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Rental Real Estate Listing Sites
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Registering for a User Account
Registering for an account on rental listing sites is important because it allows you to access a wide range of listings, save your search criteria, and set up alerts for new listings that match your criteria. It also makes it easier to apply for rentals and communicate with landlords or property management companies. In addition, you will not receive a response on properties without registering for a free account.
Having an account can also help you keep track of your rental search and organization, as you can save favorite listings, take notes on properties, and keep track of your communication with landlords.
Do not just register for a username and
password, you will not get any responses from property managers unless you fill out all of the information except for the SCHUFA if you have SOFA status.
If you have SOFA status, do NOT apply for a SCHUFA credit check; by doing this, you have obligated yourself to pay German taxes.
If you do not have SOFA status, many other blogs explain the process of registering as a resident.
Germany's house listing descriptions are worded differently than you may be accustomed to seeing. Below you will find translations, explanations & other helpful tips.
Stuttgart Neighborhoods
Stuttgart is the capital city of Baden-Württemberg in Germany and is known for its cultural attractions, parks, and natural beauty. In addition, it is home to several distinct neighborhoods, each with its character and amenities.
There are no "bad" areas in or around Stuttgart.
Get out and explore; something fun is always happening in and
around Stuttgart.
Germany is a highly safe country with a low crime rate. Stuttgart ranks in the top 50 safest cities in the world. Stuttgart also ranks #1 as the least stressful city in the world.
The five major neighborhoods within the city of Stuttgart are:
Mitte (Middle/Center)
Stuttgart-Mitte: This is the central neighborhood of Stuttgart, and it is home to many of the city's cultural and historical landmarks, such as the Old Castle and the New Palace. It is also a significant commercial and business district with various shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
West (West)
Stuttgart-West: This neighborhood is located to the west of the city center and is known for its trendy residential areas, green spaces, and cultural attractions, such as Feuersee, Schloss Solitude, and Schwarzwild Park.
Ost (East)
Stuttgart-Ost: This neighborhood is located to the east of the city center and is home to a mix of residential and commercial areas, as well as cultural attractions, such as the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Nord (North)
Stuttgart-Nord: This neighborhood is located to the north of the city center and is home to a number of residential areas, parks, and recreational facilities, such as the Killesbergpark and Höhenfreibad.
Süd (South)
Stuttgart-Süd: This neighborhood is located to the south of the city center and is known for its residential areas, cultural attractions, and natural beauty.
Popular Adjacent Cities and other Neighborhoods of Stuttgart
Bad Cannstaat
Böblingen
Degerloch
Esslingen
Ludwigsburg
Ostheim
Vaihingen
Zuffenhausen
Things to consider before choosing the area of Stuttgart you want to live in.
Consider your location carefully regarding your mode of transportation to and from work and if you will be driving or taking public transportation.
You will find heavy traffic congestion out of the villages in the morning and into the villages in the evening compared to the city.
THERE IS ALWAYS HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND STUTTGART.
Rent a car and drive the route to and from the area you are considering at the time of day you would be commuting. Do this a few times on different days. Do not just rely on the GPS estimated time because rarely is this completely accurate. Gasoline prices are high even for those with access to the tax free fuel card.
Remember spending time with your family is much more precious than a large house and things.
Listing Descriptions & More
Rental Costs
In Germany, "cold rent" refers to the base rent for a rental property, which does not include any additional expenses or fees. The "cold rent" is typically the amount listed in rental advertisements and is used to calculate the base monthly rent price.
To calculate the total monthly rent, you will need to add any additional expenses or fees to the cold rent. These may include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as any other fees or charges specified in the rental contract, such as a broker's fee or cleaning charges.
It is essential to carefully review the terms of the rental contract and budget for all applicable expenses when renting a property in Germany. This can help ensure that you clearly understand the total monthly rent and can make an informed decision about whether the rental is affordable for you.
Cold Rent (Kaltmiete)
+
Warm Rent (Warmmiete/zzgl.)
=
Total Monthly Rent (Miete)
Cold Rent (Kaltmiete)
The base price of the apartment/house and nothing else.
Warm Rent (Warmmiete)
Warm rent may also be listed as zuzüglich abbreviated as zzgl: meaning plus something.
In Germany, the term "warm rent" (Warmmiete) refers to the total monthly rent for a rental property, including the base rent (cold rent) and any additional expenses or fees. The warm rent estimates the total property cost, including operating expenses such as insurance, taxes, and utilities.
Operating expenses may include insurance, taxes, lights in hallways, elevator maintenance, cleaning common areas (Hausmeister), landscaping, etc.
Heat may or may not be included in the warm rent, depending on the terms of the rental contract and the property's specific features. If heat is not included in the warm rent, it may be an additional cost that the tenant is responsible for paying separately.
Warm rent does not typically include electricity, cable, internet, or phone.
End-of-the-Year Costs (Nebenkosten)
In Germany, it is common for tenants to pay for operating expenses, such as utilities and maintenance, every month as part of the warm rent. At the end of the year, the landlord or property management company may provide the tenant with an accounting statement reconciling the actual costs incurred over the year with the estimated expenses prepaid as part of the warm rent.
If the actual costs were higher than the estimated costs, the tenant might be required to pay the additional funds at that time. On the other hand, if the tenant prepaid more than the actual costs, they may be entitled to a refund of the difference.
It is essential to review the accounting statement and any other documentation provided by the landlord or property management company to ensure that the charges are accurate and fair. If you have any questions or concerns, it is a good idea to raise them with the landlord or property management company before paying any additional funds or requesting a refund. The tenant has the right to review the statement and raise objections within 12 months.
Security Deposit (Kaution)
Kaution means "deposit," which refers to the amount the tenant must pay in advance as a security deposit. The security deposit cannot exceed three months of cold rent by law. The funds are held in a separate interest-bearing account.
Rent Index (Mietspiegel)
Rental prices are based on the government's overview of local comparative rents. Stuttgart releases a qualified index every two years. Landlords cannot charge more than 10% above the current market rent. A lease can include raising the rent yearly based on the index but cannot exceed 15% in three years.
Listing Descriptions
In Germany, the term "Zimmer" (room) describes the number of rooms in a rental property, including all rooms, not just bedrooms. Therefore, it is essential to carefully review the floor plan or other details provided in the rental listing to determine the number of bedrooms in the property.
For example, a 4-Zimmer Wohnung (4-room apartment) may have three bedrooms, one living room, or a different configuration of rooms. Many listings will include a floor plan or other details to help you understand the layout of the property and the number of bedrooms it has.
If you are unsure how many bedrooms a rental property has, you can try contacting the landlord or property management company for clarification or asking for a virtual tour or in-person viewing of the property. This can help you better understand the property's layout and features and determine whether it meets your needs and preferences.
Translations
English
Attic
Balcony
Basement
Bathroom
Bath Tub
Bedroom
By Arrangement
Cellar
Central Heating
Child's bedroom
Single Family House
Dining Room
Elevator
Farmhouse
Fitted Kitchen
Floor
Floor Heating
Floor Plan/Layout
Furnished
Garden
Ground Floor
Guest Toilet
Hall
Heating
House
Kitchen
Lawn area
Living Room
Living Space
Maisonette
Parking Place
Pet
Pet (Not) Allowed
Raised Ground Floor
(not street level)
Rental Apartment
Room
Semi-Detached/Duplex
Shower
Study
Terrace
Townhouse/Row House
Type
Underground Parking
Unfurnished
Wall
Toilet
WC (Water Closet)
Window
German*
Dachboden
Balkon
Souterrain
Badezimmer
Wanne
Schlafzimmer
nach Vereinbarung
Keller
Zentralheizung
Kinderzimmer
Einfamilienhaus
Esszimmer
Personenaufzug/Aufzug
Bauernhaus
Einbauküche
Boden/Fußboden
Fußbodenheizung
Grundriss
möbliert
Garten
Erdgeschoss
Gästetoilette/Gäste-WC
Flur
Heizung
Haus
Küche
Rasenflache
Wohnzimmer
Wohnfläche
Maisonette
Stellplatz
Haustier
(nicht) erlaubt
Hochparterre
Mietwohnung
Zimmer
Doppelhaushälfte
Dusche
Arbeitszimmer
Terrasse
Reihenhaus
Typ
Tiefgarage
unmöbliert
Wand
Toilette
WC/Wasser-Klosett/Klo
Fenster
*Text color indicates the article's gender
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Unexpected Norms
Kitchen cabinets and appliances are not always included.
It is not uncommon for rental properties in Germany to exclude certain items or features from the rental agreement. For example, some rental properties may not have a fitted kitchen, meaning that the tenant may be required to provide their own appliances and fixtures or rent them from a separate provider.
A fitted kitchen is equipped with cabinets, countertops, and appliances.
Always clarify if a kitchen pictured in the listing is included in the rental agreement. It is not unusual to take your kitchen when you move or rent it to the next tenant for a monthly fee.
If you are active-duty or a GS employee, the base can provide you with appliances if needed but not the cabinets or countertops.
Often kitchens can be found for free or very low cost on eBay Kleinanzeigen or Facebook Marketplace.
Many real estate finder sites have "fitted kitchen" (Einbauküche) as a search filter.
Light fixtures are not always permanent fixtures included.
Most rental properties will not include light fixtures or other finishes, such as curtains or blinds. In these cases, the tenant may be responsible for purchasing and installing these items themselves or negotiating with the landlord to have them included or installed in the rental agreement.
Light fixtures can be bought relatively inexpensively if you are not too picky about the style.
Clarify with the realtor if the fixtures are included. If they are omitted, you may be able to purchase existing fixtures from the current tenant
Dedicated parking is not always a standard option.
Parking may also be an issue to consider when renting a property in Germany. Some properties may have parking spaces or garages, while others may not. If parking is not included with the rental property, the tenant may need to find and pay for parking elsewhere.
Within the city of Stuttgart, street parking may be zoned as resident-only parking on street.
Your realtor or the landlord will know if the area is a parking zone, or you can search the areas on the Stuttgart City site.
A resident's parking pass is obtained through the Bürgerbüro office or online. As of 2022, the cost is 400€ per year. The fee has remained the same since the inception of the zoned areas in 2015.
Underground garages and other parking spaces are readily available for lease. You can search for open parking spaces for lease on ImmoblienScout24. On the home page's right side, change the search from Wohnung (rent) to Garagen/StellPlätz (Garages/Parking Spaces).
Apartments with multiple bathrooms are not the norm.
A place with more than one bathroom is not common in Stuttgart. Most real estate sites do not have a filter for bathrooms. An extremely common feature of German bathrooms is a towel warmer.
A rental listing with two bathrooms (Badzimmer) does not always mean two full baths. Two bathrooms often denote one full bath and one toilet (guest toilet), although this is not a hard-fast rule because sometimes it is two full baths.
Viewing Rental Properties
Viewing rental properties in Germany can be similar to home buying in the United States in that it may involve working with a real estate agent and scheduling appointments to view properties. However, it is essential to remember that renting a property in Germany may differ in some ways from buying a home in the United States.
One of the main differences is that individuals, rather than large corporations, own most properties in Germany. Therefore, you may need to work with a real estate agent or directly with the landlord or property owner to arrange viewings and apply for the rental.
Viewing multiple properties daily without a car is possible, especially if you are looking within the city and using public transportation. However, allowing enough time between appointments to travel to each property and view it correctly is vital.
Viewing rental properties in Germany can be challenging, but with proper planning and organization, finding a rental that meets your needs and preferences is possible.
Scheduling a Showing
Request a showing by first emailing the listing agent using the email address listed on the site.
Example
On ImmoScout24, the contact button is found on the right side of the page in the ad.
Original
Translated
After 2-3 business days, call the agent if you have not received a response.
We received almost no responses, but do not skip this 1st step because the agent's office will ask if you tried contacting them through the rental search site, and if you have not done this, they will request you send an email first.
If you are not fluent in German, an important phrase to know is:
,,Sprechen Sie Englisch?” ("Do you speak English?")
Day of the Showing
Helpful Tips
Be on time.
Punctuality is extremely important in German culture. Therefore, it is best to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Take advantage of the extra time to look outside and get a feel for the area.
Address the agent formally.
Use Herr (Mr.)/Frau (Ms.)
Ask lots of questions.
In every place we saw, the agents were charming and helpful. Do not be afraid to ask what the owner would be willing to negotiate.
For example, we toured a newly built apartment. It did not have light fixtures or a fitted kitchen. Initially, the landlord would not fit the kitchen, but a few days later, the agent contacted us, informing us that the landlord wanted us as tenants. If a fitted kitchen is what it would take for us to rent the apartment, she was willing to install a kitchen at her expense.
Verbal contracts are binding in Germany.
Do NOT say in any form that you want the place, even if you do. It is ok to take the application and say you will think about it, but tell the agent the day you will follow up with either a no or your completed application.
If you know right then the place is not for you, tell the agent and thank them for their time.
Keep a list of the places you have contacted and seen.
If you are interested in numerous places, a list will help you keep track of whom you have contacted and help you remember what you did or didn't like about a place.
Pre-formatted list to help you keep track of properties
Setting up showings is a process, but you will get over this hurdle too. It will be frustrating but worth it when you find your place and finally settle in.