1. Work out your budget
German listings usually show two amounts. Kaltmiete (cold rent) is the rent for the flat itself. Warmmiete (warm rent) also includes advance payments for operating costs (Nebenkosten) and usually heating. Electricity and internet are mostly paid separately.
Also plan for one-off costs: the deposit (Kaution), the move, furniture and possibly a kitchen — not every flat comes with a fitted kitchen (Einbauküche).
Many landlords expect the warm rent to be no more than about a third of the household’s net income.
2. Prepare your documents
Good flats receive dozens of enquiries within hours, and landlords often choose among the first complete applications. Prepare your documents as PDFs in advance:
- the tenant self-disclosure form (Mieterselbstauskunft) — the landlord or agent usually provides it;
- a copy of your passport or ID card and, if applicable, your residence permit;
- proof of income for the last three months: salary slips, an employer’s certificate or a benefit notice;
- a credit report — see our guide on Schufa;
- a rent arrears clearance certificate (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung) from your previous landlord, if you have one;
- a short cover letter: who will live in the flat, what you do and why you will be a reliable tenant.
Send copies of your documents only after the viewing and only to a landlord or agent you have checked. Mark each copy “For rental application only” and add the date.
3. Where to look
- Flat-Radar: the listings catalog with filters by city, district and rooms. You can also create a housing request: landlords see it, and new matching listings come to your e-mail.
- State-owned housing companies: degewo, GESOBAU, Gewobag, HOWOGE, STADT UND LAND and WBM. They publish vacancies on their websites and on the joint portal inberlinwohnen.de. Many of their flats require a WBS.
- Housing cooperatives (Genossenschaften): rents are often lower, but you have to buy cooperative shares and waiting lists can be long.
- Large portals and groups: ImmoScout24, Immowelt, Kleinanzeigen, neighbourhood groups on social networks and, for rooms, WG-Gesucht. Watch out for scams there.
- Personal contacts: tell colleagues, friends and neighbours that you are looking — many flats are passed on without an advert.
4. Viewing and contract
Arrive at the viewing on time with your documents ready. Ask about operating and heating costs, the type of heating and the energy certificate (Energieausweis) — the landlord must show it at the viewing at the latest.
Before signing, read the contract carefully: rent and advance payments, start date, a fixed term (befristet), graduated or index-linked rent (Staffelmiete, Indexmiete). If in doubt, have it checked by a tenants’ association (Mieterverein); many Berlin districts also offer free tenant advice.
5. Deposit, agent fee and rent cap
- Deposit (Kaution): at most three months’ cold rent. You may pay it in three equal monthly instalments; the first is due when the tenancy starts.
- Agent fee (Maklerprovision): whoever hires the agent pays. If the landlord commissioned the agent, you pay no commission.
- Rent cap (Mietpreisbremse): in Berlin it applies until the end of 2029. For most flats, the rent at the start of a new tenancy may be at most 10% above the local reference rent (Mietspiegel). Exceptions include new buildings first let after 1 October 2014 and comprehensively modernised flats.
6. If the Jobcenter or social welfare office pays your rent
Before signing, show the rental offer to your Jobcenter or social welfare office (Sozialamt) and get written approval (Zusicherung). Without it, the office may cover only part of the rent. The deposit is often granted as a loan.
7. Moving in
- Do the handover together with the landlord and sign a handover report (Übergabeprotokoll): meter readings, keys and existing damage, with photos.
- Register your address within two weeks — see our guide on Anmeldung.
- Set up contracts for electricity and internet.
How to recognise a scam
- The rent is far below the market, and the “owner” is abroad and wants to send the keys by post.
- You are asked to pay a deposit, rent or a “reservation fee” before a viewing or before signing.
- You are asked to pay via money transfer services, vouchers or links to unknown “booking services”.
- You are pressed to decide immediately or to send copies of your documents to strangers.
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.