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Looking for housing

Family with two children on the sofa

Are you looking for an apartment or a house in the city? Or would you prefer to live in a village on the countryside? Rhineland-Palatinate provides great opportunities for you to rent or buy single-family homes with a garden, modern apartment rentals or even historic villas. "Make it in Rhineland-Palatinate" will be happy to give you advice on how to find the right housing for you and your family.

You can search for apartments or houses in daily newspapers (often in the weekend editions), or on the internet. The easiest way to find offers is to use an internet search engine. Properties can be rented either directly from the owner or from the property management. If you are a student, you can also contact the “Studierendenwerk” directly if you are looking for an apartment in a student residence.

Alternatively, you can hire a real estate agent to help you find accommodation. They offer their professional guidance and assistance in return for a commission payment. If the housing brokerage is successful, the commission charged can equal up to two months’ rent (ancillary costs excluded) plus 19% VAT. Their addresses can be found in business directories, telephone books or on the internet. In the case of a purchase, the broker’s commission is usually three to seven percent of the purchase price plus VAT.

It is common practice that to disclose your financial situation to the broker or landlord. A copy of your employment contract or bank statements or salary statements are often sufficient for this purpose. This ensures the landlord that you are financially capable of paying the rent for the apartment you are interested in.

The rent/purchase price of a property depends on the size of the house or apartment, the location, the year of construction and condition as well as the amenities in the building (e.g. with elevator, janitor or garage).

Amenities

Apartments and houses in Germany are usually rented or sold unfurnished. Fitted kitchens, fitted wardrobes and shelves as well as washing machine, dryer, curtains and lamps have to be bought by the new tenant or owner. However, when renting an apartment or house in Germany, it is very common to install your own kitchen and take it with you when moving out at the end of the rental period. Nonetheless, exceptions can be arranged.

If you initially arrive without furniture, you can rent furnished rooms or apartments on temporary basis. Many universities, colleges, universities of applied sciences, research institutes and larger companies in Rhineland-Palatinate have their own guesthouses and staff apartments that you can rent for the initial period of your stay.

If you have found something suitable in the newspaper, call the landlord or vendor directly. Sometimes the inquiry is listed with a code number or code letters are listed called "Chiffre". These inquiries require you to reply by letter to the publisher. The letter is then automatically forwarded to the landlord or the vendor.