Hi all...

Ok... I probably sound like a complete idiot here, but I've arrived at my swinging, new (completely filthy) apartment and the power is turned off. Is that something the landlords turn on? Or who do I contact about this... How do I get power? How long does it take for the power switch on to take?

Sorry to ask such a basic question... at home, places always come with power unless they are houses!

Have you tried just flipping the switches on the circuit breaker? We moved into a new place last weekend and that was the first thing we had to do.

If flipping the switches doesn't work, you may need to call the electricity company, that's what we had to do when we moved in. Our landlord was able to tell us who the previous tenants had been with (Vattenfall in our case) and we called them up. They needed the meter reading and our bank details to set up a direct debit and then they "turned us on"!
Hope this helps

Yes, when you move in normally there is no electricity. You call the company you want to use (Vattenfall is the biggest) and provide them your bank details and you will have power.

Beware that the first year you will pay probably "average" consume, after one year they go to read the counters again and they will calculate the real consume and you either pay the difference or get the balance. So, do not use a lot of electricity thinking it is cheap because you are not really paying your real consume.

Hey everyone- Thanks for the help!

The electricity was a five day disaster. I only just got it on friday afternoon. I was trying to go through Nuon at a friend's request, that didn't work, then I tried Vattenfall, and they had to send someone out because a (from what I understand) a security block had been put on the meter. I had to take time off from work. It's been rahter nightmarish.

Things I can tell you about moving to Germany and renting an apartment - now that I've done it... a comparison. Warning - complaint ahead - mostly due to cultural differences that maybe someone can clear up for why this is...

*** First some background - in the USA, you only need to give 1 month of notice before moving, at most two. When you get your deposit back - they give it back within the month after you move - at most 3 months if you are getting it back. If not, they must provide you a letter for why they are keeping it. In Most states, the renter does not need to repaint, recarpet, or do any improvements to the apartment (in fact if you paint a different color wall - they will fine you!). There are no wires allowed to hang from the celings or anywhere else. Likewise, in the bathroom - a working toilet, bathing facilities and sink must be provided and in the kitchen, there must be a stove, refrigerator, and working sink. This is an "unfurnished apartment". ***

In Germany...

a) You have to give 3 months notice before you move out. This has to be given by the 3rd or the 5th of the month before you move. This means if you hate the place, you're stuck there for at least 3 months.

Unfurnished apartments have no lights (open wires from the celings), no kitchen (not even a sink, refrigerator, or stove), and the bathroom doesn't have to have facilities for bathing - a sink and toilet are the only thing necessary.

c) You have to repaint the flat before you move - and maybe replace the carpets. At your own expense. The owner/landlord doesn't expect that there is normal wear and tear on the place - or that they should have to do anything but collect your rent, do some paperwork, and just profit.

d) Don't plan on getting your deposit back the month you move out either. Landlords here can hold your deposit - after you've moved - for 6 months to a 1 year after you've moved out.

Ok folks, you've been warned. Welcome to Germany, you've found a flat, don't ever move.

~Rose

Phoenix Rose, aint that the truth.

Compared to American standards (and regulations) housing in Germany seems 3rd world.

However, living in Berlin, compared to New York or London, one can get awesome square footage for a fraction of the cost in said locations. You can really live well, once you have "rennovated" (installing light fixtures, cabinetry, etc.).

Plus, the corruption of landlords and their tricky tactics is almost comedic in what they think they can do...case in germany, you have to know your rights to claim them, otherwise you could be taken advantage of, even legally.

good news is that tennants have more rights than landlords and even where a terrible tennant has clearly violated their agreement, courts will side with tennants before landlords. Which leads to another topic, if you want to get into the buying and renting property game in germany: dont.

True story, we have a niche in our foyer which we simple converted to bookshelves...great idea, month later in winter, we discovered mold growing on the wall. I removed the few shelves and tore out the wallpaper and bleached it all, killing every last cell. The bauamt claimed that the opposite of the wall was an exterior and was exposed to moisture, air, the elements, stating it was high probability. The landlords sent their haus handy man (whom they refer as an expert...some unemployed fix-it all with no credentials in engineering, electrical, plumbing, structural, etc. you get it...) and looked at it and said, it must have been the books and cd's that caused it...this was their "expert rebuttle" to the bauamt...yes, ive often noticed Barnes & Noble having mildew problems...he he ...

anyway, the landlords hired a firm to come out and inspect if the wall needed drying out. Of course he claimed it didnt, it looked as if all was in order, despite the bauamts official moisture readouts and technical info. I basically signed a bill like paper, stating he was there and that nothing further needed to be done. Two weeks later, the landlords sent a document to my wife stating that I had agreed upon the conditions that it was the books and cd's that caused the mildew and do not hold the landlord responsible. also that we were responsible for the wallpaper and "damage" done to the apartment. the copy of this same document i signed all of a sudden had these terms written in...but not at the time of signing. This constitutes as forgery...altering documents that have already been signed. I really questioned the balls on these idiots to think they were going to get this past me...ive recently contacted them informing them of what, in germany, is taken extremely seriously as a crime. i also informed them, in my new york spirit, that I basically own their butts now. They asked to see my copy for verification (i laughed at the notion) and informed them since this was not under investigation (rules of disclosure) if they ever saw my document, the first time would be in a court of law...where they would most certainly lose. However, since the company name on this Rechnung is not of the landlord's, they wouldnt be implicated, but then again, since they orchestrated the letter thru the post with this idea, they could be held liable for any future problems.

3rd world is always cheapest!

and most capitalist landlords in Berlin earn a massive 4.5% return on the cold rent. Plus the fun of having lovely tenants and off setting 2% of purchase price against their income taxes. Buy to rent investors have got it made in Germany

Robert Berridge Hamburg