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Accommodation
Berlin is a multifaceted, lively city, in which people from all over the world travel for long or short amounts of time. Therefore, finding a suitable place to stay can be challenging. It is especially hard for new-coming students to find a place to live with the always growing demand and the rising rent prices. This is why we advise to start flat-hunting in Berlin sooner rather than later, as it can take a few weeks to find a suitable flat. We have put together a list of advice to help you through it. First and foremost, we recommend looking for rent around 600€ per month for a room in a shared flat and 900€ per month for a studio apartment.
- Dormitories
Student dormitories in Berlin are managed and owned by the StudierendenWERK Berlin (STW), not the university. The dorms are distributed all around the city and vary in layout, furnishing and price. In addition, the private dormitory „Studentendorf Adlershof” is located next to Campus Adlershof in the South of the city.
International exchange Students
Please be aware that exchange students are not permitted to apply independently for StudierendenWERK Berlin dorms, as Humboldt already reserves a limited number of rooms for its exchange students. Those dormitories are:
-
Allee der Kosmonauten - StudierendenWERK Berlin
- Studentendorf Adlershof
Information about the dormitories:
- Allee der Kosmonauten – StudierendenWERK Berlin
Private furnished room within a shared apartment. Shared bathroom and kitchen facilities accommodating one to three residents
Monthly rent: around 415 €
Address:
Wohnheim Allee der Kosmonauten
Allee der Kosmonauten 20
10315 Berlin
Commute time to Campus Mitte: 45-50 minutes with public transports
Commute time to Campus Adlershof: 50 minutes with public transports
- Studentendorf Adlershof
Furnished private room with a private bathroom. Shared common kitchen and living room with approximately 12 housemates.
Monthly rent: 503,31 €
Address:
Studentendorf Adlershof
Abraham-Joffe-Straße 18
12489 Berlin
Commute time to Mitte: 50 minutes with public transports
Path to Campus Adlershof: Within a 5-10 minute walk
How can I apply?
International exchange students have the option to select a dormitory through their general online application to Humboldt. Following the processing phase, students will receive information on the subsequent steps to secure a room. It's important to note that room assignments in the dormitories are determined through a lottery system.
To reserve a room, students must transfer a Reservation deposit of 810€ after having received an acceptance email.
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee everyone a room in our dormitories!
Application deadlines:
Exchange in winter semester: 30.05.
Exchange in summer semester: 30.11.
Exchange students of the Charité-Universität please contact the incoming team at this address before the end of the application period: exchange-students@hu-berlin.de.
The lease for the rooms in dormitories are set to specific dates:
Winter semester: 01.09. – 28.02.
Summer semester: 01.03. – 31.08.
It is not possible to change or shorten the lease period.
An extension for another semester is possible.
Degree-seeking students
International students pursuing their degree at HU must arrange accommodation independently.
The StudierendenWERK BERLIN offers rooms for students all around Berlin. Please apply on your own for on the website of the StudierendenWERK BERLIN.
The Studentendorf Adlershof offers rooms next to Campus Adlershof:
Please take into account that rooms in dormitories are highly sought after and may only become available after a considerable wait-list period.
For Degree-seeking students it is not possible to apply for room in dormitories through HU.
- Private housing market
Finding an apartment or a room on the private housing market is not easy. The areas of Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Neukölln and Prenzlauer Berg are particularly popular.
Please note that Berlin is a big city and that commuting can takes on average up to 60 minutes. The public transport network is well built and separated in three zones. In Zone A, which comprises the city centre, rents can be notably higher compared to Zone B, where accessibility to various destinations is relatively convenient.
Many people in Berlin live in shared apartments called Wohngemeinschaften (WGs). They are private apartments, in which several persons live together. Everyone has their own room, but bathroom and kitchen are shared. If you find a flat in which you want to live with other people as room-mates, please check if it is allowed by the property manager.
Be careful, as there are apartment listing scams! There are always ill-intentioned people that try to rent rooms or apartments that don’t actually exist. A common strategy is to say that the renter is abroad at the moment and that the keys will be given after payment.
Please do not make any payment before having signed a contract!
On the private housing market most rooms and apartments are listed a month before availability. The beginning of the semester is always a very busy time, please have some patience and try not to stress too much, if you have to get a short term for the first two weeks. It is often easier to find a place once you are already in Berlin.
Flat hunting website
We have gathered a list of websites to visit to find a flat:
Please note that while the Welcome Centre can help you in your search, all decision made on their council is your own and that they are in no way responsible for them. The Welcome Centre and its workers can in no way be held responsible for the information given and their possible consequences.
Accommodation for students
These accommodation options are only open to students. They are mostly furnished and rent is all inclusive. Sometime a booking fee and a security deposit are required.
Furnished accommodation
These accommodation options are mostly furnished rooms and rent is all inclusive. Sometime a booking fee and a security deposit are required.
- To The Home Like! (HU-Students can book accommodation for a lesser price)
Shared apartments (WGs)
These rooms can be either furnished or unfurnished. The rent is typically "Warmmiete," encompassing heating costs. However, electricity, internet, and broadcasting contributions are additional expenses on top of the "Warmmiete." A security deposit is required.
Unfurnished accommodation
These accommodation options are predominantly unfurnished. The rent is generally inclusive of heating, referred to as "Warmmiete." However, electricity, internet, and broadcasting contributions are additional costs on top of the "Warmmiete." Internet and electricity plans need to be arranged independently. A security deposit is required.
Social media and other website listing
Short term accommodation options are often also listed on the websites and social media sites listed below. Please beware of scams, and avoid transferring money before signing a contract!
- Facebook groups
- Kleinanzeigen (Germany‘s equivalent of craigslist)
- Newspapers
Accommodation costs
When you rent an apartment or a room, be careful of the difference between „Kaltmiete“ and „Warmmiete”. „Kaltmiete” means that the rent does not include any extra costs. Warmmiete covers the actual rent and the extra costs like heating, hot water and garbage disposal. The details are on the lease contract.
Electricity, internet and broadcasting contribution are to be paid on top of the „Warmmiete“. A security deposit of about two to three times the „Kaltmiete“ is expected for most apartments and rooms and will be given back to you after moving out, if the accommodation is left in acceptable condition. Please note that the security deposit can be kept up to 12 months after moving out, to account for possible additional cost for the heating or to repair possible damages. It is helpful to take photos of all the rooms you will be occupying right after move-in, to be able to compare the state of the accommodation at the beginning and at the end of the renting period.
In Berlin, every apartment is required to pay a monthly broadcasting contribution fee (Rundfunkbeitrag(GEZ)) of 17,50 €. It's important to note that this fee is charged per flat, not per person. This means that the fee must be divided among all individuals living in the same apartment, even if the payment is made from a single account.
More information about the broadcasting contribution (Rundfunkbeitrag (GEZ)) here: broadcasting contribution
City hall
If your stay in Germany exceeds three months, it is mandatory to register to the city hall within 14 days of arrival in order to obtain a registration certificate. To register you need a renting contract signed by the landlord.
Please be aware of those mandatory steps for your Anmeldung/registration:
- Booking an appointment
It is important to book an appointment by one of the 40 city halls (Bürgeramt) in Berlin in time. You can book an appointment here: https://service.berlin.de/
Please select „Anmeldung einer Wohnung“ (registering an apartment).
At the beginning of every semester a mobile city hall (mobiles Bürgeramt) comes to HU‘s Campus Mitte. The dates will be given at the beginning of semester online and via HU international‘s official Instagram (@humboldt.international).
- Filling out the registration form (Anmeldungsformular)
Please fill out this document before your appointment at the city hall and bring a printed version with you.
You can find the blank form here: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120686/
- Confirmation of entry from your landlord/person subletting
This document must state the following information: Name and Address of the person subletting to you (in case it is a sublet) or of the landlords, the move-in date, the address of the apartment and the name of the person moving-in. You can find an example here: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120686/
- Appointment at the city hall (Bürgeramt)
Please bring all needed document to your appointment:
- Identifying document for each person leaving in the flat (ID card or passport)
- A filled out and signed registration form (Anmeldungsformular)
- Lease or sublease contract
- Confirmation of entry from your landlord / person subletting
At the city hall you will receive directly your confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung). Please preserve it!
Please don‘t forget to de-register to the city when you leave Germany or Berlin.
Short Stay
HU offers Guesthouses for shorter stays. Please note HU’s guesthouse has limited capacity.
More information here: https://www.ta.hu-berlin.de/guesthouse
Here is a short list of short stay accommodation options:
- Airbnb Work (bookable with HU-E-Mail)
- Smartments
- Adapt apartments in Adlershof
- Vision Apartments
- Meininger Hotels
-
Hostels
Important contact information
Exchange students
Reebanna Kusche
exchange-students@hu-berlin.de