Looking for Accommodation

• For people and families without an income of their own, or are receiving unemployment benefit II or income support, your rent will be covered by the responsible job centre or social welfare office. There are different upper limits in different regions. The upper limit is the highest amount that the rent can be. These upper limits can differ between cities and between regions. For specific details, ask your responsible job centre.
  
  
• People without an income of their own (Arbeitslosengeld II [unemployment benefit], income support) or with a low income can access social housing. These properties are paid for by the state and cost less than other properties. To rent social housing, you need a Wohnberechtigungsschein (certificate of eligibility for social housing) which can be applied for from the housing office.
  
  
• To avoid the financial burden of accommodation being too high, you may also receive housing benefits. This is a subsidy towards rent which you can apply for at the housing benefit section at your local municipal office. Your income capacity will be assessed first. More information can be provided by the housing benefit section at your local municipal office.

External Links

How do I get a Wohnberechtigungsschein (certificate of eligibility for social housing)? - English

Additional Information about the Wohnberechtigungsschein

Especially in big cities where rent prices are rising every year, housing cooperatives may be a good alternative. They often let out properties for lower prices and generally offer the right to life-long residence.

Exernal Links

Nationwide directory of housing cooperatives

You can only rent accommodation when you can provide the landlord with the required documents. These usually consist of:

• a Schufa report: this presents whether you have complied with your financial obligations in the past (e.g. if you paid potential fines or repaid potential loans).

• a letter proving that you have paid all your rents (e. g. to your previous landlord). Ask your previous landlord or the staff in your camp for this letter.

• a proof of income: this provides details of how much money you currently earn. You can hand in a paycheck from your employer or a certificate from the Jobcenter or the Sozialamt about the benefits you receive.

• a rent acceptance certificate from the Jobcenter or the Sozialamt that they pay the rent if you are unable to finance the accommodation yourself.

• a copy of your residence permit or temporary residence permit

• possibly a Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS): this is a certificate that you are entitled to "social housing". Ask for it at your Bürgeramt.

• possibly a polizeiliches Führungszeugnis (extract from police records) to see if you committed any crime in the past. You can get it at your Bürgeramt.

In many cities and regions, people with low incomes, students or unemployed people can rent social housing. These properties are financially subsidised by the state and often cost less than properties on the open market. Some social housing properties require a Wohnberechtigungsschein (certificate of eligibility for social housing). You can apply for one of these from your responsible  registration office. They will assess your income capacity to establish if you are entitled to a certificate of eligibility for social housing.

External Links

Additional Information about the Wohnberechtigungsschein

People who have come to Germany as refugees and apply for asylum will usually stay in an initial reception facility when they first arrive. There are various government agencies in charge of providing accommodation in these facilities.

People who are assigned to an initial reception facility will usually also be required to live there, so they cannot simply move to another city or to different accommodation.
The duration of this requirement can vary greatly.

If your asylum application has been accepted, there is also a condition of fixed abode for the first three years after being accepted, as long as you are receiving social security benefits. That means you must continue to live in the federal state or district to which you were allocated by the state during the asylum process.

If you are subject to a condition of fixed abode, this will also be shown on your residence title (card). If you are unsure, you can ask the immigration authority in your town or city for more information.

External Links

Handbook Germany Guide for Refugees

External Links

Directory of Housing Offices in NRW
Düsseldorf Federal State Capital – Information about the Wohnberechtigungsschein
Housing Benefit Calculator for NRW