What to know first
- Compare Warmmiete, not only the headline Kaltmiete.
- Prepare documents, but minimise sensitive data until the recipient is verified.
- Confirm that Anmeldung is possible.
- Never let urgency replace identity, contract, and payment checks.
Search the right portals for the right home
Use ImmoScout24 and Immowelt mainly for full apartments; WG-Gesucht for rooms, shared flats and sublets; HousingAnywhere or Wunderflats for furnished medium-term accommodation; and Kleinanzeigen carefully for private listings. Students should also apply directly to the local Studierendenwerk because its rooms may never appear on commercial portals.
Create saved searches with Warmmiete, move-in date, size and commute filters. In competitive cities, reply with a short tailored introduction and keep a simple tracker of link, contact, date, viewing and outcome.
Prepare a concrete application pack
Prepare a one-page introduction, identity evidence, employment contract or enrolment certificate, the last three payslips when available, SCHUFA evidence or an explanation that you are new to Germany, and a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung or guarantor only when relevant. Do not invent documents you cannot provide.
For a first message, state who will live there, net household income or study funding, job or course, intended move date, desired term and viewing availability. Redact document numbers and unrelated transactions until the recipient and listing are verified.
- One-page applicant profile
- Passport or ID copy with unnecessary fields redacted
- Employment contract and up to three recent payslips, or enrolment and funding evidence
- SCHUFA certificate or newcomer explanation
- Guarantor evidence only when needed
- Written confirmation that Anmeldung and Wohnungsgeberbestätigung are available
Check the home and the agreement
View the property in person when possible, or use a trusted representative and a live viewing. Confirm the address, identity and role of the person offering it, rent components, deposit, included furniture, defects, and handover process.
Read the full contract before transferring money. Search the wording you do not understand and ask for clarification in writing. A legitimate opportunity should survive basic due diligence.
Recognise scam patterns
Common warning signs include a price far below comparable homes, a supposed owner abroad, refusal to show the property, pressure to transfer before verification, payment through unusual channels, copied photographs, or inconsistent identities.
Do not send money to ‘reserve’ a property solely on the basis of messages and images. If something feels wrong, stop and verify independently.
Commercial disclosure: if this page later includes a partner link, it will be labelled clearly. Partners will not control our editorial conclusions.
Common questions
What documents should I prepare?
Prepare proof of identity and ability to pay, plus a concise applicant profile. The exact pack varies. Share sensitive documents in stages and only with verified recipients.
Can I find housing before I arrive?
Yes, but remote searches carry additional fraud risk. Reputable temporary accommodation can provide time for an in-person long-term search.
What is a WG?
A Wohngemeinschaft is a shared household. You normally rent a room and share common spaces; clarify the contract structure and whether registration is possible.