New In Germany ? The Semester is starting and you’re struggling to find a room in a WG? This is why!

The new semester has begun, and many international students are still searching for rooms in Germany. Last year, I wrote about this issue, and it caused quite a ruckus. Now, I’m back with a less ranty and slightly more constructive approach.

**Please note**: The advice I’m about to provide is only applicable if you’re looking for a room in a **WG (Wohngemeinschaft)**. If you’re applying for a flat, a single room in the dorms, or even a room in a Zweck-WG, please ignore the following; it will NOT help you, but make things worse instead.

Let’s get to it:

1. **You will not find a room while still abroad.** You might be lucky to get an initial meeting via video chat (see application process below) but be extremely cautious about scams targeting foreigners. **Big warning signs**: Fantastic-looking but cheap rooms. Landlords who live abroad and want to handle things via an agent or an agency (even if it’s Airbnb), money transfers via Western Union or other similar services. **Do not (under any circumstances whatsoever) pay anything before you’ve seen the room, the landlord, and your future flatmates in person.** It’s cash for keys, not cash before keys, and definitely not keys via mail. You can (and should!) read about [Common housing scams in Germany here](https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/housing-scams). It’s a serious issue.

2. **You need to understand what a WG actually is.** A WG is a shared flat or house where the emphasis is on shared. While you’ll have your own room, the bathroom, kitchen, and other common areas are shared with flatmates. This arrangement typically includes sharing basic household necessities like toilet paper and cooking supplies (such as spices and oil). Additionally, you’ll be sharing a significant part of your daily life with the people already living there. The specifics of of this can vary widely among individual WGs, though. The ad will usually tell you what you need to know.
About 30% of all applications we receive come from students who clearly haven’t grasped the concept of a WG. They ask about Airbnb accommodations, boarding houses, regular apartments, or even dorm rooms. However, it’s essential to understand that a WG is none of those. If it becomes clear that you lack this understanding, your application will be ignored/denied. The process is exhausting, your application is one of many(!), and the WG will be busy talking to those people that don’t need a crash course into WG-living first.

3. **You need to read the ad you’re answering**. All of it. Seriously. I can’t stress this enough. Read it. If it’s obvious that you haven’t, your application will be ignored/denied. The WG is busy talking to the people that actually did.

4. **You need to understand the application process:** In the vast majority of cases, the individuals already residing in the flat are the ones seeking new housemates. These people are **NOT** the landlords. If the ad is posted online by a landlord, it will be evident from the content of the ad itself. In such cases, you are typically dealing with a Zweck-WG. While this arrangement is similar, it places less emphasis on community and more on sharing out of necessity.
An ideal application comes in readable form. If your German isn’t strong enough for the entire application process, feel free to write in English (If you can’t read the ad, don’t bother writing in german) Don’t rely on automatic translations, but if you do, provide the original text alongside. Those who are comfortable living with someone who doesn’t speak German won’t mind you writing in English. And those who are uncomfortable will deny your application anyway. Clear communication is key, and writing in a language everyone is confident in helps prevent so. many. misunderstandings.
A WG is all about vibing together. Sharing breakfast before that stupid 8 am class. Binge-watching shows instead of studying for finals, and enjoying beers in the kitchen at 3 am on a Wednesday.
Another \~30% of our applications come from Indian students. Most of them study mechatronics or electrical engineering, and they all describe themselves as clean and quiet. While being clean and quiet isn’t a negative per se, is this really all you have to say about yourself? Do you not have hobbies? Do you ever leave the house for reasons other than studying?
Write a little bit about yourself, Who are you? What are you studying? What are you passionate about in life? How long are you staying in germany? (many WGs are not interested in exchange students who only stay for one semester, but your chances will increase if you’re in it for the entire degree). You really don’t need to write a novel, but you need to give some more info other than your name. Please make sure that you actually read. the. entire. ad. Refer to it if possible, answer any questions that people might have (read the ad to find them).
Once again, every WG is different, but after your application has passed the first stage, you are usually invited for an in-person meeting. This can be a quick 15-minute chat or an entire evening spent with the whole crew. The format varies significantly. During this meeting, it’s essential to show sincere interest in the people living there. Ask questions about their life, field of study, and what they expect from their future flatmate. Additionally, use this opportunity to ask about the situation with the landlord, as WG contracts can get messy.
If you just ask about where to sign the contract within 2 minutes of entering the house, that shows your desperation and is probably seen as red flag. It’s better to write a follow up message later that shows your sincere interest in both the room AND in living with the people who come with the room.

5. If you passed the casting stage, the WG will now get you in contact with the landlord. Congratulations, you found a room, enjoy your experience with your new flatmates 🙂

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https://old.reddit.com/r/germany/comments/1c2dvur/new_in_germany_the_semester_is_starting_and_youre/

Posted by gilbatron