Flat Hunting Part 1

I'm starting my blog with a series all about renting, buying, and selling flats in Germany...

How difficult can it possibly be to find a flat to rent in Germany? Surely all you need to do is clearly define your search criteria, get the local paper or look on some local websites, write down a few telephone numbers, make a few viewing appointments, sign the contract, move in. Think again. If you are looking for a flat, particularly somewhere expensive like Heidelberg, then I have two words for you – “Good Luck!”

Don’t be silly, you think. After all, you speak fluent German, like to think your needs are pretty basic; nothing fancy - and at the end of the day, you are open to making a few compromises.  A two bedroom flat with living room, kitchen, bathroom, cellar and parking spot should do the trick.

You start with the internet and search the websites www.immobilenscout24.de and www.immonet.de. You enter your search criteria as per above, enter how much you are willing to pay for the pleasure. You hit “Suchen” (search) and a huge list of possible flats to rent, “Mietwohnungen”, come up. Ha, you think. I knew it wasn’t going to be difficult. Buzz words like “elegant und exclusiv”, “pfiffig in schöner Lage”, and “großzügig und stilvoll” (generous and stylish) – this sounds great!

Filled with confidence, you click on the first advert. Your heart sinks. How do I possibly make sense of all of this? The “Kaltmiete” (“cold rent”; so rent without heating costs) is 1.100 EUR, “ Nebenkosten” (extra costs including heating, someone to clean the stairwells, take the rubbish out, etc. )are 240 EUR, a “Stellplatz” (parking spot) will cost you an additional 50 EUR a month and on top of all of that there is a “Provision” (commission) of 2,38% of the “Kaltmonatsmieten”.  Not forgetting the “Kaution” (deposit) of +- 3 months rent. You scroll down. It says there are 4 rooms. Another catch! 4 rooms in Germany does not mean 4 bedrooms – it means 4 ROOMS – including the living room and possibly the dining room. You scroll again. No “Einbauküche EBK” (built-in kitchen). What? You actually have to buy a kitchen? Yes, flats in German tend to come with no fitted kitchens, no fitted wardrobes, etc . Nada. So, on top of all the costs listed above, you will also have to fork out another few thousand euros for a kitchen or if you are lucky, will have the option to buy the kitchen off the previous tenant.

What the hell? I have to start somewhere. You pick up the phone and make a viewing appointment. On the phone, however, you are quizzed as to who you are, what you do for a living, and do you have any pets or kids. Be prepared for the answer that, no, sorry, the building is “Kinderfrei”(child-free). Wow, this is already testing my patience you think. Well, wait for it, you haven’t experienced anything yet!