German Housing Glossary Explained

German Housing Ad

When it comes to finding adequate housing in Berlin, you will have a look on one of the many internet sites offering apartments, houses and shared apartments (WGs). 

These ads are usually short, specially when  published in a newspaper or magazine, since every line does cost a fair bit of money, or the overall ad space is simply limited. Due to this reason, and their general fondness for being short and specific, Germans are the true champions of housing abbreviations (abbrv.)

Housing Ad Berlin

In this article, we've listed a few examples of such ads, which even for a native-speaking German - if inexperienced like myself- may pose some head scratching.

Find Housing in Berlin - (to Rent)

One of the first things you will worry about when moving to Berlin is the housing situation. 'Where to live, how much rent, what kind of papers do I need and where do I find the best housing?' This post will deal with the latter of these questions, namely: 'Where to find housing in Berlin'?

Here in Germany, we usually differentiate between real estate agents, housing societies and private landlords. First and foremost, you have to understand the basic differences between a German housing society or "Wohnungsbaugesellschaften" (privately run housing societies providing rentals for a fair price regulated by the general private rental index). The other ones are typical real estate agents and then you also have the just straight up landlords/tenants or "Eigentümer/Hauptmieter" wanting to (sub)let their places for varying rental periods.
For the latter, you usually just pay the rent without any additional costs or courtages.

Find a Job in Berlin

Making a move to a new city or a new country can be a daunting decision.

Globally, unemployment is still on the rise but luckily shrinking in Germany.  Berlin - being the capital - still has some catching up to do in terms of the UER, but is enjoying strong growth in the creative and service industry.

So you've decided to find a job in Berlin or anywhere in Germany and you have already exhausted all the possibilities of the familiar sites you know from back home or can't find what you are looking for?

Here is a list of addresses and sites which list most local jobs in Berlin and other German cities. Some of the sites are in English and some are in German.