Apartments in Berlin: A Complete Overview
This page lays out everything you need to know about apartments in Berlin. From short-term options, paperwork requirements and housing databases to rental conditions, scams to be wary of and tips for flat viewings, we are confident our info will help you successfully find your dream apartment in Berlin!
🏠 Along with landing a job and securing your visa, finding an apartment in Berlin is high on the list of priorities for expats moving to the German capital. The Berlin housing market is becoming increasingly competitive, and rent prices are steadily on the rise, but it is still possible to find centrally-located apartments/rooms at a fraction of the price of other major European capitals.
We have put together this guide to give you a good overview of what is important to consider when searching for apartments in Berlin and to help you avoid the pitfalls encountered by many expats setting up in the city.
One important thing to note is that finding long-term apartments in Berlin can take time, which is why we recommend the following process for a smooth relocation to Berlin:
1️⃣ Arrange short-term accommodation with Anmeldung prior to arriving in Berlin.
2️⃣ Arrive in Berlin
3️⃣ Arrange paperwork needed for securing a long-term apartment in Berlin.
4️⃣ Find and secure a long-term apartment in Berlin.
Over the years, we have found that expats who follow this process have had far more success in finding high-quality, long-term apartments in Berlin than newcomers who are hoping to get lucky and find long-term, stable accommodation in their first few weeks in Germany.
Why you should start with short-term accommodation in Berlin
There are many reasons for initially opting for short-term accommodation (that allows Anmeldung) in Berlin, some of which we have detailed below:
✅ You need to complete your Anmeldung as soon as possible
You can almost never secure long-term accommodation prior to moving to Berlin. Therefore, a common mistake is to book a hotel, hostel or Airbnb for your first month in Berlin with the hope of securing a long-term place in this time period.
What newcomers to Berlin are often unaware of is that you are not able to officially register your address at a hotel, hostel or Airbnb, a process that is known as Anmeldung. You need Anmeldung to do pretty much anything in Germany, including getting a tax ID and applying for a visa, and without it, your relocation will grind to an abrupt stop.
All in all, if you fail to complete your Anmeldung quickly, you can soon find you have lived in Berlin for 1 month and made zero progress on the admin front – a frustrating scenario considering you could easily have just booked short-term accommodation that allows Anmeldung at the very start of your move and avoided a costly delay to your set up in Germany.
✅ You often need extra paperwork to apply for long-term apartments in Berlin
While short-term accommodation with Anmeldung can generally be booked with little paperwork prior to arriving in Berlin, you will need significantly more paperwork to secure a long-term apartment. In short, you need to prove to a landlord that you can afford the apartment and will be a reliable tenant.
Frustratingly, getting hold of the necessary paperwork for securing long-term apartments in Berlin is often not possible if you are not already registered (Anmeldung) in Germany. For example:
✅ You cannot get a SCHUFA credit report without first officially registering (Anmeldung) at an apartment in Berlin. Without a SCHUFA credit report it is tricky to land a long-term apartment.
It is a frustrating catch-22 associated with finding long-term apartments in Berlin that can leave you going round in circles.
Through initially opting for short-term accommodation, you will not only complete your Anmeldung quickly, but you will then have ample time to collate the necessary paperwork for successfully applying for a long-term apartment in Berlin.
✅ You should get to know the city before committing to a long-term apartment
Berlin is made up of an eclectic mix of unique districts. Life in Kreuzberg will certainly be different to life in Charlottenburg and every district seems to be loved and loathed in equal measure. Initially opting for a long-term lease in an area you do not know may leave you trapped in a district you end up hating.
Especially if you are moving to Berlin without a job, it is a good idea to keep your options flexible before committing to a long-term place. At 9 times the geographical size of Paris, a daily commute from one side of Berlin to the other can leave you feeling pretty glum!
So how do I find a short-term apartment in Berlin that offers Anmeldung?
Given the above, we definitely feel initially opting for short-term accommodation including Anmeldung is the best option for newcomers to Berlin.
⚠️ If you are having difficulty finding a short-term apartment in Berlin that offers Anmeldung, then you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments. Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin.
Paperwork for finding long-term apartments in Berlin
📃 So, once you have arrived in Berlin and are happily ensconced in your short-term accommodation, it is time to start preparing for finding a longer-term place to call home in Berlin.
For this, there are certain documents that can significantly help you secure a long-term apartment. These primarily apply if you are looking to rent an entire apartment rather than a room in a flatshare, which usually requires significantly less paperwork.
Whether you are looking to rent an entire apartment or just a room in a flatshare, the landlord is ultimately wanting to see that you can afford the rent and that you will be a trusted tenant. To prove this, many landlords will request some or all of the following:
✔️ A copy of your employment contract
✔️ Payslips for the previous 3 months
✔️ A copy of your bank statement
✔️ A copy of your passport
✔️ A SCHUFA credit report
We have expanded on the SCHUFA credit report below and have also provided details of other additional paperwork that may be requested by prospective landlords:
✅ SCHUFA Report
A SCHUFA report is a credit report that is essentially assessing your capacity to pay fines and bills, and is often required when applying for a phone/internet contract, taking out a loan or renting an apartment in Berlin.
Your SCHUFA report will be automatically generated when you register your address (Anmeldung) and open a bank account in Germany. You can order your SCHUFA report directly from www.meineschufa.de. You will receive your report in the post after 2–3 weeks.
If you are requiring the report immediately, you can apply via ImmobilienScout24 (which will allow you to download and print the report) or in-person at a Postbank/Volksbank branch. Use this link to find a suitable branch. Both the services from ImmobilienScout24 and Postbank/Volksbank will also set you back €29.95.
✅ Haftpflichtversicherung
Haftpflichtversicherung is personal liability insurance. It covers you if you damage the property that you are renting.
Bring a copy of your personal liability insurance to a flat viewing or send it across to the landlord by email along with your other documents after you view a flat. Personal liability insurance can significantly increase your chances of finding a flat as the landlord will know that if you damage the flat it will be taken care of by insurance.
Our favourite liability insurance is GETSAFE, who offer a well-priced, wide-ranging policy that is perfect for showing prospective landlords.
Check out our blog post for further info about the importance of liability insurance in Germany.
✅ Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung
A Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung is a letter from your previous landlord stating that you do not owe them any outstanding rent payments.
This is not always a required document and is most relevant if you have previously rented an apartment in Germany. If coming from overseas, it may also be worth getting your previous landlord to write you a short statement confirming that you do not owe any outstanding rent.
✅ Gehaltsnachweise
Gehaltsnachweise is proof of salary. In general, you are required to present your three most recent payslips. This can tricky if you have recently relocated to Germany.
If this is not possible, we suggest showing your bank statement or previous tax return. If you have just started a new job, showing your employment contract (with salary) is usually sufficient. Your landlord generally just wants to check that your pay is at least three times the amount of the rent.
✅ Bürgschaft
A Bürgschaft is a letter from your parents/sponsor confirming that they will cover your rent in the event that you cannot pay.
Landlords usually require that this is signed by someone living in Germany, but you can also attempt to present one from an overseas sponsor. The letter should be accompanied by proof of funds from your parents/sponsor. A Bürgschaft is most relevant for students and job seekers.
Where to search for long-term apartments in Berlin
🔎 While you may have all your paperwork prepared, you still need to actually find a long-term apartment in Berlin. As in most cities, there are some good listing sites for finding long-term accommodation in Berlin. Below, we have split these into finding available rooms in a flatshare and finding entire apartments.
🧭 While most newcomers to Berlin generally want to live very centrally in Mitte, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Neukölln or Prenzlauer Berg, we also recommend searching further afield. Here you will find cheaper apartments and less competition. Berlin’s public transport is fantastic and many of Berlin’s less popular districts are still well connected.
Some other districts to consider include: Schöneberg, Charlottenburg, Moabit, Wedding, Pankow, Weissensee, Lichtenberg, Rummelsburg, Karlshorst, Alt-Treptow and Tempelhof.
Finding a room in a flatshare in Berlin
🫂 A flatshare or shared apartment is commonly known as a 'WG' (Wohnungsgemeinschaft) in Germany. A 'WG' is often a considerably cheaper option and requires less paperwork than renting out a whole apartment.
If this is your preferred option, then the number one place for finding a room is www.wg-gesucht.de. This is by far the most popular website for finding shared apartments and includes thousands of listings across the city. You can register on the site and create a profile so that flats looking for a tenant can easily reach out to you.
🔎 To search for shared apartments on wg-gesucht, simply fill in the search filter as shown below:
Rooms in a shared flat can cost anything from €300–700 per month. If you are using Google Translate to translate the pages, note that Google translates 'WG Zimmer' as 'shared room' but means a private bedroom in a flatshare.
Tips for using wg-gesucht
✔️ Set up alerts on www.wg-gesucht.de so that you are emailed when new rooms are posted that meet your criteria.
✔️ Reply to room postings which have been posted recently – older postings have often already been filled since the demand for rooms is high and rooms go pretty quickly.
✔️ Include sufficient detail about yourself in your profile and in your messages to potential new flatmates.
✔️ Most people are looking for rooms below €500. If you search in the next price bracket (€500–600), you are likely to find a room much faster.
✔️ If you only send out a few requests, you are extremely unlikely to find a flat. Instead, you need to send out a large number of requests per day and follow them up with regards to arranging flat viewings, etc.
There are a number of other good websites to search for shared apartments on. These include:
woloho.com - (sign up for their newsletter)
Finding an entire apartment in Berlin
🏢 If you are instead looking to rent an entire apartment in Berlin (as opposed to just a room in a flatshare), then there are a number of websites geared towards this:
immobilienscout24.de. As this is the most popular site in Berlin for finding entire apartments, we have put together an English guide for searching ImmobilienScout24.
woloho.com (sign up for their newsletter)
💻 Where possible, we recommend creating profiles on these sites in order to receive listings in your inbox. Our experience is that expats have had particular success finding whole apartments through ImmobilienScout24, so this is a good place to start your search.
🔎 Here is an example of a basic search you might perform on Immobilienscout24 for a 60m2 apartment in Berlin:
Other resources for finding long-term apartments in Berlin
Property companies
🏢 Another option is to contact property companies directly. Some of these may not be advertising their properties on listing sites such as the ones mentioned above.
❗ Note: for apartments via property companies, additional paperwork is usually required such as work contracts, payslips, SCHUFA credit reports (see above), etc. When emailing them, include what paperwork you have.
Here are a few property companies worth checking out:
How much rent can I expect to pay for long-term apartments in Berlin?
💰 When starting your search, it is a good idea to get an idea of the average rent prices in different areas.
This map from ImmoScout24 shows you the average rent prices for a 60m2 apartment in Berlin's different districts. Berliner Morgenpost has also created an interactive map that allows you to review average rent prices according to your budget and desired flat size.
Scams to be aware of when apartment hunting in Berlin
The Berlin property market is rife with scams, including on some of the websites listed above. Here are some things to look out for:
❌ If it seems too good to be true, then you should steer well clear. However much you would like that entire apartment in Kreuzberg to be just €300, this will be 100% be a scam. Try and gauge what the average market price is for the size of the apartment and area you are looking in, and you will then have a far easier time spotting listings that are suspicious.
❌ A common scam currently circulating is for a landlord to be out of the country but agreeing to send the apartment keys once a deposit/the first month's rent has been paid. Unless you are booking a short-term apartment through a reputable provider, do not pay any money to a private landlord unless you have viewed the apartment/signed a contract.
❌ Certain free listings sites such as Craigslist and Facebook groups have a higher proportion of scams. Be especially vigilant when using these sites if you feel something does not feel quite right.
Tips for attending apartment viewings in Berlin
🙋 Before you sign a long-term lease for an apartment in Berlin, you will need to attend flat viewings. As the rental market is competitive, most flats will be interviewing/considering multiple applicants, so it is important to make a good impression. Here are some tips to boost your chances of being chosen:
✅ Be proactive. When prospecting for a flat/room via email, include sufficient detail about yourself and try and make it memorable. If there is a contact number as well as an email contact, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call your potential new flatmates/landlord to arrange a viewing.
✅ Take a bio page with you. Especially if attending a group flat viewing with other prospective tenants, print off a page with your photo, some information about yourself and contact details included. This will make you more easily contactable and memorable.
✅ Be assertive. if you like the apartment during the viewing, make sure to tell the current tenants/landlord then and there that you would like to take the flat if they were to choose you and ask them what documents you need to provide.
Email across all of the appropriate documents shortly after the flat viewing and thank them for showing you the flat. When choosing who will take the room/flat, they will give preference to someone they already know wants to take it.
✅ Show enthusiasm for flat life if applying for a room in a shared apartment. Germans take the dynamics of flat life seriously, and will want to ensure their new flatmate fits the bill. At a flat viewing, be friendly and courteous, and show enthusiasm for flat life. Follow-up flat viewings via email to find out when/if a decision has been made.
Rental conditions for apartments in Berlin
Once you have been offered an apartment or room in Berlin, it is important that you are being treated fairly with regards to the rental conditions as some landlord tried to exploit newcomers to Berlin. Here are some important things to consider:
1️⃣ Inventory. Make sure you get a full inventory of all furniture and appliances that are included in the lease. When moving out of the apartment, you do not want to be charged for missing furniture/appliances that were never originally there.
In addition, it is good to find out exactly what is included in the lease. A lot of rental apartments in Berlin come unfurnished, meaning there may not be any white appliances, light fittings or even a kitchen!
2️⃣ Flat condition. When first arriving at the apartment, take note of and document the condition of the apartment. Take pictures of any damages/wear and tear as proof that you are not responsible for these damages.
3️⃣ Deposit/bond (Kaution). An apartment deposit can be a maximum of 3 months’ rent. The deposit is paid at the start of the tenancy and must be held in a dedicated bank account separate from the landlord’s personal assets. The deposit must be returned to you within 6 months of vacating the property.
4️⃣ Rent amount. The net rent (excl. heating and operating costs) should be no more than 10% above the local average rent (rent index/Berliner Mietspiegel).
5️⃣ Rent increases. Rent levels are fixed for a 12-month period and can only increase by a maximum of 15% over a 3-year period.
6️⃣ Property maintenance. Landlords are responsible for fixing issues with the heating or water supply, defective windows or mould.
If you have a dispute with your landlord or have questions in regards to tenancy issues, you can contact Berliner Mieterverein (The Berlin Tenants‘ Association). While you need to pay a small membership fee, they can offer advice on what actions and remedies are available to you in the event of a wide range of issues.
📖 Useful German terminology when searching for apartments in Berlin
Wohnung: Apartment
1-Zimmerwohnung / Einzimmerwohnung: Studio apartment
2-Zimmerwohnung / Zweizimmerwohnung: Two-room apartment (i.e. one bedroom and one living room or two bedrooms and no living room)
Ab sofort: Available immediately
Neubau: New building
Altbau: Old building
Einkommensnachweis: Proof of income
Kaution: Deposit / Bond
Miete: Monthly rent
Möbliert: Furnished
SCHUFA: Credit report (information on how to apply for your SCHUFA credit report can be found above)
Warmmiete: Rent including additional costs, e.g. heating, property tax, gas, refuse collection
Kaltmiete: Rent with no additional costs included
What to do once you have found a long-term apartment in Berlin
🎉 Once you have been offered an apartment in Berlin and have accepted the offer, there are a number of important steps you should take:
✅ Sign the lease and pay the deposit and first month’s rent. We recommend refraining from making any payment until you have signed the lease if you are renting from a private landlord.
To pay the rent and deposit, you will likely need a German bank account. If you do not already have an account in Germany, then a good option is to sign up for an N26 account, Vivid account or bunq account.
✅ Sign up for personal liability insurance. If you have not already done so, take out a personal liability insurance policy with GETSAFE.
This will cover you for damages to the property, lost keys, etc. and also any damage or injury to others caused outside of the apartment – this may seem excessive, but it is very easy to be sued for damages in Germany.
For example, hitting someone on your bike can bankrupt you instantly and you can be left paying compensation for eternity.
✅ Complete your Anmeldung at your new apartment. Legally, you must officially register at every address you live at in Germany. For full instructions on how to register your address in Berlin, see our Anmeldung guide.
✅ Have your name added to the letterbox. Either the landlord or Hausmeister (building manager) can arrange to have your name added to the apartment letterbox.
Note: in Berlin, mail is primarily delivered based on your name rather than by apartment number. Therefore, if you do not have your name on the letterbox, your mail will likely be returned to the sender.
We hope you have found this guide to finding apartments in Berlin helpful. For further information about moving to Berlin, check out our homepage and free relocation resources.