Housing Search in Germany

The Internet is the first source of information if you are looking for a home. There you will find pages specialized in real estate mediation. Many newspapers also publish real estate ads on their website.

ADVERTISEMENTS IN NEWSPAPERS
It is also worth taking a look at the newspaper as such. Inform yourself with neighbors, acquaintances or directly in the newspaper about the days in which the real estate notices are published, usually on weekends.

If you find something suitable in the period you should contact the person who leases or sells the property. In the offers a telephone number or an e-mail address is indicated. On occasion advertisers are also identified with figures or distinctive letters, known as reference codes (Chiffre, in German). To the ads with a reference code, you must respond in writing by means of a letter addressed to the newspaper. Subsequently, the document is automatically sent to the person who rents or sells the property. Do not forget to mention the corresponding reference code in the envelope and in the letter.

HELP OF THE HOUSING OFFICE
The housing office of your city or municipality can also help you in your home search. Often, intermediation services are offered directly there to find housing. Otherwise, employees of the housing office can, at least, help you with directions and useful information.

GO TO A REAL ESTATE AGENT
You can also request the help of real estate agencies, These professionals serve as intermediaries to find a house or apartment in exchange for the payment of a commission. In local commercial or telephone directories you will find contact addresses in this regard.

It is important to know that if you request the services of a real estate agent it is possible that when renting a house, additional costs of up to two months rent will be generated, plus the value added tax. When buying a property, the commission is between three and six percent of the purchase price, usually, plus the value added tax.

What to do after the move

NOTIFY THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS
As soon as you have a new home and, therefore, a new address, you must notify the citizen registration office in your municipality.
If you notify the change of address with a lot of delay, you may be fined. Also. Under certain circumstances, late notification of the change of address may have negative effects on your resident status. Some administrative authorities set a deadline of one week to make the change.

REQUEST THE RELEASE OF YOUR CORRESPONDENCE
If you have changed your address, we recommend that you request the return of your correspondence to the post office. In this way, your letters and packages will be automatically forwarded to the new address for a certain time. This service, however, is subject to the payment of a fee. You must take advantage of the validity time of the postal resend service to inform about the change of address to banks, insurance companies, public bodies and other entities or persons.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF TELEPHONE NUMBER.
If you have a fixed telephone line, keep in mind that you must request a change of address or disconnection before moving.

State Aid

SOCIAL HOUSING
In most cities and municipalities there are subsidized housing subsidized by the State in order to offer cheaper rents. For this reason, housing can only be rented to economically weak population groups. In order to rent one of these homes you need to have a certificate of authorization for officially protected housing. If your income is below a certain limit. You can request the certificate before the administrative authorities of your city or municipality. In most cases the competent agency is the housing office.

The authorization for housing of official protection is valid only for a certain time, therefore, try to request the extension opportunely.

HOUSING ALLOWANCE
It is probable that as a tenant you have the right to receive the housing subsidy. To determine if you are entitled to receive this subsidy and the amount of the aid. The number of people living in your home is taken into account. The amount of your total income and the cost of rent.

You can calculate if you have the right to receive the housing subsidy, and, if necessary, the amount to be paid for this concept, using a special calculator for this subsidy. Eight federated states offer this service on the Internet on the page
www.wohngeldrechner.nrw.de

The owner of a home can also receive an official subsidy, known as a subsidy to the owners' charges, if they live in it. This subsidy to the loads depends on the number of people living in the home, the sum of the total monthly income and the burdens to be taken into consideration. You will receive more information and the necessary forms at the office responsible for the housing subsidy of your city or municipality.

You can get more information on www.bmub.bund.de

Rent and Lease Law

The rental agreement is an important document that regulates many details of the rental relationship. It is binding for both you and your landlord. Provided that its content does not contravene the legal provisions of protection of the tenant. Therefore, we recommend reading the contract carefully before signing it.

Although it is also possible to enter into a lease contract verbally, it is advisable to do so in writing for reasons of legal certainty. In practice, landlords often use reprinted contracts drawn up by landlord associations. These contracts must also comply with the legal provisions of tenant protection.

It is to ensure that all stipulations are in writing in the rental agreement, because verbal agreements are common sources of dispute.

In addition to the rental contract, it is also usual to sign a certificate of delivery of the house when one moves to a new home. By signing it you confirm the state of the house when you took possession of it, for this reason it is advisable to read this document carefully. The landlord could later demand liability for any existing damages that do not appear there.

The landlord can demand the payment of a bond as collateral for the house. If after leaving the property you leave the house in poor condition or have not paid the rent completely, the landlord may withhold the money from the deposit. The deposit may not exceed the sum equivalent to three months of net rent ..

TEMARY:
LIVING IN GERMANY

ENTER IN GERMANY
Demands on immigration matters.
Application process
About the regulation of conyge

LEARN GERMAN
Integration Course
German course
Orientation Course
Integration Certificate
German for professional purposes

INFORMATION AND ORIENTATION
Advice for adults
Advice for immigrant youth
Special programs and individualized advice
Attention to the citizen, federal immigration office
Internet as a source of information

RESIDENCE AND NATURALIZATION
Office for people belonging to the European Union
Office for people not coming from the European Union
Repatriated Germans
Right of residence
Types of residence
Naturalization

WORK AND PROFESSION
Homologation of titles
Professional orientation, employment placement
Job application
Continuing professional training
Creation of a company and work on its own.

Housing LIVING PLACE
Housing search
Housing Office
Moving process
State aid social housing
Rentals and lease law

CHILDREN AND FAMILY
Pregnancy and protection of motherhood
Parental permission
Parental benefit
Subsidy for childcare
Family benefit for dependent child
Options for child care
Dispute and crisis family violence

SCHOOL, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY STUDIES
Education system
Types of School
Special educational support program
Vocational training
Requirements to access university studies
Adult education

HEALTH AND PRECAUTION
Care in case of illness or accident
Care in your mother tongue
Medical secret
Preventive medical exams and vaccines
Health prevention and childhood vaccination
Sexually transmitted diseases assistance
Assistance in case of addictions and drug use
Assistance for disabled people

INSURANCE AND BANKS
Financial transactions
credits
Mandatory social security
Pension insurance
Health insurance
Dependency insurance
Accident insurance
Unemployment insurance
Insurance for people and goods​