Renting an apartment in Berlin from New York

Hi Friends,

I am trying to rent an apartment in Berlin beginning in August 1st. I will not be in Berlin before then and I have to do everything from New York but I found an apartment in Berliner Morgenpost. I don't speak German. From the real estate agent I received an application (in German). There is one point in the application that I don't know how to answer. In clause nr. 5 of the application for the apartment it says in German: "Wohnberechtigungsschein/Annuittattschein liegt (nicht) vor". I understand that 'Wohnberechtigungsschein' refers to an official document concerning eligibility for social housing. In the context of my not being in Berlin and not being able to get any documents of this sort, etc, how should I answer clause nr. 5 of the application for the apartment?

Alex in New York City

That is right. A wohnberechtigungsschein is a document for people on income support, single parents, students etc. I am afraid you wouldnt get one as a foreigner, no matter how your situation is. If a word is in brackets they want you to state that you have it by deleting nicht or stating that you dont have it by underlining nicht. If this is not a very cheap apartment that requires this document (some do legally), then it shouldnt be a problem

Not really true but it does not matter.

Did you contact the agency already? The WBS (Wohnberechtigungsschein) is necessary for some flats, sometimes you can get the flat without one, but it's more expensive then. Maybe you have to get over for some days to get the WBS.

Sorry if I am wrong about getting it as a foreigner, I was quite sure.