The Expat’s Guide to Finding a Room in Germany
Because moving to Germany is all fun and games: until you realize you need an Anmeldung and everyone on WG-gesucht wants your soul.
So, you’ve decided to move to Germany. Great choice! Land of beer, efficiency, and enough bureaucracy to make you cry into your Club Mate. You’ve packed your bags, downloaded Duolingo, and maybe even learned how to pronounce Brötchen. There’s just one problem: you need a room.
Welcome to the world of WGs (Wohngemeinschaften): shared flats that are basically Tinder meets a job interview. Here’s everything you need to know before you start knocking on doors and asking strangers if they also like techno and oat milk.
Step 1: Understand the WG Culture
A WG isn’t just “a flat with roommates.” It’s a lifestyle. In Germany, especially in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, WGs are the default for students, expats, and anyone who doesn’t want to sell an organ to afford rent.
But here’s the thing: flatmates don’t just want someone who pays rent. The whole vibe needs to match. Translation: your ability to wash dishes and tolerate their vegan phase is probably more important than your job title.
Step 2: Learn the Holy Word: Anmeldung
You’re going to hear this word more than Prost. Anmeldung = official registration of your address with the city. Without it, you can’t get a bank account, health insurance, or a gym membership you’ll never use.
The problem? Not every WG lets you register. Some landlords fear bureaucracy like you fear Deutsche Bahn delays. Always ask:
“Kann ich mich anmelden?”
If they say no? Goodbye.
Step 3: Survive WG-Gesucht
WG-Gesucht is the Hunger Games of German flat hunting. You’ll scroll through ads like:
- “Looking for a CLEAN, SOCIAL, VEGAN, NON-SMOKING roommate who loves jazz and silence.”
- “Room is 6m² for €750, but hey: you can see the Fernsehturm if you stand on a chair!”
You’ll write 57 emotional essays about why you’re a “chill, tidy, open-minded person” and get 2 replies: one from a scammer, the other from someone asking if you can pay in Bitcoin.
Keep your message short, warm, and specific. Mention something from their ad like:
“I also love Sunday Späti runs and can promise to never steal your hummus.”
Step 4: Prepare for the WG Casting
Yes, it’s a thing. In Germany, you don’t just meet the roommates: you audition. It’s called a WG-Casting, and it’s basically a social experiment where you try to prove you’re normal while sitting on an IKEA couch with three strangers and a cat.
Questions you’ll be asked:
- “Are you more of a party person or a Netflix person?”
- “How do you feel about cleaning schedules?”
- “Can you pay the Kaution (deposit) tomorrow?”
Questions you may want to ask:
- “Is the rent warm or cold?” (Warmmiete = includes utilities, Cold = surprise bills!)
- “Who owns the good pan?”
Step 5: Understand German Roommate Archetypes
You will meet:
- The Techno Nomad: Gone every weekend, but their vinyl collection owns half the living room.
- The Ordnung Queen: Owns a laminated cleaning plan and isn’t afraid to use it.
- The Erasmus Ghost: Here for six months, will leave behind an air mattress and trauma.
(See our full guide: “7 Types of Roommates You’ll Meet”: you’ll thank us later.)
Step 6: Schnitzel Is a Metaphor
Okay, not really. But here’s the thing: moving into a WG is about compromise. You won’t always get the perfect room, the perfect flatmates, or a kitchen that doesn’t smell like last night’s currywurst. But you will get stories, friendships, and probably a questionable IKEA chair someone found on the street.
Bottom Line: Don’t Panic
Yes, it’s competitive. Yes, you’ll cry into your Späti beer at some point. But your dream WG is out there: and we can help you find it without selling your dignity.
At heyroom, you don’t get weird DMs. Our algorithm matches you with people you’ll actually vibe with, and rooms where Anmeldung is possible.
Stop refreshing the orange app and start finding your new home.
