Tips on renting an apartment in Berlin

Hi,

has anyone used this agency? Crocodilian, see http://www.rooms-in-berlin.com Their offers look great but am wondering whether others have used them and what your experience was.

Thanks!

I moved finally to Berllin last week and went to Ikea to order some basics. They delivered to me the next day, and it was definately worth it for me as they carried it up the 5 flights of stairs to my apartment for me!! If you've however got some help with carrying the heavier items then you could also rent a van/truck.


I think it depends on the terms of your particular contract and how long you sign up for initially. If you sign a minimum 3 month or 1 yr contract then you'll have to stay for that period unless you have a special clause e.g. my contract has something that says I can move within my initial period if my company moves me etc. Your notice period would apply after that initial tie-in period which is the same as the UK. Having said that, you could just speak to the management company and see if its possible negotiate on your terms before signing up. Hope that helps.

I know this has probably been done to death here, but I honestly couldn't find any relevant search hits using the search tool. The only wiki page on Accommodation was about Accommodation problems in München. The classifieds section for accommodation only seems to contain apartments for rent for a limited time.

What I'm really after is a popular website that catalogues accommodation - especially in Berlin.

In Ireland, literally everybody uses the website www.daft.ie, which makes the whole experience all the easier, since people simply presume "if it's not on daft, it's not for rent." It's basically a one stop shop.

Is there anything similar for Germany?

If not, what is the best way of finding accommodation in Berlin? I'd like to first move into a WG due to money constraints, and also to get to know a few people immediately upon arrival. Then I'd most probably move into my own Wohnung.

Cheers for any help

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www.urban-apartments.com

Hello everyone in TT-Berlin,

Could anyone give me a website list the apartments for rent? Thanks!

In addition, I have some questions:
1) How long usually we need to sign the contract?
2) What is usually a deposit amount?
3) How long we need to inform if we want to terminate the leasing contract?

Thanks!
UT

[adminmerge][/adminmerge]

http://www.immobilienscout24.de/de/finden/wohnen/wohnung_miete/index.jsp

http://www.immowelt.de/

1. Not sure I understand. When they want you you can sign instant.

2. 2-3 months rent. PLus 1 month rent. PLus 2,38 x cold rent if you find an apartment with provision. So you can end up paying up to 5 months rent before moving in. PLus do note many apartments are empty shells you must buy everything form your kitchen -stove, fridge, counters, to light fixtures, easily over a grand. Apartments with in built kitchens will have higher rents.

3. Generally 3 months. Varies per contract but that is the standard.

I have apartments on Feurigstrasse in Schoneberg that i can rent pretty cheaply
pm if interested.

down the street from the new S bahn

Hallo!

I'm new here, just got back from my second visit to Berlin and a friend and I have decided we can't cope not living there any more... so we're hoping to move there in January.

I've lived in France for a year before and had an absolute nightmare with a money-grabbing unscrupulous letting agency so I'm keen to go private this time. A friend of my friend said when he moved there 2 years ago he found a lady (not an estate agent) who found him an apartment in Kreuzberg and set up his bank account and phone. He was happy with the results. She is offering this service to my friend and I for 230 euros.

Is this common practice in Berlin? Is there a name for it? I can't find any other reference to it on this thread so wondering if I should be wary. If anyone has any experience with it or tips on what to watch out for I would be most grateful.

I am learning German and hope have nailed the basics by Jan but obviously dealing with banks and flats etc isn't easy when you're not fluent!

Look forward to responses,

littlebear

I don't think that is so common but this lady doesn't sound that expensive at all so if your German is iffy then maybe give it a go. Otherwise just look for yourself on immonet or immobilienscout at private ads for which you dont have to pay an estate agents fee. You will be surprised how many Germans speak OK English especially in the property sector. Remember most flats in Germany come empty and that usually doesn't include a kitchen. If you want a kitchen you have to specify EBK in your search.

Thank Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus if you get someone to set all your stuff up for so little cash. It will save you a nightmare... but arriving in Germany with no job, no German and no connections is slightly asking for bother to say the least.

Where is the easiest place to set up a Bank account in Berlin being new to the city?

I would try a bank but not to live in. You can get one of those boxes but I doubt they would let you live in it. You will need the same basics in each. Passport, residency permit, your proof of address and a small amount of cash. I use Sparkasse.

Hi, thanks for the advice. I have got a job lined up and a few very helpful German friends so I'm not too worried. I'm popping over in November to get a feel for the property market etc and maybe meet this flathunter extraordinaire, see if it's worth it. We shall see!

Hi, I've some problems. I've been renting a room since last Feb, in my contract stated that i could terminate my contract at anytime after 30 Jan '10. My friends told me that this regulation is no longer valid. Is it true? I have problem with my neighbour and i would like to move asap, what should i do`? can i terminate my contract or not? If it's not possible, I'm thinking to rent my room to someone else. If i want to do this, should i find a new place first or finding a person who willing to rent it first? thank you for ur advice.

Does anyone have advice on how to get my deposit on my apartment back if I am not going to be in Germany? I am moving out the day I leave for home and as I understand it I have to be in Germany to have a bank account. So how do I get my money back? I'm game for opening a bank account so that the landlord can deposit the money in there and then closing it out afterwords, but I'd need to be able to do that last bit online. I'm American and I have accounts with WaMu (Chase now, I guess) and HSBC Direct.

Hi everyone,

I am an Australian who has been living in Berlin for a year now but am headed back home for 2 months and had to let my current apartment go.

I really need somewhere to stay for November and December this year (and possibly longer) when I return if anyone has a spare room going during that time. I have been living in Friedrichshain near work (biologist) but am happy to live anywhere in the east (prenzlau.., treptow, neokoln, kopenick). Very neat, love to cook, play sports, go to movies etc.

I'm happy to pay up to 500 euro a month for a nice room.

Cheers,

Brandon.

Hi, maybe you can find something helpful reading this blog http://finninberlin.blogspot.com/

Hi Everyone,
I'm planning our trip to flat hunt with my girlfriend and wondered if Saturday was still the best day for flat hunting? Does the berliner zeitung still have the main listings in its Saturday edition (I've seen posts that are nearly 5 years old and wondering if this information is still true), do they also have flat listings in each day's edition?

Thanks in advance.

Hello all,

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! BF and I are moving to Berlin in December/January. I have a job lined up and my supervisor is allowing me to stay with her for the short term. BF will then follow when I find an apartment for us/dogs. I've read the posts but still have a few questions I was hoping some kind soul could clear up for me.

1. Is Christmas time a bad time to try to rent? I'm worried that I'll get to Berlin on Dec. 12 and then everyone will leave/close for the holiday and I won't be able to do any apartment hunting until the end of the month.

2. How long does it normally take from signing the rental contract to moving in? I'm from the States and every place I've rented here starts the lease on either the 1st or the 15th of the month. Is it the same in Germany?

3. We are moving with our dogs (and I understand that might make apartment hunting a bit more difficult)...do German landlords charge pet deposits like in the US--either one lump sum at lease signing or per month fee? If so, about how much should I expect?

4. Can someone verify if I have the general order of operations correct (what I've gleaned from other posts, basically)? First, get short term address from supervisor I'm staying with and verification of employment, then get residency permit, next get work visa, then get German bank account, then transfer money into said account, then take 3 months euro cash apartment hunting?



Thanks for all the help!
Onawa