'Housing rental websites in Germany: where to look for an apartment, a
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It’s easier to search for housing in Germany on several platforms at once: individual listings often appear on only one portal, and good apartments quickly receive dozens of responses. For long-term rentals, people most often use ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt, Immonet, Immobilo, and Kleinanzeigen; for temporary furnished housing—HousingAnywhere, Wunderflats, and Spotahome; and for a room in a shared apartment (WG)—WG-Gesucht and the WG sections on major portals.
The main criteria when choosing an apartment to move into aren’t just price and location. Make sure to check whether you can obtain a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: without this confirmation, you usually cannot complete your Anmeldung, and without registration, it’s more difficult to obtain a residence permit, tax ID, bank account, and other basic services.
Where to look for a long-term apartment
A long-term lease in Germany usually means a standard Mietvertrag without a predetermined move-out date. It takes a long time to find such apartments, especially in major cities, so it’s best to create profiles on several websites, prepare your documents in advance, and respond quickly to suitable listings.
ImmobilienScout24
ImmobilienScout24 — one of the most well-known real estate portals in Germany. Private landlords, agencies, and property management companies post apartments there. In major cities, many listings receive numerous responses within the first few hours.
Helpful tips:
- a wide selection of apartments and houses;
- filters by neighborhood, price, square footage, number of rooms, and accessibility;
- a tenant profile and paid features to make your application stand out;
- a separate section for rooms in shared apartments (WG).
Downside: Competition is high, and some features are only available through a paid subscription. A premium account doesn’t guarantee you’ll find an apartment, but it can help you submit well-organized applications more quickly.
Immowelt
Immowelt — a major German platform for renting and buying real estate. It’s worth checking this site alongside ImmobilienScout24, because some landlords post listings only there or initially publish a property on just one platform.
This portal is suitable for searching for apartments, houses, new construction, and commercial properties. The interface is mostly in German, so it’s helpful to learn some key terms in advance: Kaltmiete, Warmmiete, Nebenkosten, Kaution, Wohnfläche, Zimmer.
Immonet
Immonet It’s part of the same group as Immowelt, so listings may overlap. Nevertheless, it’s worth adding this site to your watchlist, especially if you’re looking in a small town or are open to considering different neighborhoods.
The practical approach is simple: if a listing appears on multiple sites, respond to the one with the most convenient application form and the most complete profile.
Immobilo
Immobilo It functions as an aggregator and collects listings from various websites. It’s useful when you need to quickly get a sense of the city’s housing market: which neighborhoods are more affordable, how much similar apartments cost, and which platforms most frequently feature listings.
An aggregator isn’t always a substitute for responding directly on the original listing site. If Immobilo redirects you to another site, check the listing there and respond through the primary source.
Classified Ads
Kleinanzeigen — a classifieds platform where you can find apartments, rooms, sublet offers, and short-term rentals. You can find good options from private individuals there, but the risk of fraud is higher than on specialized portals.
Be especially careful if:
- the landlord asks you to transfer money before viewing the apartment or signing the lease;
- promises to send the keys by mail;
- refuses to show the apartment via video call or in person;
- lists a price that’s too low for a popular neighborhood;
- sends documents that look like a template or don’t match the information in the lease agreement.
Where to look for temporary furnished housing
A furnished short-term rental is often needed for the first few weeks or months after moving. It’s more expensive than a regular rental, but it helps you get an address, explore the city, and look for a permanent apartment once you’re settled in.
Check out these three popular services:
Before booking, check not only the price but also the registration requirements. When moving, it’s especially important that the landlord can issue a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Some services let you filter for options where registration is possible, but it’s best to get final confirmation in writing before making a payment.
A short-term apartment is a good option if you’re not yet familiar with the city, are waiting for a permanent lease, are in a probationary period, or can’t attend viewings in advance. For long-term living, this option is usually expensive, so keep looking for a standard Mietvertrag at the same time.
Short-term rentals in Germany
Where to look for a room in a WG
WG stands for Wohngemeinschaft, or shared apartment. Each resident has their own room, while the kitchen, bathroom, and other areas are shared. This arrangement is popular among students, young professionals, and people who are just moving to an expensive city.
The best places to look:
- WG-Gesucht — the main portal for rooms, often available in English;
- раздел WG на ImmobilienScout24 — an additional source of listings;
- Kleinanzeigen — useful for finding a new tenant and urgent options, but requires caution.
For a shared apartment (WG), it’s not just the apartment that matters—it’s the people, too. In your response, briefly describe who you are, what you do, when you want to move in, how long you plan to stay, and your daily routine. If you need the room for registration (Anmeldung), ask about the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung before viewing the apartment.
Where to look for a house to rent
You generally don’t need to use separate large websites dedicated solely to renting houses: you can search for houses on the same portals as apartments. Use filters such as Haus mieten, Reihenhaus, Doppelhaushälfte, and Einfamilienhaus, and expand your search radius beyond the city center.
In large cities, rental properties are scarce and expensive. There are more options in the suburbs and smaller towns, but in those cases, you’ll need to consider transportation, schools, parking, heating costs, and commute time.
Why a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is more important than a nice listing
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — confirmation from the landlord or property manager that you have actually moved into the specified address. It is required for Anmeldung. As a general rule under the Bundesmeldegesetz, registration after moving to Germany must be completed within two weeks, and the landlord is required to assist in confirming your move-in.
Without registration (Anmeldung), you may encounter problems with:
- obtaining or renewing a residence permit;
- tax ID and letters from the Finanzamt;
- opening a bank account;
- signing internet and mobile service contracts;
- arranging insurance and other household services.
If an apartment is listed as a Ferienwohnung or tourist accommodation, registration may not be permitted. For relocation, this is a critical risk: the housing may be comfortable, but it’s useless for getting started with the bureaucratic process.
Registration at Your Place of Residence (Anmeldung)
How to increase your chances of finding an apartment
Prepare your application documents before you receive your first responses. In Germany, landlords often choose from dozens of applicants, so an incomplete application can easily be rejected even if you have a good income.
The following are usually helpful:
- a short message in German or English, if the landlord accepts English;
- a copy of your passport or ID, which you should only send after initial contact and with a watermark;
- Proof of income: pay stubs, an employment contract, a scholarship, or other proof;
- Schufa credit report, if already available;
- A Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (certificate of no rent arrears) from your previous landlord, if you’ve already lived in Germany;
- Tenant profile: who is moving in, employment status, lease term, and whether you have pets (if that’s important).
For newcomers without a Schufa report or German pay stubs, it helps to explain the situation directly: you’re just moving here, already have a contract or Zulassung, are ready to demonstrate financial stability, and can provide a guarantor if possible.
Renting an Apartment in Germany
How to Avoid Scammers
Do not transfer the security deposit or the first month’s rent until you’ve signed the lease and verified that the apartment actually exists. If you’re still abroad, request a live video tour, verify the address and the landlord’s name, and do not agree to schemes involving “keys delivered via courier service.”
Red flags:
- the price is significantly below market rate;
- the landlord is supposedly abroad permanently;
- conversations are often ended too early on the platform;
- The lease agreement is sent without a viewing or any questions;
- they ask for payment via gift cards, Western Union, cryptocurrency, or an unknown service;
- Photos appear in search results as listings posted by others.
If in doubt, it’s better to miss out on a listing than to lose your deposit. In a tight market, scammers take advantage of people’s haste, so decide in advance which documents and payments you’re willing to send and at what stage.
A Quick Search Plan
- Set your budget based on Warmmiete, not just Kaltmiete.
- Choose neighborhoods and consider the commute to work or school.
- Create saved searches on ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt, Immonet, Immobilo, and Kleinanzeigen.
- For your first address, also check HousingAnywhere, Wunderflats, and Spotahome.
- For a room, set up your search on WG-Gesucht.
- Prepare your documents and a response template.
- For every option, check in advance about the Anmeldung and Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.
- Do not pay anything until you’ve inspected the apartment, reviewed the lease agreement, and verified the landlord’s information.
This approach doesn’t make the market any less competitive, but it reduces the chaos: you’ll see new listings faster, submit a complete application package, and avoid wasting time on apartments that aren’t suitable for registration.
