What's the Miete Here?
Five tips for renting an apartment in Berlin
In my last post, I wrote about buying an apartment in Berlin. But, just like the rest of Germany, most people here rent.
(In German: the verb to rent is mieten; noun = Miete.)
Renting here is very different than renting an apartment or house in the United States. Tenants have more legal protections. Once you are in an apartment, it’s very hard to be evicted. And there are limits to how often, and by how much, the rent can increase.
I have even heard other Americans comparing a standard apartment contract to owning a condo back in the States.
Unfortunately, the tight housing market right now is fueling sort of a semi-hidden secondary rental market of sublets and short-term leases that may not be subject to the same rules. And some unscrupulous landlords also try to take advantage of newcomers’ lack of knowledge to charge higher rent or agree to other terms that aren’t allowed under the law.
Here are my top five things to consider, if you are new to Berlin and looking for a place to live.
