How do I find an apartment in Leipzig?

You can search for an apartment here:

There are also large housing companies where you can search directly:

If you only need one room in an apartment, look for a shared flat called a WG.
WG (Wohngemeinschaft) means shared living space.

There are words like “Kaltmiete” (cold rent) and “Warmmiete” (warm rent) in the advertisements.
The basic rent is just the rent without bills.
The warm rent is the cold rent plus bills for water, heating, and so on.
The warm rent is always higher than the cold rent.
These bills are estimates of how much water and heating you use each month.
Every apartment has devices that count how much water and heating you use.
These devices are called water meters and heating meters.
Once a year, someone comes to look at these devices and write down how much water and heating you have used.

You receive a fixed bill for heating and water once a year.
This bill is called “operating costs billing.”
If you use more heating or water than planned, you will have to pay more.
If you use less heating or water than planned, you will get money back.

On wg-geuscht.de There are good tips in German and English on how and with what information to best contact a landlord. The landlord decides who gets an apartment.

Do you think you are being discriminated against when looking for an apartment?
The Anti-Discrimination Office Leipzig helps you with this. Die Hilfe ist kostenlos.

Landlords usually want to see the following documents:

Passport/ ID card
Tenant self-disclosure: You fill this paper with your personal information aus. For example: Name, date of birth, telephone number
Here you will find a template.
Previous landlord certificate/certificate of no rent arrears: This is a document from your previous landlord. It states that everything was fine in your old apartment and that you always paid the rent. Here you will find a template.
SCHUFA: This document shows your creditworthiness in Germany. This means whether you have large debts in Germany. You can use this document here
Proof of income: Landlords want to see that you have enough money to pay rent each month. Show your last three pay stubs/payslips from work.

Do you receive money from the social welfare office or job center? You first need approval from the social welfare office or job center for the apartment. The job center or social welfare office will give you approval if the apartment isn't too expensive. Here see how much rent is paid by the job center/social welfare office for how many people in Leipzig.
Before you sign the rental agreement, send the rental offer to the job center / social welfare office.
A rental offer includes information about the size of the apartment and how much the rent, water and heating costs.
The job center/social welfare office will send you an answer as to whether the apartment is OK.
If the apartment is OK, show the answer to the landlord.

These apartments are only for people with less money.
If you want social housing, you need the “Wohnberechtigungsschein” (WBS) document.
You will receive the WBS document from the social welfare office.

If you have the WBS document, you can also contact the landlord directly for social housing.
Here you will find further information.
Here see where these social housing units are in Leipzig.

You pay money as a deposit when you move into a new apartment.
You'll get the money back when you move out, as long as everything in the apartment is in order. The deposit can be a maximum of three times the basic rent. If the basic rent is €400, the maximum deposit can be €1,200. You have the right to pay the deposit in three installments.
If you move out later, you should get your deposit back. However, there is no exact deadline for getting it back. The landlord may keep part of the deposit if you caused damage to the apartment. Part of the deposit can also be used to cover outstanding bills, such as water and heating.

You should not pay any money before signing a rental agreement.
You can make an apartment handover protocol with the landlord.
Here is a template.
There you write whether anything in the apartment is already broken.
Then you won’t have to pay for this repair yourself when you move out later.

When you view an apartment, it is called a “viewing.”
There is a guide for this tour if you don't speak much German.
The project Gorkistrasse 120 accompanies you.
There they speak German and other languages.

This brochure has a lot of information about renting in Leipzig.

Registration and furniture

Have you found an apartment in Leipzig?
You must register in Leipzig.
You do this in a citizens' office.
You have 2 weeks to do this after you move in.
You bring your ID card and the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” (confirmation of residence) for registration at a Citizens’ Office.
Your landlord fills out the paper “Confirmation of accommodation provider“ aus.
You don’t have an apartment and are living with friends or family?
Your friends or family fill out the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” paper

Here is the application form for registration.

There are several citizens’ offices in Leipzig.
You can make an appointment online here book.
You can also book an appointment by phone: 0341 115.

You can also go without an appointment.
Here see the current waiting times.
Once the registration is complete, you will receive the “Meldebestätigung/Meldebescheinigung” (registration confirmation/certificate of residence).
This is an important document, and you should keep it. But if you lose it, you can get a new copy at the Citizen's Office.

You will receive a letter from the tax office after registration.
The letter contains your tax ID (tax identification number).
You will receive a different letter from the Broadcasting Contribution Service.

Make sure your name is on the mailbox.
Check regularly to see if you have received any mail.
If you don't understand a letter, ask someone.
You can visit without an appointment Welcome Center go.

It is sometimes difficult to register in Leipzig.
For example: You don't have your own apartment and sometimes sleep with friends.
If you do not have the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” document, registration is not possible.
You can try to register as a person "without a permanent residence" at the Leipzig Citizens' Office if you have already registered in Germany. You can deregister "to an unknown address" and then register as a person without a permanent residence in Leipzig.
This is important as proof if you need financial assistance from authorities in Leipzig.
If you find yourself in this situation, seek help from a counseling center.

The video explains how things work without a registered address/registration:

Do not register for an apartment if you do not actually live there.
This is not legal.
You don't have to pay anyone to register. You can work and open a bank account without registering! If you need help with this, you will get it for free.see

Are you moving to another apartment?
You must register this new residence. This change is called "Ummeldung" (re-registration).

Are you leaving Germany permanently or do you no longer have an apartment?
You must also inform the Citizens' Office. This is called 'deregistration'.
You have 2 weeks to do this.
You can on-line or in person at the Citizens’ Office.

Furniture

Apartments in Germany are usually without furniture.
Some apartments already have a kitchen (EBK – fitted kitchen) but most do not.
You need furniture and you don't have much money?

Even if you work and don't earn much, you can get money from the job center for furniture for your first apartment.
The money for furniture is called initial equipment. More information and a furniture checklist are available here. hereThe form for the Jobcenter is here and for the social welfare office here.

There are places in Leipzig where you can buy furniture cheaply.
You show your pay slip or the letter (notice) from the job center/social welfare office.
One place is the Caritas shop and another is the Social goodshaus.
You can also find cheap furniture online at Classifieds.
You can find free furniture at Giveaway market.

Problems with rent or apartment

Have you not paid the rent for a few months?
Have you received a reminder or notice of termination from your landlord?
You can get help from social welfare office.
The social welfare office can pay debts for rent or energy bills.
You must show the social welfare office that you have income now and in the future.
For example, from work or from the job center/citizen’s allowance/social welfare office.
The social welfare office gives the money as a loan.

Here is the form for rent arrears or energy debts.

There is a Tenants' Association in Leipzig.
The tenants' association can help if you have problems in your apartment or with your landlord.
The tenants’ association will explain your rights as a tenant.
You pay a membership fee once a year. The first membership fee is €94.
If you receive money from the job center/social welfare office, the job center/social welfare office will pay this membership fee. To do this, ask the job center/social welfare office for a 'certificate of eligibility for the tenants' association.'

The Leipzig Unemployment Center (LEZ) has a Information center for tenants. They help with questions and problems related to your apartment such as the rental agreement, termination, rent increase, rent reduction, etc. You must make an appointment by email at erwerbslosenzentrumLE@t-online.de or by phone at 0341 / 420 67 62.

There is also a utility costs assistance association in Leipzig.
Have you received a large water or heating bill and you don't understand why?
Here You get help there. You pay a membership fee if you get help there.

You can also get energy advice, which will tell you how to use less energy. There is energy advice from Consumer Advice Center and also from Caritas.

You should ventilate your home regularly, even in winter. Twice a day, you should open your windows completely (not just closed) for a few minutes. This prevents mold from growing in your home. Here There are tips for this.

homelessness

The office is called “Housing Emergency Assistance.”
Here are the contact details.

Families with children under 18 years of age receive emergency accommodation.
Adults without children can go to a shelter for the homeless.
There are two for men and one for women.
These are open from 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays. There is an overnight shelter for men at Rückmarsdorferstrasse 7 and Helenenstrasse 26. It costs €5 per night to sleep at Rückmarsdorferstrasse. Helenenstrasse is an emergency shelter and is free of charge.

During the day there are also places where homeless people can go.
They are called “Tagestreff” (Day Meeting).
There they receive warm drinks, clothing and help from social workers.
One is the OASIS in the Seeburgviertel (near the center).
The other is the ISLAND in Neulindenau (Leipzig West).