An HONEST Talk: 3 Tips to nail RENTING AN APARTMENT in Germany

This video discusses tips that can help you rent an apartment in Germany. We also talk about the things you should be looking out for, what mindset to have, why renting might be your best option, and so much more!

📖 Purchase our e-book today!
Get Your Keys: The Expat's Handbook to Renting in Germany

📺 Subscribe to our channel if you want more information on life in Germany as an expat:

We know how frustrating and painful it might be to move to a new country, especially if you don't fully speak the language. That's why we created Simple Germany.

Simple Germany provides tips & information in English about living in Germany as an expat. We talk about services that are friendly and easy to use to beat German bureaucracy. We also cover the cultural aspects of living in Germany. All of this brought to you from the eyes of an expat and a German duo. We want to help you settle in Germany more smoothly.🍻

🍿 Visit our website for more in-depth information on life in Germany:

☕️ 💜 If this video was helpful to you, and saved you time of research, please consider buying us a coffee as a small donation.

#expats #germany #expatsingermany #lifeingermany #expattips

[Julia-uilw]

Girls, the format speaking straight to camera is nicer than "interview" style

[Lisa-zufi]

My experience: My husband and I have excellent credit scores, stable income for 25+ years, never late on a rent payment. We've been looking for a long term place to live and would provide a reliable, steady rental income for a property owner, yet we've been evicted from three different properties when the owner retired and chose to sell. Twice this happened shortly after we moved in, within a year, year and a half. Once the owner knew the property was for sale and didn't disclose. Each time we moved it cost between 3-4k total, so that's approximately 10k down the drain because we rented from someone nearing retirement age who apparently wanted to liquidate their assets. Something to keep in mind.

[VidimusWolf]

I really appreciate the great effort you two put into your videos, they are seriously awesome. Just my opinion on the new format: I think it is neither better nor worse than the previous, it is just different in the sense that it conveys a more professional and serious, but also more detached message. It's like watching two people discuss and is less immersive than when you speak directly to us, the viewer. I personally don't enjoy podcast-style things much but felt more "warmth" and "friendliness" and "openness" when you spoke directly to us!

[ingridwarkentin]

Hi!! My husband and I are moving from Brazil to Freiburg by the end of the month. I'm moving for my work. Your videos are helping us a lot! We decided to rent a temporary apartment to deal with all the bureaucracies and start looking for a long-term apartment. They say Freiburg is a tough city to get apartments because is a student city, but we hope that with your tips we can get one! ;) thanks and thank you for the kind words! In the community we always find someone pushing us down because of all the things we have to do, organize, think...

[hoveringcow]

I notice that when ever they speak they see each other..now you can see each other all the time without turning your head ❤😉

[web_jar]

This format is very interesting, I like it. In my opinion discussions like these help in recalling some important information/event related to the topic that might go missing in the normal format. Great work :)

[Heydd]

Never been to Germany, but I am an immigrant, and I guess it's like with the other Euro countries when it comes to immigrants trying to find the apartment. You will never be anyone's first choice, and you have to accept that. It should be a part of the honest talk. Whether the reasons for it are sensible or not... the language, different cultural norms, justified fears or outright xenophobia and racism. It all plays a role. That's why it's kind of sad people have to tip-toe around landlords and depend on their mercy. Government should get involved if they need more foreign workers.

[Hobbymusiker]

I wish you a happy new Year, girls! Please continue the good work, I am not a smoother (big fan), but I am watching your videos, and you are very inspiring, especially for new immigrants in Germany

[tradingisthinking]

I like this format more than speaking to camera.

[OmkarPattanshetti]

Thank you so much specially for the strategy part!

[mrkingsudo]

Awesome video. I like the fancy camera work, too! As an American with several years of "70%+ of the income goes to rent" lifestyle, some of these prices sound like a dream come true lol.

[Visitkarte]

Fun fact: once I lived in a camping for over a year in Germany (with a fixed yearly contract) and I could get a Meldebescheinigung on that address. It was a fun experience. I worked very near that camping in a hospital as a physician and I always said: I am temporarily here, just staying for a year and I have my own home in Switzerland“ but I guess they wanted my taxes. 😉

[isaacisgratefullife]

Happy new year Jen and Yvonne. I pray this year will be amazing for you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[turjo]

I like how this video address the topic in a very straightforward manner about the realities of finding an apartment. Eventually I will have to move out of a dorm when i get a job but I hadn't yet considered how the whole process would be again. My first time was rather difficult one but now that I'm armed with so much knowledge, all thats left is getting a stable job and making a good impression ( the latter of which I think I do a decent job of 😉)

Greetings from the New Year and looking forward to the next one! ❤

[abdulrahimabbas]

An honest review, I like you guys and I would like to meet you. anyway, the previous way of videos is better than interviews or podcasts way.
Thank you for the information.

[airtonsilva]

Great video! I moved to Germany 6 months ago and I was lucky enough to get an apartment that belongs to the university where I currently work. It is a fully equipped apartment, which made life so much easier for a foreigner arriving in Germany. The maximum stay is 2 years, so next year I will need to find a place outside the campus and your video (and book) will both be helpful to nail a place!

[theloveofsound]

I’m planning on moving to Stuttgart this year. I’m digesting these videos.

[berlinorama]

The long lines for flats in Berlin definitely exist. I went to see a one-room place for a friend in my own neighborhood and it was cheap but a complete dump (last renovated in the 1980s, run down, dark). There was a long line of people ranging from refugees and students to middle-aged employees with regular jobs waiting to look at it;-(( A really big issue nowadays is housing scams, and especially people coming from abroad are targeted by criminals. You really need to be very careful, never pay anything in advance unless it is to a reputable agency etc. Often combined with identity theft.

[fleazapp]

It's crazy how prices have skyrocketed... I have friends renting for 600, 700 because they have old contracts, and my new contract is double to that, cutting 40% of my net income. 😢

[joannunemaker]

I love this video. Very good strategies are mentioned here. Great advice. Happy New Year to you both.😊❤