HousingFinding a home in Germany: rent, SCHUFA and the lease
How to search for a flat, what SCHUFA and Selbstauskunft are, how deposits and service charges work, and what to check before you sign.
Next review scheduled: 29 March 2027
The German rental market
In large cities demand far outstrips supply. Expect to view several flats, to reply to listings quickly, and to have a complete application folder ready before you even see the property.
The most used portals are ImmobiliScout24, ImmoWelt, WG-Gesucht (for shared rooms) and Kleinanzeigen. Many listings also appear on housing cooperative (Genossenschaft) sites and local agencies.
The application folder ()
Documents to prepare when applying
- Self-declaration (Selbstauskunft) with your personal details and employment situation
- SCHUFA report as a PDF (if you have one)
- Your last three payslips or proof of income
- Copy of your ID card or passport
- Employment contract or letter from your employer
- For students: enrolment certificate and parents' guarantee, if required
- Reference from your previous landlord (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung), if you have rented in Germany before
explained simply
is a private agency that collects data on credit, contracts and payments. The score helps landlords and companies assess reliability. It isn't a public authority and doesn't decide anything on its own: it provides information.
Everyone is entitled to a free copy of their own data once a year (data copy under Article 15 GDPR), which can be requested online. Check for incorrect entries: they can be corrected free of charge.
Just arrived and have no SCHUFA record?
That's completely normal. Many landlords accept alternatives: payslips, a permanent contract, a letter from your employer and sometimes a guarantee (Bürgschaft) or three months' deposit. Explain your situation in a short cover letter: it works better than you'd think.
Step by step
- Prepare the folder before you reply to listings: PDFs ready and clearly named.
- Reply quickly with a short, polite message: whoever writes first has more chance.
- View the property and ask about service charges, heating, insulation and future costs.
- Explain your situation transparently: work, income, any guarantees.
- Read the lease before signing. Check the term, notice period, deposit, graduated rent (scheduled increases) and house rules.
- Complete the handover report both on move-in and move-out: photograph everything and note any defects.
- Do the within two weeks of moving.
What to check in the contract
- Cold rent and service charges: they must be stated separately.
- Deposit: a maximum of three months' cold rent, payable in three instalments.
- Notice period: usually 3 months.
- Graduated or index-linked rent: scheduled or inflation-linked increases.
- Cosmetic repair clauses: rules on painting and repairs: many are void under German case law.
- : ask the landlord for it straight away for your .
Common mistakes
- Signing without reading. A German lease is binding: have the check any clause you're unsure about.
- Paying before the viewing. It's the number one warning sign of a scam.
- Forgetting the handover report. Without the record and photos, you can be charged for damage you didn't cause when you hand the flat back.
- Not checking the utility bill. You have 12 months to dispute it: compare the items with previous years.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
Always check the official sources before you act.
- Checked on 29 September 2026German Civil Code (BGB) § 551 — Deposit
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__551.html
- Checked on 29 September 2026SCHUFA — My data
https://www.schufa.de
- Checked on 29 September 2026Deutscher Mieterbund — Tenant advice
https://www.mieterbund.de
Related guides
3 minAnmeldung in Germany: how to register your address
How the Anmeldung works, which documents you need and how to book an appointment at the Bürgeramt, step by step.
DocumentsUpdated 29 September 2026
3 minOpening a bank account in Germany: a practical guide
Which bank to choose, which documents you need, how IBAN, SEPA and direct debit work, and how to recognise the most common scams.
Banking and moneyUpdated 29 September 2026
3 minYour first 30 days in Germany: what to do and in what order
A checklist for your first 30 days: before you leave, the first 7 days and the weeks after, with documents, deadlines and mistakes to avoid.
First stepsUpdated 29 September 2026This guide provides general information and does not replace individual legal, tax or financial advice.