How to Find an Apartment in Berlin: A Complete Guide for Expats

Berlin is a huge city, and finding a place to live sounds easy, right?

Well, unfortunately, wrong.

The real estate market in Berlin is extremely competitive, and rents have skyrocketed over the past few years.

Berlin has gone from being an incredibly cheap European capital to one of the most expensive places to live in Germany.

Still, compared to other European capitals like London or Paris, Berlin remains a very affordable place to live.

Another huge advantage of Berlin is the quality of housing.

Because Berlin was heavily destroyed during the war and then divided into East and West, houses were neglected and a bit run-down.

But since the fall of the Berlin Wall, many dilapidated houses have been newly renovated with good insulation, new floors, and more.

Especially the so-called Alt-Bauwohnungen offer high ceilings, spacious rooms, beautiful floors, and lots of character.

If you prefer a more standardized place, there are also many new construction projects where you can find a modern living space waiting for its first residents.

Finding a Place to Live in Berlin Online

Searching for apartments and houses online is the easiest and fastest way to find a place in Berlin.

You can search for apartments and houses online based on your exact requirements (e.g., budget, number of rooms), and Immobilienscout24 is by far the largest online platform.

Then you show up for the viewing, possibly queue until it's your turn to go inside, and leave your contact details and personal information with the responsible real estate agent.

If you're lucky, you'll get a call a few days later and get the apartment.

Checklist – How to Find an Apartment in Berlin

Remember, competition for the few nice apartments in Berlin is fierce.

Out of the 50 people attending these viewings, the one who can call her/his future home will be the one who provides all the information the real estate agent asks for.

Follow this checklist to increase your chances of finding an apartment in Berlin:

• Provide your employment contract (preferably unlimited, and if possible, give yourself a nice title. For example, if you're a secretary, call yourself a CEO's PA; if you're a freelance writer, call yourself a published author – you get the point)
• Attach your bank statements showing proof of salary receipts for the last 3 months
• A valid Schufa statement (credit report) not older than 3 months (click this link to Schufa and get the free version "Datenkopie nach Art. 15 DSGVO")
• If your income is not enough, a letter from a guarantor will help increase your chances of getting the spot
• A letter from your previous landlord stating that no outstanding payments exist between you and him, called a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (no joke)
• Make sure you have 3 months' rent in your account, because you'll need to deposit this so-called Kaution (security deposit) into a shared bank account with the landlord

Have All Documents Ready for the Viewing

People will do anything to get their dream place, so you shouldn't either.

Dress appropriately for the viewing, be friendly and polite, shake hands with the real estate agent, and make sure to hand over copies of all documents in person during the viewing.

If possible, email your documents again to the agency as soon as you get home.

Did someone say houserassment?

That's right. Fight for that place. It will be the start of your new life in Berlin.

Find a Flat in Berlin – Online Platforms

Now that you know how to increase your chances of getting your dream apartment, it's time to start searching online.

There are several very good options to find an apartment for every situation.

So let's look at the most important online platforms for finding an apartment in Berlin.

Immobilienscout24

By far the largest online platform for finding apartments for rent and purchase in Berlin and Germany.

It has thousands of online listings and allows you to further narrow down your search with filters like price, size, location, and more. If you're looking for your future Berlin home, Immobilienscout24 is our first recommendation.

Immobilienscout24 offers both rental and purchase apartments.

immowelt

Very similar to Immobilienscout24 but with fewer online listings. Still worth a try.

Wunderflats

This is a good option for finding furnished apartments in Berlin. Furnished apartments are more expensive than regular ones and are usually only available for short-term rent.

But to get your own apartment in Berlin, you need to be present for the viewing. So if you're living abroad, a furnished apartment can be a good start while you search for your own place.

WG-gesucht

A great platform for anyone looking for a shared apartment (WG). Most students offer one or two rooms in their WG, and the advantage is that you'll have friends from your first day in Berlin.

Important German Words to Know for Your Flat Hunt in Berlin

• Altbau – Old building apartment: Usually means high ceilings. But make sure it's renovated.
• Anmeldung – Registration: After signing the contract, you need to go to the Bürgeramt and do your Anmeldung (address registration).
• Balkon – Balcony: Great for summer barbecues.
• EBK or Einbauküche – Fitted kitchen: At least has a stove and sink installed.
• GEZ: Unfortunately, everyone in Germany must pay this monthly fee to support ARD, ZDF, etc., like the BBC in the UK.
• Hauptmieter – Main tenant: The person who has the original contract with the Vermieter, especially when you live in a WG.
• Hohe Decken – High ceilings: Remember, Altbauwohnungen usually have high ceilings.
• Kaltmiete – Base rent: The rent you pay for the apartment (excluding heating and water).
• Keller – Basement: Make sure the Keller is trocken (dry) so you can store things there without mold.
• Makler – Real estate agent: The person who shows you around and the most important person to impress to get your dream apartment.
• Maklergebühr – Broker fee: If you're renting, you don't need to worry. The Vermieter pays this fee. If you're buying, you must pay it, with a cap of 7.14% in Berlin.
• Mieter – Tenant: Hopefully you!
• Mietschuldenfreiheit – Rent debt freedom: No translation, but it's the letter you ask your previous landlord to give you stating that you paid all rent in the past.
• Renoviert – Renovated: Usually most places have been renovated in the last 20-40 years, but there are still Renovierungsbedürftig apartments on the market.
• Renovierungsbedürftig – Needs renovation: Always thoroughly inspect these apartments before moving in to avoid problems later.
• Untervermietet – Sublet: You are not the main tenant and have fewer rights. Be careful with this type of apartment.
• Vermieter – Landlord: The person who owns the apartment and rents it out.
• Warmmiete – Warm rent: The total rent including heating and water (Kaltmiete + Nebenkosten).
• WG – Shared apartment: Short for Wohngemeinschaft. A popular and affordable option, especially for students.