https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The cost of renting an apartment in Berlin has increased substantially in the last two years, with tenants now paying on average 50 cents more per month per square metre, according to the latest rent index. https://www.thelocal.de/20260605/average-berlin-rents-up-by-almost-7-percent-since-2024 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:13:42 +0200 average-berlin-rents-up-by-almost-7-percent-since-2024 New evidence suggests housing is now a key barrier preventing skilled foreign workers from moving to or staying in Germany. But some companies are getting more proactive about offering assistance. https://www.thelocal.de/20260521/germanys-housing-crunch-is-driving-away-skilled-foreign-workers Thu, 21 May 2026 15:53:50 +0200 germanys-housing-crunch-is-driving-away-skilled-foreign-workers Students in Germany are having to pay more for accommodation, with average rents for a room in a shared flat rising well above €500 per month in many regions, a new study shows. https://www.thelocal.de/20260324/where-student-housing-costs-are-highest-in-germany Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:13:36 +0100 where-student-housing-costs-are-highest-in-germany Entry-level employees and young professionals see benefits in living in Germany's big cities. But affording to live there is increasingly difficult. https://www.thelocal.de/20260512/workers-in-germanys-big-cities-plagued-by-lack-of-affordable-housing Tue, 12 May 2026 14:15:48 +0200 workers-in-germanys-big-cities-plagued-by-lack-of-affordable-housing From kitchens to skirting boards and even front door name signs - renting a flat in Germany can involve a lot of hidden costs. https://www.thelocal.de/20220304/explained-the-hidden-costs-of-renting-in-germany Fri, 04 Mar 2022 11:46:35 +0100 explained-the-hidden-costs-of-renting-in-germany A fire, leak or break‑in can wipe out everything you own overnight. German 'contents insurance' is cheap, simple and widely used – yet often ignored by international residents until it’s too late. https://www.thelocal.de/20260508/hausratversicherung-what-is-germanys-household-contents-insurance Fri, 08 May 2026 12:28:51 +0200 hausratversicherung-what-is-germanys-household-contents-insurance Germany’s coalition has agreed to make landlords share the bills when fossil‑fuel systems are installed in rented houses and apartments. Here’s what the compromise means for both sides. https://www.thelocal.de/20260430/what-germanys-new-heating-law-means-for-tenants-and-landlords Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:43:35 +0200 what-germanys-new-heating-law-means-for-tenants-and-landlords Germany is planning new rules to rein in high rents on furnished apartments, limit short‑term leases and cap inflation‑linked rent increases. https://www.thelocal.de/20260429/germanys-plan-to-crack-down-on-high-rents-for-furnished-short-term-flats Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:10:34 +0200 germanys-plan-to-crack-down-on-high-rents-for-furnished-short-term-flats After years of landlords skirting German rent controls, Berlin's state government coalition is pushing a proposal to create a housing and rental registry that could help authorities crack down on illegal prices. But will the law be passed? https://www.thelocal.de/20260423/could-berlin-housing-registry-lead-to-clamp-down-on-illegal-rents-in-germany Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:49:06 +0200 could-berlin-housing-registry-lead-to-clamp-down-on-illegal-rents-in-germany Finding an unlimited apartment to rent in Germany is getting harder, with new figures confirming that standard leases are steadily declining while furnished and fixed‑term contracts continue to grow. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/more-and-more-furnished-flats-in-german-cities-are-making-standard-rentals-hard-to-find Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:21:00 +0200 more-and-more-furnished-flats-in-german-cities-are-making-standard-rentals-hard-to-find The cost of both renting and buying property in Germany is expected to become more expensive in 2026. But experts say the country is unlikely to see a return to the dramatic price surges of the 2010s. https://www.thelocal.de/20251229/how-renting-and-buying-property-in-germany-will-cost-you-more-in-2026 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:44:37 +0100 how-renting-and-buying-property-in-germany-will-cost-you-more-in-2026 In Germany, utility bills typically account for almost a quarter of total rent. These 'Nebenkosten' are often complex, settled retrospectively and vary widely by region and building – which makes careful checking essential. https://www.thelocal.de/20260313/nebenkosten-how-can-i-tell-if-im-being-overcharged-for-utility-bills-in-germany Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:40:13 +0100 nebenkosten-how-can-i-tell-if-im-being-overcharged-for-utility-bills-in-germany Securing an apartment in Berlin is a notoriously difficult task. Here's a tool that can help you check if your flat search is realistic, or if you might want to consider lowering your expectations. https://www.thelocal.de/20260219/is-your-flat-search-in-berlin-realistic Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:05:40 +0100 is-your-flat-search-in-berlin-realistic Germany's highest court ruled against a tenant who sublet his Berlin apartment for twice as much rent as he owed. If you plan to sublet your own home, or part of it, there are a few rules you should be aware of. https://www.thelocal.de/20260204/how-much-can-you-sublet-your-apartment-for-in-germany Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:02:52 +0100 how-much-can-you-sublet-your-apartment-for-in-germany Tenants in Germany are not allowed to make a profit from subletting a flat, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has ruled, in a decision that has large implications for the housing market. https://www.thelocal.de/20260128/tenants-in-germany-not-allowed-to-make-a-profit-from-sublets Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:20:47 +0100 tenants-in-germany-not-allowed-to-make-a-profit-from-sublets The number of tenants in Germany who sued their landlords over rental disputes has steadily risen in recent years, according to figures released Monday. We look at the reasons why, and what they reveal about the country’s rental market. https://www.thelocal.de/20260112/why-more-and-more-renters-in-germany-are-suing-their-landlords Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:19:23 +0100 why-more-and-more-renters-in-germany-are-suing-their-landlords When it comes to bricks and mortar, 2026 is set to being a fresh wave of rules, costs and opportunities for residents in Germany. Here are the changes that renters and landlords alike will want to know. https://www.thelocal.de/20251222/what-changes-for-renters-and-homeowners-in-germany-in-2026 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:53:18 +0100 what-changes-for-renters-and-homeowners-in-germany-in-2026 If you're renting in Germany, you may have heard about a tenants' association - or Mieterverein. But you may not be aware that joining one could help save you money in the long run. https://www.thelocal.de/20240910/how-a-german-mieterverein-can-help-you-reduce-your-rent Tue, 10 Sep 2024 11:17:51 +0200 how-a-german-mieterverein-can-help-you-reduce-your-rent Proving that racism plays a part in whether people are offered rental apartments or houses in Germany is notoriously difficult, but a recent and comprehensive analysis appears to put the matter beyond doubt. https://www.thelocal.de/20251218/revealed-how-racism-affects-foreigners-seeking-apartments-in-germany Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:35:13 +0100 revealed-how-racism-affects-foreigners-seeking-apartments-in-germany When applying to rent an apartment in Germany you may be asked for a 'Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung' or 'certificate of freedom from rental debt'. Here's all you need to know about the document, when you'll need one and how to get it. https://www.thelocal.de/20220207/renting-in-germany-what-to-know-about-the-mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:34:46 +0100 renting-in-germany-what-to-know-about-the-mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung