Renting a Flat in Germany: The Vocabulary You Will Meet

Key German housing terms from Kaltmiete and Nebenkosten to Kaution and Hausordnung, with notes on unfurnished flats, quiet hours and tenant paperwork.

Finding a flat in Germany involves a specialised vocabulary. Understanding the terms in an advert or contract helps you compare offers and avoid surprises. This is general language help, not legal advice.

Types of home

die Wohnung — flat, apartment
das Haus — house
das Zimmer — room
die WG (Wohngemeinschaft) — shared flat
das Studentenwohnheim — student residence
das Reihenhaus — terraced house
das Apartment / das Einzimmerapartment — studio

Counting rooms

A 2-Zimmer-Wohnung has two rooms not counting the kitchen and bathroom: usually a living room and a bedroom. A 3-Zimmer-Wohnung has three, and so on.

In an advert

zu vermieten — for rent
die Wohnfläche — living area (in m²)
der Balkon / die Terrasse
der Aufzug / der Fahrstuhl — lift
der Keller — cellar (storage space)
der Stellplatz — parking space
möbliert / unmöbliert — furnished / unfurnished
die Einbauküche (EBK) — fitted kitchen
Erdgeschoss (EG) — ground floor
1. OG — first floor
Altbau / Neubau — old building / new building
ab sofort / ab 01.11. — available immediately / from 1 November
barrierefrei — accessible

Costs

die Miete — rent
die Kaltmiete — base rent, without heating and utilities
die Nebenkosten (NK) — service charges (water, waste, building maintenance)
die Warmmiete — total rent, including heating and service charges
die Heizkosten — heating costs
die Kaution — deposit (by law usually capped at three months' base rent)
die Provision — agent's fee
die Nachzahlung — additional payment after the annual utility settlement

Important: unfurnished usually means unfurnished

In Germany, an unmöbliert flat may not have a kitchen at all, or even light fittings. If the advert doesn't mention an Einbauküche, you may have to buy and install your own.

The contract

der Mietvertrag — tenancy agreement
der Mieter / die Mieterin — tenant
der Vermieter / die Vermieterin — landlord
die Kündigung — notice to end the contract
die Kündigungsfrist — notice period (often three months for tenants)
befristet / unbefristet — fixed-term / open-ended
die Hausordnung — house rules
die Übergabe / das Übergabeprotokoll — handover (and its written record)
der Nachmieter — successor tenant
die Mieterhöhung — rent increase

Applying for a flat

die Besichtigung — viewing
die Selbstauskunft — a form with your personal and financial details
die SCHUFA-Auskunft — credit report from the SCHUFA agency
der Einkommensnachweis — proof of income
die Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung — confirmation of no rent arrears from a previous landlord

Demand is high in many cities, so prepare your documents in advance.

Living there

die Anmeldung — registering your address at the local office (required within about two weeks of moving in)
die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — landlord's confirmation needed for registration
der Strom / das Gas / das Wasser / das Internet — electricity, gas, water, internet
der Zähler — meter
der Rundfunkbeitrag — the household broadcasting fee

Quiet hours and house rules

die Ruhezeiten — quiet hours
die Nachtruhe — night-time quiet, usually from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
die Mittagsruhe — midday quiet, in some buildings
Sundays and public holidays are also quiet days: avoid loud DIY or vacuuming.
die Mülltrennung — waste sorting
der Hausflur / das Treppenhaus — hallway / stairwell (often cleaned in rotation)

Noise rules are taken seriously, and repeated complaints from neighbours can cause problems.

Useful phrases

Ist die Wohnung noch frei? — Is the flat still available?
Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten? — How high are the service charges?
Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?
Wann kann ich einziehen? — When can I move in?
Ist eine Küche vorhanden? — Is there a kitchen?
Sind Haustiere erlaubt? — Are pets allowed?

Tips

Read the contract carefully, and ask for explanations.
Photograph the flat at handover.
Beware of scams asking for money before a viewing.
Consider tenants' associations for advice.

Look up housing terms offline with English German Dictionary →