Looking for accommodation as a student: shared apartment, apartment or dormitory?
First come first serve? Only works if you know what you're looking for. With the move out of mom's sheltered nest, not only do the first doubts arise about the desire for freedom that we have longed for for years (toilet brushes etc. actually don't grow on trees), but also the question of how and where the move will take place. Which city you choose to study in is entirely up to you and your wishes - often the city you choose is of course linked to your feeling of well-being, but also to the courses offered at the target university. However, there are different types of flat shares, apartments or dormitories in every city. And not everyone immediately knows how to find an apartment as a student.
Looking for accommodation as a student: The shared apartment type
Likes to drink, sleeps until twelve, is never seen in lectures (let alone the bib!) and takes up the entire freezer compartment of the apartment with pizza and ready meals: that's pretty much how you imagine the classic student shared apartment to be. At least as parents who want to give you a little help looking for an apartment. You can reassure your dear parents with just a few words: The character scenario described is of course not the norm. A shared apartment like this is really great: in the best case scenario, you have one to five nice roommates with whom you share the bathroom and kitchen as well as all the obligations that come with a shared apartment. Ha! Mom will shout happily. Yes - cleaning, the weekly purchase of toilet paper, doing your own laundry, taking out the garbage, etc. are also part of your obligations if you decide to live in a shared apartment. You will definitely become independent in a shared household, whether you want to or not. It sounds pretty annoying at first, but it also has its advantages. With a bit of luck, your roommates will be really cool socks with whom you can study for university together, but also have fun at bar evenings and clubbing sessions. Some people are said to have become really good friends with their shared flatmates - then cooking together, going to the cinema, watching Netflix evenings and much more is a lot of fun. And from a financial perspective, a shared apartment has advantages because you share the costs of the apartment with your roommates. Here the price is generally calculated depending on the size of the room.
The guy owns an apartment
Constantly cleaning up after the others when they can't get anything baked? Nope, not your thing. If you want to be your own boss and just want to get rid of your own stuff, then a shared apartment may not be the type of apartment that is your top priority. But it doesn't matter - of course nobody is forcing you to take other people's rubbish into the basement. Especially if you value a little time for yourself and like to have an overview of what's going on in your own four walls, your own apartment is more suitable for you. Here you alone decide when what is bought, when the washing up is done and the rubbish is taken away and when the next major cleaning is due. However, this also means that no one will help you with the tasks in question. In terms of price, things are also a little different when you have your own apartment: with your own apartment, you bear the costs for water, electricity and of course your room completely on your own. You also have to pay costs that arise over time - for example, larger purchases such as a new couch, a new television, etc. but also food - out of your own funds, whereas purchases in a shared apartment are often paid for together.
The college dorm type
For social people, a student dormitory is exactly the right place to start your studies: Here you can easily find new friends, get to know lots of people and, depending on the dormitory, there is no shortage of parties. Most student halls of residence offer both single or shared rooms, although you don't always have the choice to decide which type of apartment you would like. A room in a student dormitory is almost always the cheapest alternative - the places are therefore in high demand and you will most likely have to put yourself on a waiting list. Which room you are assigned when one becomes available is usually a matter of chance or pure luck. Unbeatable argument for student accommodation: the price! Since many student halls of residence are run by the student union, the prices are relatively low. You can also make contacts quickly here, you have a single room or a shared room and the location is usually not too bad. Especially in expensive cities such as Munich, a place in a student dormitory is a real stroke of luck, as the costs are low and the fun factor is high. A little tip: It's best to find out about which student halls of residence are available and what the waiting times are for a room on the website of the student union in your university city. Information about the location, small extras such as common rooms, garden or bars as well as the year the dormitory was built are often also included - register for one or more dormitories and grab the long-awaited call for a room of your choice - get a dorm. The sooner you know where you want to study, the better: register straight away, then you have a higher chance of being able to hope for a room soon. When looking for an apartment as a student, it obviously depends on your personal preferences, despite the advantages and disadvantages for each type of apartment.
Finding an apartment as a student: This is how it works!
Many sites help you to search for and find suitable apartments, shared rooms and sometimes even student dormitory rooms online. The classic is probably wg-gesucht.de . Here you can post advertisements yourself if you are looking for a new roommate, or use the search bar to find out about suitable rooms in the city of your choice. Thanks to the customized search field, you can not only enter your city, but also search specifically for the type of apartment you want. Using an advanced search, you can set a price limit, choose the right room size or search specifically for apartments in certain parts of the city.
Another option is immowelt.de , which follows the same basic idea - to quickly and conveniently provide you with a suitable apartment or room according to your wishes and ideas. Here too, numerous search result filters simplify your search for the perfect apartment.
What you should also keep in mind: Preparation is key!
When the viewing appointment comes, you should be prepared. Anyone who already has the relevant application folder with all documents ready has an advantage over other applicants. But which documents are mandatory? Normally there is a self-disclosure form from the landlord that you have to fill out. In addition to this, landlords often want to see Schufa information, a certificate of no rent debt, proof of wages and a copy of your ID.
Self-disclosure
The self-disclosure is a form that contains the applicant's personal data and provides information about their person, profession and previous place of residence.
Schufa information
So that the landlord can get an overview of the economic familiarity of his applicants, Schufa information is usually required. This simply reflects whether all payment demands have been met in accordance with the contract in recent years.
Certificate of freedom from rent debt
Landlords usually require a certificate of no rent debt from the previous landlord to ensure that the rent has always been paid regularly. If you previously only lived with your parents, this does not need to be submitted.
Pay statement
As a rule, proof of the last three billing months is required as proof of a regular income. If you do not yet have any income or are a Bafög recipient, you can also provide your creditworthiness with a guarantor. A person you trust confirms that in the event of temporary financial difficulties, the guarantor is liable for ensuring rent payments. This is especially an advantage if you want to rent your own apartment, but your landlord tends to have a negative view of students - after all, your main job should be at university. However, if your parents guarantee you, the landlord can be sure that they will receive their money on the desired payment date, as they will financially support you in case of doubt.
