How to Find Accommodation in Germany – Complete Student Guide

Planning Your Accommodation Search in Germany

Finding accommodation in Germany doesn’t sound like a particularly difficult task. However, if your budget as a student is limited and you don’t yet know your way around Germany well, looking for a flat may not be that easy.

To find a place to live in Germany that suits your needs and that you feel comfortable in, it is important to think about a few crucial aspects first:

• What is your budget?
• Do you prefer to live alone or with other students?
• Where should your apartment be located?
• Do you prefer to live near campus, in the city or on the outskirts?

German Accommodation Portals for Students

If you are a student and want to find an apartment in Germany, you have a good choice of the best-known flat portals. On Immobilienscout24, Immowelt or Immonet you can find furnished studios, one-room or multi-room flats. It’s always worth a browse.

However, since most apartments on these portals are offered without furniture, you should use filters when looking for accommodation on these portals that only show you furnished flats. These portals often offer long-term rentals and are worthwhile if you plan to stay in Germany for at least 1 year.

Alternatively, you can find furnished accommodation on the following platforms:

Home & Co

Home & Co offers fully furnished apartments for students and young professionals. Their apartments are available in various German cities like Berlin, Bonn, Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt.

Home & Co apartments are especially designed for young internationals with the buildings having community spaces, like gyms, coworking areas and lounges. You can easily book your apartment online and find customer support in English, German, Chinese, Hindi & Spanish.

Spacest.Com

Spacest.com is an online platform that connects tenants with landlords to make the apartment search process safer and smoother. On their website you can find shared flats as well as furnished studio apartments ideal for students in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich.

Uniplaces

On the Uniplaces platform, you can find furnished one-room and shared apartments also designed for students. Their website allows you to smoothly book an apartment online, even from your home country. They have a multilingual team ready to assist you with any inquiries.

Wunderflats

You can also rent furnished apartments on Wunderflats, a platform that offers temporary housing in German cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne. The entire process is conducted online to save you time.

Flat Shares (WG) in Germany

If you are sociable and would like to live with other people, a shared flat, or “WG” (short for Wohngemeinschaft”), could be the ideal accommodation for you. Online portals such as WG-Gesucht specialise in showing listings for shared apartments in Germany.

A shared flat is not only a practical way to save money and still live attractively, but also to make friends in a new city and meet new people. You will often find adverts on notice boards at your university from other students who are looking for flatmates for a shared flat.

Temporary Housing Solutions in Germany

If you arrive in Germany before finding a permanent place, temporary housing gives you a safe and flexible start. Options include hostels, guesthouses, serviced apartments, and even short-term sublets advertised on platforms like WG-Gesucht. Many students also use university noticeboards or local Facebook groups to find interim accommodation.

Temporary housing provides security and peace of mind while you explore better options. The benefit is that you can view flats in person, meet potential flatmates, and avoid rushing into a decision from your home country.

Student Halls of Residence in Germany

Many universities collaborate with Studentenwerk (Student Services Organisations) to provide affordable halls of residence. These are usually cheaper than private rentals and offer student-focused facilities such as study rooms, shared kitchens and laundry rooms.

There are different types of student halls ranging from those single rooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms to small studios with en-suite bathrooms. Most Studentenwerk halls include utilities such as water, heating, and internet in the rent, which makes budgeting easier. However, demand is high, so applying early is essential.

Living for Help Programmes in Germany

The “Wohnen für Hilfe” (Living for Help) programme matches students with people who need support at home. In exchange for help with tasks like gardening, cooking, or shopping, students receive reduced rent or free accommodation. This programme is especially popular in bigger cities.

Typically, the arrangement is calculated on a time-for-rent basis. For example, one hour of help per month is exchanged for one square metre of living space. This makes the expectations clear and ensures both sides understand the balance of support and housing.

Sharing Accommodation with Older People

Even independently of projects like Living for Help, there are many older people who rent out rooms to students, as they feel more comfortable having someone close by to ask for help in an emergency. Often, students will contribute with light household assistance in exchange for lower costs.

Since older people are often old-fashioned, you will often find such requests in newspapers or on notice boards in public places in the city. But you can also sometimes find rooms or self-contained flats that pensioners sublet to students on housing portals.

Host Family Accommodation in Germany

Living with a host family can be particularly attractive for international students, as it can help you to build up your first social network and find your way around in your new surroundings. For many international students, it feels reassuring to have guidance and support from people who know the city well.

In your guest family, you are immediately immersed in German everyday culture and can also improve your language skills every day. Another benefit is flexibility, as arrangements can range from short-term stays to longer commitments. Some families offer students a private room with shared household facilities, while others provide more independent spaces within the same property.

Facebook Housing Groups in Germany

The tips mentioned so far haven’t helped you find a flat in Germany? Then take a look at Facebook! There are often groups specifically for foreign students in Germany where you can get together with other students to look for a flat, start a flat share or share valuable tips.

You can also find flat-hunting groups in your city on Facebook, which will help you find a room in a shared flat or a flat in Germany. Always be cautious and verify details to avoid scams when dealing with online postings.

Studentenwerk Housing Support

If you are having trouble finding a flat in Germany, the German Student Union may be able to help you. Almost every university has a student association that looks after its students and helps them find a place to stay if they are still looking for a flat.

As a student, you can get tips from the Studentenwerk on where you can find a flat in Germany, where a flat may have just become available or which flat-sharing community is still looking for flatmates.