Before the viewing
Read the listing again and write down your questions. Check whether the warm rent fits your budget, and plan your route so that you arrive on time: in Berlin, many people are often invited at once. If the listing already seems suspicious, read the warning signs below first. For the search as a whole, see how to find a flat in Berlin.
What to bring
- your passport or ID card — to show, not to hand over;
- a folder with your application documents, or PDFs on your phone: the tenant self-disclosure form (Mieterselbstauskunft), proof of income and a credit report — see Schufa;
- a pen and paper or a notes app for answers and defects;
- your phone for photos (ask first) and to test mobile reception;
- a tape measure or a measuring app to check whether your furniture fits;
- if possible, a second person: two people notice more.
According to the German data protection authorities, the landlord may ask for your name and address at the viewing and look at your ID, but should not copy it. Proof of income and credit reports are usually needed only once you want to rent the flat. You do not have to answer questions about your nationality, religion or family plans. Give copies of documents only to a landlord or agent you have checked.
Questions to ask
A serious landlord or agent will answer openly. Write down the answers so that you can compare them with the contract later.
- How high are the cold rent (Kaltmiete) and the warm rent (Warmmiete)? What do the advance payments for operating costs (Nebenkosten) cover: are heating and hot water included?
- What kind of heating is it, and how old is it? With a gas heater in the flat (Gasetagenheizung), you often have your own gas contract and pay the supplier directly.
- May I see the energy certificate (Energieausweis)? The landlord must show it at the viewing at the latest. It shows the building’s energy use and efficiency class.
- Can I see the last Nebenkostenabrechnung? It shows the real running costs — see how to check it.
- Is the contract open-ended or fixed-term (befristet)? Is the rent graduated or index-linked (Staffelmiete, Indexmiete)? Is it a main tenancy or a sublet?
- When can I move in, and how will the handover take place?
- How high is the deposit (Kaution)? It may be at most three months’ cold rent, and you can pay it in three monthly instalments.
- Why is the previous tenant moving out? Is a kitchen or furniture to be taken over, and for how much?
- Can I register my address here (Anmeldung)? The landlord must confirm your move-in — see Anmeldung.
- Which internet connections are available: DSL, cable or fibre?
- Who do I contact about repairs: the landlord, a property management company (Hausverwaltung) or a caretaker?
What to check in the flat
- Mould and damp: look at window frames, the corners of outer walls, behind furniture and in the bathroom; watch out for a musty smell and stains on the ceiling.
- Windows: do they close tightly, is there a draught, are they double-glazed?
- Heating: a radiator in every room and working thermostats; ask how warm the flat stays in winter.
- Water: turn on the taps and the shower: water pressure, how quickly hot water comes, whether the drains run freely.
- Electrics: enough sockets, no loose cables; do the lights and switches work?
- Kitchen: is there a fitted kitchen (Einbauküche)? Which appliances are included, and do they work?
- Bathroom: a window or a working extractor fan; no traces of leaks.
- Noise: close the windows and listen: street, trams, neighbours, courtyard.
- Mobile reception in every room.
- Smoke detectors in the rooms (except the kitchen) and in the hallway: they are mandatory in Berlin flats.
- Extras: a cellar compartment (Kellerabteil), bike storage, a balcony — what belongs to the flat?
- The building: the stairwell, entrance door, letterboxes, doorbells, facade and roof show how well it is looked after.
Take photos of defects and write them down. Ask whether they will be fixed before you move in, and make sure that all defects are recorded in the handover report (Übergabeprotokoll) when you move in.
Check the surroundings
- public transport: the nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram or bus stop and your travel time to work, school or Kita (daycare);
- shops, a pharmacy, doctors and schools nearby;
- noise in the evening and at night: main roads, railway lines, bars, flight paths — if possible, come back in the evening;
- parks and playgrounds, cycle routes and parking.
Red flags and scams
- You are asked to pay money — a deposit, rent, a “reservation fee” or a “viewing fee” — before the viewing or before signing the contract.
- The “landlord” is abroad, cannot show the flat and wants to send the keys by post or via a booking service.
- The rent is far below the usual price for the area, the photos look like a catalogue, or the messages are full of mistakes.
- You are pushed to decide immediately or to e-mail copies of your ID before you have seen the flat.
- You are asked to pay a large sum for old furniture or a kitchen (Ablöse) to get the flat. A payment just for the previous tenant moving out is not allowed, and a price far above the value of the items is partly invalid — get advice before you pay.
- The landlord refuses to confirm your move-in for the Anmeldung.
Never transfer money before you have seen the flat in person and signed the contract. On Flat-Radar, report suspicious listings with the “Report” button on the listing page; if you have been cheated, report it to the police.
After the viewing
Good flats in Berlin often receive many applications, and landlords often choose among the first complete ones. Act quickly, but do not let anyone rush you into signing.
- If you like the flat, apply the same day: send your complete documents, ideally as a single PDF, to the contact given.
- Send a short follow-up message: thank them for the viewing, confirm your interest, and say when you can move in and who will live in the flat.
- Compare your notes and photos with other flats before you decide.
- Read the contract carefully before signing — see how to check a rental contract. If the Jobcenter pays your rent, get its approval before you sign.
- If it does not work out, keep looking: new offers appear in the listings catalog, and with a housing request landlords can find you, while new matching listings come to your e-mail.