Apartments in Berlin are numerous and fairly easy to rent, especially in comparison to London or Munich. Prices are quite affordable.
Advice for flat hunting
Set aside at least two weeks, and ideally two months for flat hunting. This will also vary according to your budget and needs. Temporary rentals offer accommodations without a lengthy contract or big deposit, while you get yourself sorted out. The typical procedure involves visiting properties you’re interested in, applying for the unit and waiting while the landlord processes the applications for potential tenants. Apartments in popular areas will take longer to acquire doing to increased competition from other rents.
Renting as a ‘Nachmeiter’ means assuming another person’s lease, where those moving out will vouch for the new tenant with their landlord. Usually passing the credit check will earn the landlord’s approval to lease the unit.
Short-stay accommodation in Berlin
ñ Be My Guest -Offers reasonably priced B&B’s, apartments and rooms in Central Berlin. Stays range from a weekend to a month and perfect for individuals, businessmen and families. Get tips from this English website from Berlin natives.
Accommodation agencies
- OTA-BERLIN – specializes in per-furnished apartment rentals
- Room with a Loo is a flat location service that caters to English speakers. They offer several flats. (edit: ROOM WITH A LOO has now been replaced with EXBERLINER FLAT RENTALS)
- BERIMMO REAL ESTATE – offers assistance through all aspects of home buying.
- HouseTrip Berlin Apartments – features a number of quality self catering rental apartments in Berlin’s most popular districts. Book online.
- URBAN APARTMENTS BERLIN Those staying in Berlin for a longer vacation, studies appreciate a great apartment with amenities. Find apartments in Berlin’s hottest neighborhoods. Apartments appeal to those wanting more privacy and lower prices than hotels offer.
Advertisement listings
ñ Pick up the Saturday edition of Berliner Zeitung for great listings of Berlin flats and apartments. Look for “Immobilien”, the German term for property to access the flats rental section.
ñ Berliner Morgenpost/ Rent
ñ WG;s: Collective living arrangements www.wg-gesucht.de / Berlin
ñ For temporary and contract listings: www.zweitehand.de
ñ Agencies often use www.scout24.de . Be prepared to pay an access fee.
Typical prices
Leasing Example 1- Fee is roughly 400 Euro warm for a two-room flat, about 64 square meters, with a balcony and hard wood floors. Located in Teptow, it’s only a 10 minute walk to Kreuzberg or a 20 minute bus ride to Alex. Can’t find this kind of place, at this price in London!
Leasing Example 2- Cost about 900 Euro warm. This flat was a three-room unit of about 95 square meters. By comparison, for a one bedroom flat in the UK, it cost 650 pounds, so the financial winner is definitely the Berlin unit.
Example 3: Over time rents increase. Upon first moving to Berlin in 1990, rent cost 220 DM or 110 Euros a month for a 2-room flat both in Kopenick and Friedrichshain. The mid 90s saw rents inch to 440 Marks or 660 DM for a 2-room unit if Prenzlauer Berg. Currently rents cost almost twice those rates, but are a great exchange considering you don’t have to look over your shoulder and live in a nicer place.
City districts
Treptow offers affordable rent and has been gaining in popularity.
Prenzlauer Berg is a great place to live but costs more.
Friedrichshain is affordable but some places are run down and covered in litter.
