and continue to be impressed and in awe of your productions; its content and both your abilities to communicate well and be entertained. Vielen Dank 🙏
Can u make a video please on how to get things figured out after renting an empty appartment ? lets say for 2 married couple who wants to buy furniture and stuff. where to buy from and stuff like that
I was rejected for a wohnung in Leipzig , for not speaking German , However I would say Leipzig is one of the best cities for non german speaking expats to start. clean, friendly , and city not cramped not busy and not shaby, Very clean and very friendly
Heyy, im planing to move to Leipzig too! but im afraid my not so great german skills would hinder my search for an apartment. Have you managed to find an apartment? If so, can I know from which platform?
@@tenshoneyskin4500 I hope a smooth transition. I found my first apartment in Wg gesucht (it is not only for WGs). but immoscout you have more options, and they know how to handle a contract for the newcomers. other platforms would be lwb , but they mostly have einbaukuche flats . I suggest for the first 3 to 6 months a furnished apartment.if you didnt find anything, an einbaukuche (full-kitchen)
Its a very useful channel, in which we all get very important information. I find its more difficult to get a Wohnung than getting a job from employer. There are so many applicant and letter to House honour and offcourse the letter or massage should be in Deutsch and many hidden factors are there. So it would be great if you add some questions in your Q&A section related to stay after first time arrival to Germany. There another one important matter , If one has not able to show the perfect perticular address, he also could not be able to register for the city. Questions like: where person with family for at least 2-3 months easily stay and able to do all related formalities like, city registration , account oppening etc? In Germany the hotels cost are very high and also its addresses are not allowed for city registration. German gov also strict about the rules that one should be done his city registration with in given time frame. Question: How can someone apply for Wohnoung from India? What are the necessary documents are required for application? Some of documents may not available when applied from india. Will it accepted by Honour? It would be great if you or someone share solution of those hidden difficult situeation. If person are not capable to find an Wohnoung or other, then city registration are not possible and finally back to the home country. Although You have shared some website for temporary stay, but those are not working for all areas.
Thanks for your message! Yea, it’s always this chicken / egg situation with the Anmeldung and finding an apartment. Have you tried Airbnb? If you are moving to Germany alone, another popular solution would be to live in a WG (shared flat) for a few months until you get everything sorted. We have listed the documents generally requested in our guide (www.simplegermany.com/renting-in-germany/#Documents_Needed_For_Renting_In_Germany) When I moved to Germany from Hungary, I found a room in a WG and only needed to show my work contract with the German company because I did not have any other German documents yet. So it’s also up to the landlord how flexible they are. Hope that helps and good luck with your search!
So glad I found you guys on youtube! I'm moving to Siegen in the next couple of months and your videos are very informative, thorough and to the point. Excited for the next chapter. Do y'all have videos on Renting vs Leasing a car in Germany as an expat? Thank you for all that you do
Hi Stanford! We are glad our videos have been helpful to you! 😊 Regarding your question of buying vs leasing, we have to give an 'it depends' kind of answer. Whether buying or leasing a car is the right choice for you depends on your lifestyle and your plans for the vehicle. Some things to point out about leasing a car are: * Contracts for leasing a car are for a set amount of time. It is really hard to get out of that contract. So if your leasing contract is for three years, you can rarely return the car before that time. However, if you only want to have a car for two years, then returning a leased car is less of a hassle than selling your own car. * If you lease the car you have to pay for every damage yourself, no matter how small it is. If you own the car, you can decide if you want to fix the damage or just let it be. *The good side of leasing a car is that you always get new cars to try out 😋 For buying a car we have video: th-cam.com/video/oKZRwWMyY4Q/w-d-xo.html The best of luck to you and for your move!
Germans harsh the barbeque and mowing lawns on Sunday. America we mow on Sunday because we have weekend off not a work day mostly and barbeque is party or family activity. Apartment balcony I can kinda understand but most Americans don't trip on that unless it gets crazy.😄
I would love to see a video about Americans purchasing cars in Germany And also about the different types of insurances to include liability and automobile
Hey Lucie, we have already done a video on how to buy a car in Germany and car insurance 😊 th-cam.com/video/oKZRwWMyY4Q/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/Mvy7a0LN3lU/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for such a detailed video! I love the fun conversational style of this channel. I’m a student who will be moving to Berlin soon and I have found through online groups a few WG rooms, could you please advise on what things I need to look out for? Would I need the SCHUFA and Anmeldung before being able to rent? A little confused about the process as a student 😅
Thanks a lot! The Schufa is not being asked for all WG rooms, essentially it depends on what the landlord wants. You can only do the Anmeldung once you moved in to a place in Germany 😉
What happens if you move in an apartment with a build in kitchen and end up for 10 years and then decide to move out. Of course the kitchen is not in its older state so you pay for the kitchen ? Incase it has some issues ?
Regular tear and wear should be normal. Whether or not you have to pay for repairs when things stop working depends on what is stated in your rental contract.
There is another aspect about renting in germany that, in my opinion, could be worth to be mentioned - but I am not able at all to tell the english name for it, so lets say it in german: it's the "genossenschaftliches wohnen". Presumably it is of different popularity in the different regions of Germany, but the principle deserves attention in my opinion. At least in the longer term you can definitely save money as a tenant in this way.
Hey !! Great video, came in very helpful.I just got a job in essen and don't wether to live there or dusseldord or Koln. Do you guys have a video comparing these cities or just off the top of your head would recommend one for someone below 30 yold.Thanks !!
It highly depends on what you are looking for. Rent will be a lot cheaper in Essen than in Dusseldorf or Cologne. However, the latter are bigger and have more nightlife, so it depends on what you are looking for.
If you do not receive any information about the Nebenkosten how can you "adjust" your usage? For example, let us say I use too much water, how can I know that I should probably shorten my shower time if I do not see the bill? And when you do Nebenkostenabrechnung, are you handed the whole year bills, or should you trust the landlord?
It depends on how your landlord provides you with the Nebenkostenabrechnung. For us it comes via a company called Techem and we can see the consumption of water for the entire house. In our case that number just gets divided by the number of apartments so it is not our actual consumption.
Thank you for the great video, I learnt a lot. I am a undergrad student from Thailand that will be doing a research internship for 3 months at the uni of bremen in January. However, their studierendenwerk only accepts students. Can you please give me a recommendation for getting an apartment?
Hey Leo! That sounds like an exciting adventure coming up for you. :) We have a massive amount of content around all things renting. Have a look at our guides: www.simplegermany.com/housing-in-germany. Good Luck!
![What to WEAR for German winters [so you don't FREEZE] 🥶](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HcHZFqVgZjM/mqdefault.jpg)
![What to WEAR for German winters [so you don't FREEZE] 🥶](/img/tr.png)
🚀 Brand New eBook written by us: Get Your Keys! The Expat's Handbook to Renting in Germany.
Start reading Chapter 1 for Free:
👉 www.simplegermany.com/get-your-keys-yt/
For anyone out there who is either considering or currently planning a move to Germany (especially from North America), I highly recommend subscribing to this channel. These two are spot on in every single one of their videos. I moved here from California over two years ago, and I wish I'd found this channel beforehand. They are excellent. Jen and Yvonne are practical, no-nonsense content creators who do not waste time prattling on about useless things. They're also extremely likeable.
Thanks for your kind feedback! :)
I’m so glad I found them as well. I’m in the states and planning to move to Germany in a few years.
I've been watching for a few months now. Headed to Germany tomorrow from the US. Priceless information here.
@@Undisclosed86467 Good luck! I hope you love Germany as much I do.
This video just became my bible! I'm moving to Berlin at the end of August. Thank you so much for putting this together. Yours has been the most clear, concise and organized information I've found so far!
Thank you so much for your feedback! We are very happy that putting in the effort is so valuable to you! 😊 Good luck on your move!
That’s what being German and livening in Germany does to you...😅
Hi, did you have any luck in finding the apartment and settling in, in Berlin?
If so, do you have any concrete advise, my spouse is moving in Munich next month and I am following suit so any info will be welcomed and appreciated.
Lucky you. I really love Berlin.
How are you finding Berlin, now??😁
I love these women. 👏🏼 Thank you.
A additional information: Larger companies and authorities too, are mostly aware of the flat situations in the bigger cities in Germany. Often they give support to find a flat, sometimes they offer for a introducing period (6~12 month) a company owned flat. You should ask.
I simply followed your guide before attempting to rent a new house. After compiling all the documents you suggested, our 1st attempt was a success, the house owner liked us and we will sign the contract very soon 🥳
I also showed to them that I can speak some German language and in the process of learning it.
Thank you so much!
Wow, that is amazing to hear!! Thanks so much for sharing! We are super happy that our content prepared you that well! Enjoy your new home! 😊
Wow, this is a great video. I can only imagine the editing that went into this, not to mention the research, filming, and everything else. I get overwhelmed editing 10 minute videos sometimes, lol! Thanks for your great content!! Please keep it up!
Thank you for the appreciation :) All the best with your apartment hunt!
Great Video! As a German in London, I can say, without doubt, finding a good place in Germany takes time but far less headache....
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I wish I could like this video multiple times so that more people will be able to see it! This is such useful information.
You’re very welcome Stephanie! thanks for liking the video 😋! We wish you all the best in your apartment hunt🍀
Maybe you should mention that the confirmation over email or telephone is legally binding. So, if as a tenant, I give a confirmation to the landlord over an email that yes I want to rent the apartment, I cannot later step back and tell the landlord that I do not want to rent the place if I haven't signed the physical contract. A friend of mine had to deal with a lawsuit because of this.
Hey Ankur, thanks for the insight. That is in fact true, depending on the type of rental contract, you don't necessarily need to sign a physical contract (however, we would say that that is still the norm). This article in German gives great insight on the legal side of when a rental contract is binding or not (in German, but translatable with Google Chrome): www.mietrecht.org/mietvertrag/mietvertrag-per-e-mail-whatsapp-sms/
Generally speaking, don't agree to a purchase, unless you really want it 😉
Even in Dutch the first floor (1e verdieping) is the flor abobe the ground floor (begane grond) a level below is Sous terraine or kelder.
This video is just perfect. I came back here to clarify some details that I forgot, very helpful.
So far the best video guys. this was a lot to me. Please upgrade your mic efficiency as it is not optimum for most of the people. Thanks and Thumbs Up
I really like your channel and feel so thankful with you ladies for those first seven tips. Liebe Grusse!!
Great job! I can add something. I'm not sure if it's a berlin thing or east german thing, but here(berlin) the landlord could also be a cooperation(Genossenschaft) where you don't have to pay a provision, instead you have to pay a "community fee"(Genossenschaftsbeitrag). A fee to become a part of the community. It's mostly a bit higher, but the rent is smaller. So you save money in the long run and they are always permanent contracts. But it's hard to get such an appartment, because today you have to know someone who already is a part of the community to enter. That's not because they are high society 😄, just because you nearly can't find an affordable appartment anymore in berlin. So they are mostly full. As an example i had 2 appartments bevor in a neighbour district called Prenzlauer Berg. The first was 32 qm 1 room(+kitchen, +bath) appartment for 280 € cold rent. I got thrown out because the owner wants to make it an airbnb tourist appartment. I don't know what it's price now, but i'm sure, more than i had to pay. The second was 2 room(+ kitchen, +bath) 38 qm for 320 € cold rent and now it's refurbished and you have to pay 840 €/month cold rent. Maybe you can understand the protests better now. And yes, you are right that sometimes you have scam. Like 1 room, no kitchen, no bath, 25qm for 500€/month cold rent. Don''t keep it! Even pets have a better treatment. Now back to the cooperation. I had to pay 900€ in the first place. That was the fee to enter the community. But my rent is 240 €/month cold for 34 qm (+kitchen, +bath) and i can get internet up to 250MBit(not included in the rent). So it's hard to get in, but it's worth it.Have a nice day you 2. Edit: When you leave the cooperation you get the money back. Like it's with the provision.
Thank you so much for that insight! Those prices from the past and the Genossenschaft sound like a dream 😅. Indeed, I have heard of them here as well, but just like you said, it is super hard to get in, so for foreigners it is even harder. Maybe something worth achieving when wanting to stay in Germany longer, but for a first apartment I think it is kinda hard.
@@simplegermany It wasn't always this hard to get in. But more and more people have the same problem in Munich and Hamburg too. So yes, i think the idea building comunities to own houses is spreading. Sadly still not enough.
What do you expect when there's too many people and no counter to capitalism core principles which in its Essence will always aggregate the wealth with the rich- in other words gross inequality.
You see when I was born there were two and a half billion people on earth and now it's almost four times the population.
It's an overgrowth of humans
Maybe the rise of the price is because the State intervened in the market instead of leaving it to the free forces of the market: supply and demand. Otherwise, it has no sense that Berlin is so expensive when it has so much unemployment and other cities keep prices relatively stable.
I would like to share that I found a good flat (3 rooms and kitchen included) in Munich after 2 weeks arriving here for work, which is a record! according to what my coworkers told me. Now looking forward to bring my family quickly. Thanks for the tips.
wow, thats wonderful! coud you please share the list of documents which you provided and approximate price for appartment?
Thank you! Thank you! Your site and these videos. I'm doing it. I'm moving to Germany. I've wanted to do it for years. So many barriers explained here on this channel
🎉🎉 Do it!! 😊
In Poland and Greece the washing machine was in the bathroom. In both countries dryers are not a thing.
Your channel is an absolute god send. ❤
Thank you very much you two. This video was very helpful to find an apartment.
Excellent job this is the best video of renting in Germany there is in TH-cam, chest pains in this video I liked it subscribed and watch all the rest of the videos in your Channel keep up the good work soon I will be in Germany greetings from a Venezuelan living in Peru
WE LOVE THE SMOOOOOOOTHLY THING!!! Thank you for all the info, I just landed here and you are my lifesavers!
Thank You Ladies. Eventhough I don't plan on moving to Germany, the info was very nice to learn about. I really enjoyed the knowledge that you shared. I was stationed in Germany in the 70's and 80's so I enjoy any info about German life. Thanks again.
Wow, I am planning to move to Germany and I have been exploring this topic for quite some time, and half of these things nobody even mentioned. Big thank you. I think everybody moving to Germany and in search of apartment there should see it!
Wow thanks for the feedback D C! We wish you all the best of luck in your move here 🍀
This is really good! Where were you when I moved to Germany in '97?!
Gracias Jen y Yvonne. I am from El SALVADOR lived 2 years with my wife in Ukraine. Now in Germany. Watching all your videos
Hola Edgar, based on your previous comment, we are looking into Ukrainian subtitles. Is your wife Ukrainian by any chance? If so, would she be willing to double check the quality of the translations once they are done? 😊
Thank you for making such an in-depth video explaining everything, it helps ease my fears. I wish to move to Germany so I've been researching basically "all that could go wrong" since I have anxiety and I don't want to forget about something or do something illegal without knowing 😖. I will watch the Schufa video as well because I want to rent a small apartment.
Keep up the great work! 👍🏻
We are happy we could ease your fears 😊 - Y
Hi Liza, how was your landing..tell us your experiences... :)
Hi, I wanted to ask, Do I still need SCHUFA when i have never came to germany berfore and comming for the firest time for studies and have a blocked account.
I love you both, Yvonne so straight forward and apt, and Jen so funny and playful❤ your videos arre the best
Hi Jen & Yvonne. Thank you for your videos. I've been planning to work and move to Germany in the near future. Thank you for your efforts in making these videos for us expats. This helps us a lot.
pheww... never knew I will be watching this video again very carefully and even write things down. Thank you very much! leveling up from student to work in Germany is definitely the next level seriousness! O:)
Yay!!! That is a great step to take and you will rock it!! 💪
This is so detailed and well explained 🥺! I wish I came across this video earlier 😭. For the past two weeks, I have been trying to rent a flat in Dusseldorf (I am from London) and it has been so hard because barely people replied to my email! Now I am better prepared and I will try to call them immediately 💪! Thank you so much! This is a must watch! 🙌
Tha la for your feedback! All the best of luck in finding that apartment! 🙂
Love you guys so so much
You’ve helped me a lot during this process.
I do really appreciate it.❤
amazing as always.
Please make a video about student dormitory and how to apply for them.
That varies highly from university to university. Best ask yours directly about their offer for student dormitory.
Very neatly explained. Just amazing.
Thank you very much guys. You are producing very high quality contents. GREAT JOB!
I love you two ❤
Thank you 🙏🏻
Thanks for all your great videos. Would you consider making a short documentary on acquiring a kitchen? Maybe if you have a friend or family member who's in the process of getting one? Finding a builder, design process, fees and permits, etc?
Great idea! It’s part of the video we hope to record soon-ish 🙂
I heard that now owners are obliged to provide a kitchen, which I think is fair becazse who wants to buy one in each apartament?
Hallo ihr Beiden! Ich (deutsch) mein Freund (italiener) lebend in der Schweiz schauen immer eure Videos und freuen uns sehr auf jedes Neue. Wir sprechen englisch miteinander und von daher passt das super. Es freut mich, dass ich ihm auch so mehr über mein Land in dem ich gross geworden bin, sowie die Sprache zeigen kann. Ihr macht das grossartig und seid sehr sympathisch. Vielen dank und weiter so ;)
Das freut uns sehr zu hören 😊
Thank you for such a detailed video with valuable information for people like me just relocated to germany simply better than my relocation agent.
Even I'm a German it was so interesting for me.
Thanks for the good work 😃🌹
Germany allows up to 11 sorts of "Nebenkosten".
This ment hundreds of €uros different, sometimes.
The need for a Schufa score differs a lot between cities or even districts.
My last three landlords didn't demand it, instead they wanted to see my latest payslip to make sure I was able to afford the flat.
I have also seen requests for the three latest payslips, or a disclosure of your financial situation, which is just a form which you have to fill in without giving any proof (lying about any information given there might be considerd a fraud though, should your landlord ever go to court over e.g. missed rent payments, afaik).
Thank you for compiling this invaluable information. Your video, in conjunction with the guide on your webpage, has been beneficial in decrypting the intricacies of the renting matter in Germany.
I'd like to offer a suggestion for enhancement. While the guide is comprehensive for individuals seeking permanent relocation to Germany, it could be further enriched by incorporating a chapter tailored to those moving for temporary work assignments spanning a couple of years. It seems that opting for a Furnished Short-Term Rental Properties is the logical choice in such scenarios. However, the term "Short-Term" can be somewhat confusing upon initial reading.
Saludos desde Venezuela
I was going to suggest something like that. This video made me wonder if it is possible to rent a furnished flat in Germany for more than just a couple of months. If someone is planning to stay there just for one or two years and then move to another country, it is kind of pointless to seek for a regular place like the ones described in this video.
Wow 🤯, more than helpful I would say!
Amazing video! ❤️
I will need to watch this one more than once, because there are so many things to do.
Please more videos about this and if I could ask for another videos like this one but about energy companies that use clean energy, like solar for example... Wich one is better and more reliable, I would love that. I live in Spain and had some problems with some energy companies, it was a real nightmare, but now, finally I found some good honest, reliable energy company, so I think this is a great topic for people to know more about those companies.
Danke schön! 🌹😘
Thanks for your suggestion! We will record a video in the future about energy companies. In the meantime, you can check out our written guide about the topic: www.simplegermany.com/best-electricity-provider-germany/
We have moved to Frankfurt 1 week ago from India and I have been following your blog/Videos from last 6 months. It was definitely helped us and guided us to get started.
Is there a guide or plan to do a video on furnishing an unfurnished apartment? Where to shop (new/second Hands), what would be approx cost to setup a home, how does installations works in Germany (restrictions from landlord, etc)
Thanks for the request. We will add your ideas to our list of possible videos to record. In the meantime, IKEA is a popular place to buy new and affordable furniture. For used things, a flea market near you might be an interesting choice. The costs highly depend on what items you would like to purchase and the quality.
I furnished a one bedroo. apartament without kitchen for around 6000€, everything was new. Another apartament costs from mainly ebay second-hand: 600€ bedroom furniture with new mattress n topper, office and a chair 250€ (new), monitor 300€ (new). Sofa 150€, sofa table 50€, tv console 200€, tv 650€, Komode 30€. Philips hue smart lamps plus light fixures 400€.
Hi there, I wish you guys well in Frankfurt. May I ask how you got around the SCHUFA situation when you just arrived in Frankfurt without the record? Did you also use the website recommended by Jen and Yvonne?
Thank you for putting up this beautiful and amazing content. You probably dont know how many people you have helped with this. Thank you soo much.
Hi, I'm moving to Dusseldorf in a month or two & this video is pure gold! Danke schön!
"Heating costs are not included" often applies to apartments which are heated by using natural gas. The tenant must conclude an individual contract with the gas supplier; similar as for electricity which is not included in the "Nebenkosten".
Hey Gerd, thanks so much for that insight and addition. Now that you mention it, you are right, it slipped my mind beforehand 😅.
Thank you veeeeeeeeery much, we want to rent an apartment, now, and we don't know nothing , in our country it's very easy to rent an apartment, but there is very different
thank you so much for this video ! I'm moving to Essen next month and this video is very helpful. cleared a lot of confusion
Thanks for the video! You didn't cover how to move out / change the appartment
We will talk about that in the future. Now that we have some moving experience :)
1.5 Zimmerwohnung means usually two rooms, but second room is a so called "Wohnküche". As a Kitchen is usually not counted - it`s only a half room.
Ah thanks for the explanation 😅
@@simplegermany And you could find it as well for 2.5 or 3.5 room appartments :-) Would love to get a "Wohnküche"
Thank you both so much for this information
Can you also make a video about WG renting?
Finally got around to watching this just to be knowledgeable in the process, even though I have no inclination to ever move there (yet). But ach, mein gott my head is spinning with all that info! Such detailed and useful stuff despite how much there is, thank you!
Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Wow the most comprehensive video ever.
This is the first time to comment on any video, but i have to say both of you are amazing. And you have shared a really useful information. I will memorize it by heart, thank you very much
I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL - VERY USEFUL :)
Thank u so much!! This is really helpful 😊
Fantastic! Glad it is valuable to you 😊
This video was extreme helpful! Danke!
Thank you for this very informative video!
This provided me all necessary information I need beforehand! I'll be relocating to Cologne from the Philippines at the beginning of May and the struggle is R-E-A-L. 😅
Don’t forget to check simplegermany.com for even more information. All the best of luck with your move! 🍀😊
Dears, thank you so much for such conclusive and detailed content. Your charachters are adorable as well. Makes the viewer feel safe, if that makes sense :) Cheers.
Ladies, thank you for another outstanding video with a lot of details and information! Could you try to explain, why do german people tend to rent accommodation rather than buy it, e.g. taking out mortgage at 2% and down-payment of 5-10% of cost?
Just a simple calculation for price of rent before covid and war:
- 700 euro/month kaltmiete
- 12 months = 8 400 euros
- 40 years = 336 000 euros.
That time a flat could be bought for 100-200 tEuro, which is already economically efficient. In the end, you have your own flat. When you rent, you just lose your money and in the end you have neither flat, nor money. Nothing to pass to your next generation (if have so).
Besides, I did not take into consideration rental price increase, which is definitely exists no matter what happens in the world.
P.S. Together with my wife, in our 38, outside Germany, we paid off three mortgages (flat, house and another flat) and cannot imagine how to live in rented flat paying a bunch of money to unknown person.
Good question! This is a very complicated question :) The vast majority of Germans rent a flat rather than buy one and there are a few good reasons for that. We will add this topic to our list of ideas for possible videos :)
Is it possible to make a video about " Buying " an apartment in Germany ?
That's Super Informative! Thankyou!! :)
Thank you!! 😊😊
I think another useful tip would be staying in an Airbnb while you look for an apartment in Germany. This is useful if you are coming from abroad.
That highly depends, whether the AirBnB host will give you a Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung. As we state, most don't and without it you can't do your Anmeldung, which is crucial do get your life on tracks in Germany.
Also, they start at $3k/month
thank you for making this video it was very helpful for me. vielen danke tchusss!!!
South Africa is very very similar to Germany, I cannot wait to immigrate to Germany. Applying for work, fingers crossed!
All the best for your job hunting! 😊
@@simplegermany thank you!
Ausführliche Erklärung, danke euch!
Dürfte ich euch mal um ein Video über Schufa bitten?🙂
Hey Azadeh, das ist schon geplant für die nächsten Wochen 👍🏼
@@simplegermany darauf freue ich mich sehr ☺️
Thank you. I couldn’t have said this better myself except my German is not at that level yet 😂. I agree Jen and Yvonne are amazing and their videos are outstanding.
Wow 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 what an amazing video. You both are outstanding as always. I am new to your channel and continue to be impressed and in awe of your productions; its content and both your abilities to communicate well and be entertained. Vielen Dank 🙏
Can u make a video please on how to get things figured out after renting an empty appartment ?
lets say for 2 married couple who wants to buy furniture and stuff.
where to buy from and stuff like that
Thanks for the suggestion! We’re working creating this video. ☺️
Thank you girls ! You are awesome !
You ladies seem so nice. I always give the thumbs up. 😎😁
I was rejected for a wohnung in Leipzig , for not speaking German , However I would say Leipzig is one of the best cities for non german speaking expats to start. clean, friendly , and city not cramped not busy and not shaby, Very clean and very friendly
Heyy, im planing to move to Leipzig too! but im afraid my not so great german skills would hinder my search for an apartment. Have you managed to find an apartment? If so, can I know from which platform?
@@tenshoneyskin4500 I hope a smooth transition. I found my first apartment in Wg gesucht (it is not only for WGs). but immoscout you have more options, and they know how to handle a contract for the newcomers. other platforms would be lwb , but they mostly have einbaukuche flats . I suggest for the first 3 to 6 months a furnished apartment.if you didnt find anything, an einbaukuche (full-kitchen)
Its a very useful channel, in which we all get very important information. I find its more difficult to get a Wohnung than getting a job from employer. There are so many applicant and letter to House honour and offcourse the letter or massage should be in Deutsch and many hidden factors are there.
So it would be great if you add some questions in your Q&A section related to stay after first time arrival to Germany. There another one important matter , If one has not able to show the perfect perticular address, he also could not be able to register for the city.
Questions like: where person with family for at least 2-3 months easily stay and able to do all related formalities like, city registration , account oppening etc?
In Germany the hotels cost are very high and also its addresses are not allowed for city registration.
German gov also strict about the rules that one should be done his city registration with in given time frame.
Question: How can someone apply for Wohnoung from India? What are the necessary documents are required for application?
Some of documents may not available when applied from india. Will it accepted by Honour?
It would be great if you or someone share solution of those hidden difficult situeation.
If person are not capable to find an Wohnoung or other, then city registration are not possible and finally back to the home country. Although You have shared some website for temporary stay, but those are not working for all areas.
Thanks for your message! Yea, it’s always this chicken / egg situation with the Anmeldung and finding an apartment.
Have you tried Airbnb? If you are moving to Germany alone, another popular solution would be to live in a WG (shared flat) for a few months until you get everything sorted.
We have listed the documents generally requested in our guide (www.simplegermany.com/renting-in-germany/#Documents_Needed_For_Renting_In_Germany)
When I moved to Germany from Hungary, I found a room in a WG and only needed to show my work contract with the German company because I did not have any other German documents yet. So it’s also up to the landlord how flexible they are.
Hope that helps and good luck with your search!
@@simplegermany Is Airbnb address valid for city registration ?
Thank you both for this info! It's a lot of help to know what to expect.
So glad I found you guys on youtube! I'm moving to Siegen in the next couple of months and your videos are very informative, thorough and to the point. Excited for the next chapter. Do y'all have videos on Renting vs Leasing a car in Germany as an expat? Thank you for all that you do
Hi Stanford! We are glad our videos have been helpful to you! 😊
Regarding your question of buying vs leasing, we have to give an 'it depends' kind of answer. Whether buying or leasing a car is the right choice for you depends on your lifestyle and your plans for the vehicle.
Some things to point out about leasing a car are:
* Contracts for leasing a car are for a set amount of time. It is really hard to get out of that contract. So if your leasing contract is for three years, you can rarely return the car before that time. However, if you only want to have a car for two years, then returning a leased car is less of a hassle than selling your own car.
* If you lease the car you have to pay for every damage yourself, no matter how small it is. If you own the car, you can decide if you want to fix the damage or just let it be.
*The good side of leasing a car is that you always get new cars to try out 😋
For buying a car we have video: th-cam.com/video/oKZRwWMyY4Q/w-d-xo.html
The best of luck to you and for your move!
Germans harsh the barbeque and mowing lawns on Sunday. America we mow on Sunday because we have weekend off not a work day mostly and barbeque is party or family activity. Apartment balcony I can kinda understand but most Americans don't trip on that unless it gets crazy.😄
I would love to see a video about Americans purchasing cars in Germany And also about the different types of insurances to include liability and automobile
Hey Lucie, we have already done a video on how to buy a car in Germany and car insurance 😊
th-cam.com/video/oKZRwWMyY4Q/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/Mvy7a0LN3lU/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for such a detailed video! I love the fun conversational style of this channel. I’m a student who will be moving to Berlin soon and I have found through online groups a few WG rooms, could you please advise on what things I need to look out for? Would I need the SCHUFA and Anmeldung before being able to rent? A little confused about the process as a student 😅
Thanks a lot! The Schufa is not being asked for all WG rooms, essentially it depends on what the landlord wants. You can only do the Anmeldung once you moved in to a place in Germany 😉
HI did you endup getting SCHUFA before you reached Berlin. Because I am on the same page.
What happens if you move in an apartment with a build in kitchen and end up for 10 years and then decide to move out. Of course the kitchen is not in its older state so you pay for the kitchen ? Incase it has some issues ?
Regular tear and wear should be normal. Whether or not you have to pay for repairs when things stop working depends on what is stated in your rental contract.
@@simplegermany thank you
Very useful and comprehensive information. Well organised and straight forward details. Many Many Thanks
There is another aspect about renting in germany that, in my opinion, could be worth to be mentioned - but I am not able at all to tell the english name for it, so lets say it in german: it's the "genossenschaftliches wohnen". Presumably it is of different popularity in the different regions of Germany, but the principle deserves attention in my opinion. At least in the longer term you can definitely save money as a tenant in this way.
great video! this has cleared up so many things that are otherwise very confusing
Hey !! Great video, came in very helpful.I just got a job in essen and don't wether to live there or dusseldord or Koln. Do you guys have a video comparing these cities or just off the top of your head would recommend one for someone below 30 yold.Thanks !!
It highly depends on what you are looking for. Rent will be a lot cheaper in Essen than in Dusseldorf or Cologne. However, the latter are bigger and have more nightlife, so it depends on what you are looking for.
Thank you so much. Very informative.
Nützliche Informationen!
Thank you this video is really helpful
I just love you guys😍 and all the content you people put up there ❤
It's my dream to move and live in Germany just for that experience, language would not be a problem but I have so many deep roots where I am now.
Very detailed and simplified
girls, I am soooo thankful for this, thank you so much! 🙏🤗
If you do not receive any information about the Nebenkosten how can you "adjust" your usage?
For example, let us say I use too much water, how can I know that I should probably shorten my shower time if I do not see the bill?
And when you do Nebenkostenabrechnung, are you handed the whole year bills, or should you trust the landlord?
It depends on how your landlord provides you with the Nebenkostenabrechnung. For us it comes via a company called Techem and we can see the consumption of water for the entire house. In our case that number just gets divided by the number of apartments so it is not our actual consumption.
Thank you so much ❤
Electricity may be included in the utility bill. Not very common though.
Thanks 👍
Thanks for the insights! You guys should definitely cover moving houses in Germany next time.
Thank you for the great video, I learnt a lot.
I am a undergrad student from Thailand that will be doing a research internship for 3 months at the uni of bremen in January. However, their studierendenwerk only accepts students.
Can you please give me a recommendation for getting an apartment?
Hey Leo! That sounds like an exciting adventure coming up for you. :) We have a massive amount of content around all things renting. Have a look at our guides: www.simplegermany.com/housing-in-germany. Good Luck!
So helpful videos
Simple and informative video as always
Love you both
the kitchen situation and the explanation was the most hilarious and absurd thing I have ever heard