Immigrating to Germany
First steps for immigrating Immigrating to a foreign country is probably one of the biggest challenges of life. If you plan on moving to Germany and settling there, this guide...
These cookies are required to enable core site functionality.
Functionality cookies allow us to provide enhanced and more personalized content and features. In order to permit your connection our website, our servers receive and record information about your computer and browser, potentially including your IP address, browser type, and other software or hardware information. All of these features help us to improve your visit and assist in navigation of the sites’ features.
We and our service providers may use analytics cookies, which are sometimes called performance cookies, to collect information about your use of our website, for instance, which pages you go to most. The information allows us to see the overall patterns of usage, help us record any difficulties users may have while using our website and can show us whether or not our advertising is effective.
We may use third party advertising and targeting cookies to correlate your use of our website to personal information obtained about you so that we may more clearly target the information we provide you to the specific items we think you will find interesting, based on your prior online activities and preferences. We also may use these cookies to deliver ads that we believe are relevant to you and your interests.
When you plan on buying property in Germany, looking at different locations lets you lose your focus. Increasing your chances of finding a low-cost residence, researching specific areas will allow you to familiarize yourself with the location you are looking to call home.
When examining properties in Germany, it may not be a major issue if walls are dirty; however, attention should be devoted to outdated windows or heating systems as they can be pricey to repair or replace. Some communities of owners are saving money on a monthly basis to pay for major repairs. So, before buying property in Germany, make sure the owner community has enough money for such things.
Be sure to create a checklist before visiting and inspecting a potential property – this way, you won’t forget any important details. Many potential buyers do not ask for the blueprint of a building or apartment. Due to the inability to verify the size of a property through advertising, it is difficult for people to exercise control over a situation. Therefore, it is essential for one to strategically evaluate what is important on a personal level in order to make an informed decision. This should be done before you shortlist a few homes for sale in Germany and get a viewing appointment.
The property is cheap for a reason. It may need major repairs soon. You should always assess and calculate carefully to ascertain the final cost of the property. Only buy it if you can afford it. Otherwise, get your hands off it!
Buying property in Germany is a bit different than in other countries. After you have found the right apartment and the price is suitable, the process doesn’t involve signing a contract. In Germany, only an attesting notary can sign the contract. This means additional costs for you and the owner. In addition to paying the real estate agent, one also has to pay taxes when buying property. These incidental costs are normally 15% of the purchasing price and are often forgotten about.
Whether you are an EU citizen or not, there are some things you should consider before trying to find a place to rent in Germany. The majority of landlords in Germany are friendly and fair, but there are some who aren’t. Because of this, it is important to follow some rules which will protect you as a tenant. Many Germans are able to speak at least some English, but being able to speak the language fluently will give you a better chance of being chosen as a tenant. If you do not speak German or have difficulty understanding the German language, you should bring an interpreter or friend with you when you first talk to the landlord or broker.
It is important to be able to speak German when renting an apartment in Germany, as the contract will be in German and any legal declarations made during the tenancy will only be legally binding if they are made in German.
An exception to the language rule can occur if the landlord speaks your language or uses a bilingual rental agreement in which the second language is expressly agreed to be the contractual language. As a foreign applicant for a rental apartment in Germany, you do not have to present more documents than a German applicant. The more positive details a landlord knows about you, the more likely he or she is to decide in favour of renting to you.
But you should bring these documents with you to the landlord for the first viewing appointment:
The following documents are not mandatory, but give a plus-point to the applicant profile:
As proof of your ability to pay, landlords in Germany will often ask to see your income information or a SCHUFA report. SCHUFA is a database that records almost all people living in Germany, including whether they have any outstanding debts. This is useful for landlords because it provides another way to confirm that the tenant is likely to be able to make their rental payments.
The landlord usually wants the potential tenant to fill out a “self-assessment” form, which is basically a questionnaire that asks for the following information:
The last important fact to know about finding apartments or houses for rent in Germany is that tenants are legally required to pay for getting the property on rent. This is usually three times the rent without heating and additional costs. It is paid into a savings book and stays there until the end of the tenancy.
Fields marked with an * are required.