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Finding somewhere to live in Germany can, like everywhere else in Europe, be difficult and time-consuming. As far as possible, it is best to start your flat hunting before you leave for Germany, and especially if your family is accompanying you.

If you travel to Germany and have not arranged your accommodation in advance, you can stay temporarily at a guesthouse, a hostel or a hall of residence. Always ask your research organisation or university whether they can offer accommodation for a limited period of time. This sort of arrangement is rare, however, and availability will be limited; places in student halls of residence are not normally offered to visiting postdocs.

There are various ways of finding accommodation when you arrive. You can start by checking the local newspapers which run large supplements, particularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a wide range of accommodation offers. You can, of course, also place your own advertisement. Another possibility is to check the noticeboards at the university or institute, where flat-sharing offers can often be found. Accommodation agencies also provide accommodation on short-term leases (see below for links).

Many property and rental agencies run portals that aim to bring accommodation providers and accommodation seekers together over the internet. Most of these portals not only offer one and two room flats or apartments, but also rooms in shared flats for rent without charging commission fees.

The most expensive way of finding accommodation is to use an estate agent, as this involves paying a commission equal to two months or more rent plus a deposit. This really only makes sense for longer-term stays. Please make sure that you only use an estate agent who is a member of a registered association of estate agents, such as the Immobilienverband Deutschland (IVD) or the Ring Deutscher Makler (RDM).

Accommodation offers can be difficult to understand due to the many abbreviations they contain, such as 2ZKDB = 2 rooms, kitchen, hallway, bathroom. If you have problems understanding them, or have any other accommodation questions, then it's best to seek the advice of colleagues who have been living in Germany for some time, or to ask your research organisation or the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) at your university.

The following links may also prove useful: www.homecompany.de www.mitwohnzentrale.de www.ivd.net www.studenten-wg.de www.studenten-wohnung.de www.easywg.de  www.wg-gesucht.de www.mieterbund.de www.nestoria.de