Student accommodation in Germany — how to find a room

Start with the Studierendenwerk

Every university city has a Studierendenwerk — a public body that runs subsidised halls of residence. It is far cheaper than the private market and the contract is always registrable. The catch is supply: in Munich, Berlin and Stuttgart the waiting list can be a year long, so apply the moment your admission arrives, and apply in more than one city if you are still deciding.

Understand the vocabulary before you sign

• Kaltmiete — rent without utilities. Warmmiete — rent including heating and service charges. Compare Warmmiete.
• Kaution — deposit, normally up to three months’ Kaltmiete, refundable when you move out.
• Anmeldung — address registration. You need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the landlord; without it you cannot register, and without registration you cannot get a residence permit, a bank account or a tax ID.
• Zwischenmiete — a sublet for a few months. A realistic first step while you look for something permanent.
• WG-Casting — the interview shared flats hold before choosing a flatmate. Normal, not a scam.

Avoiding the classic scam

The pattern is always the same: an unusually cheap flat, a landlord who is “abroad”, and a request to wire the deposit before you can view it — often through a fake escrow page. Never transfer money before a video viewing and a signed contract, and never pay by Western Union or crypto. A genuine landlord will happily do a live video walkthrough and give you a proper contract with their address on it.

A realistic plan from abroad

1. Apply to the Studierendenwerk immediately after admission.
2. Book a short-term furnished room or a sublet for your first 4–8 weeks so you can register and start the semester.
3. Once in the city, go to WG viewings in person — this is when the affordable rooms actually open up.