Discovering Germany

Page 34

Discovering Germany

Housing

Home Finding

The housing situation in Germany is unique and is emblematic of the German culture and

style. Houses and apartments in Germany are often smaller and have fewer built-in

furnishings at a comparably higher price than in many other countries.

In Germany, many people live in apartments rather than houses, especially in larger cities. A

high percentage of properties have two to three bedrooms and just one bathroom. It is not

common in Germany to have two full bathrooms in apartments.

Single detached houses tend to be in the outer suburbs of towns and cities. Just one or two

bedroom houses are not common in Germany. Large, family-friendly, furnished

accommodations are rare. Furnished properties are approximately 30% more expensive

than unfurnished properties.

Most foreigners moving to Germany choose to rent their accommodation rather than to buy a

property. Germans tend to buy houses for life and there is little fluctuation in the real-estate

market, although the demand remains high. It is not unusual for to-be owners to take up to

two years to find their home.

Good properties are not on the market for very long. This situation means that there is

usually not much time to negotiate the lease terms and that a speedy, sometimes even

immediate decision is required if one decides to rent a particular property.

A multiple listing system does not exist in Germany. This means that all estate agents have

to be contacted on an individual basis and only make offers from their own listings. Since the

realtor’s fee is paid by the tenant, landlords often engage two or more estate agents to find a

suitable tenant. Therefore, one might receive the same offer from two different agents. If this

happens it is necessary to inform the second estate agent immediately to avoid paying the

fee twice.

Estate agents are not the only option when looking for housing. Occasionally, private offers

can be found directly from landlords through newspaper advertisements and the internet.

Direct offers and internet postings do not require an estate agent fee.

Home Contents Insurance (

Hausratversicherung

)

Household insurance, covering the contents of your home against fire, water damage, theft,

vandalism, and hail is not required by law in Germany. But it is recommended, and some

landlords demand it. It is advisable to insure your home for €700 per square meter of living

space, since otherwise, you may be underinsured, and the insurance company may not pay

100% of the damage.