Accomodation - enggsajjad/psa GitHub Wiki

This pages describes different ways to get accomodations for vaious categories.

1. Non-PhD Students

Options

  1. Studierendenwerk: optimial, and variety of rooms in terms of location, price and infrastructure.
  • If you are planing to live in Student hostel then you have to submit an application, in your application you can mention the detail where you want to live in Karlsruhe. Following your application, the Studentenwerk informs you whether they can offer you a room from the start date your request or whether you are on the waiting list. Please note that, in case the Studentenwerk is able to offer a room for you, you are expected to accept the offer unless you want to look for an accommodation on the private hostel/housing. You do not receive an alternative room offer from the Studentenwerk if you reject the first room offer.
  1. HaDiKo: self-administered student dormitory, offers short and long term rooms with variety of options
  2. Familienheim: a private student dormitory
  3. INSTERBURG: a private student dormitory
  4. Hans-Wolfgang-Heidland-Haus: a private student dormitory
  5. Protestant Student Residence Karlsruhe e.V.: a private student dormitory, only for females

Tips

  1. Apply as soon as possible
  2. Give them a list of your priority locations

2. PhD Students

Options

  1. Familienheim: a private student dormitory

Tips

  1. PhD Students are not allowed to live in Studierendenwerk or in HaDiKo.
  2. They can apply at Familienheim.

3. Job Holders

The largest residential development company in Karlsruhe is VOLKSWOHNUNG GmbH of the City of Karlsruhe: https://www.volkswohnung.com/startseite

Tip: As in many large German cities, finding an apartment in Karlsruhe is not always easy. Ask friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues whether they know of any available apartments!

Here are some useful abbreviations you will often find in apartment advertisements:

  • AB Altbau (Old building)
  • B Bad (Bathroom)
  • BLK Balkon (Balcony)
  • HT Haustier (Pet)
  • KM Kaltmiete (Basic rent)
  • Kt. Kaution (Deposit)
  • mbl. möbliert (Furnished)
  • mtl. monatlich (Monthly)
  • NB Neubau (New building)
  • NK Nebenkosten (Utility charges)
  • NR Nichtraucher (Non-smoker)
  • P/PP Parkplatz (Parking space)
  • Whg. Wohnung (Apartment)
  • WM Warmmiete (Rent incl. utility charges)
  • Zi. Zimmer (Rooms)
  • ZKB Zimmer Küche Bad (Room + kitchen + bathroom)
  • ZKD Zimmer Küche Dusche (Room + kitchen + shower)

Tip: What should I take with me when I go to view the property? A copy of your identity card and, if you have one, confirmation that you have a job (e.g. a pay slip or a copy of your employment contract).

What is a deposit? Most landlords will ask you for a deposit before you move into the rented apartment. This is usually 2 or 3 months’ Kaltmiete (KM – basic rent), i.e. rent not including utility charges. You will get this money back when you move out – unless something in the apartment needs to be repaired.

4. Living Expenses

Monthly expenses vary from city to city. Large cities like Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich etc are more expensive than smaller cities. Although Karlsruhe is not the most expensive city in Germany, the costs of living are relatively high. Of course, this depends on individual rent costs and life style. The major expense is of accommodation. In big cities, the cost for a room starts generally above ~250 €. The other major expense is health insurance which costs about ~85 € a month. Transport is expensive in bigger cities (about 40 € – 50 €) whereas in smaller cities, it might be included in the fees and does not cost anything extra. Food and other items cost less than a ~100 €. To sum it up, monthly expenses may range from 350 € – 400 € for smaller cities and 400 € – 500 € for larger cities. We would like to mention that this is an estimate and the actual expenses might be less or higher according to your living style but some expenses are fixed and you cannot cut down on those.

5. Subleasing your room

6. Registering with an utilities supplier

If you are living in a private room or dormitory, make sure you find out which utility charges are included in your rent. Usually, you will only have to register with an electricity or gas supplier. You can do this with Stadtwerke Karlsruhe – the city’s public utility company – or other suppliers. It is helpful and convenient to set up a SEPA direct debit with your bank. Your electricity costs will then be debited directly from your account every month.

  • Where?: Karlsruher Stadtwerke
  • What should you take with you?: Address, Date you moved into the apartment, Meter number and readings, Possibly the name of the previous tenant

What do utility charges include? The rent for your apartment is made up of the Kaltmiete (basic rent) + Nebenkosten (utility charges) Basic rent and utility charges together are sometimes described as Warmmiete (WM).

Utility charges consist of water, electricity/gas and waste disposal fees. Make sure you find out which utility charges are included in your rent. Sometimes you pay the utility charges directly to the landlord. However, you may also have to register with an electricity supplier and pay the electricity bills yourself.

7. Social housing

In Germany, people with low incomes can rent apartments in social housing projects. To rent one of these apartments you require a Wohnberechtigungsschein (certificate of eligibility for social housing).

Please phone to arrange an appointment Tel.: +49 (0)721 133‑6427

  • Where? Liegenschaftsamt, Lammstraße 7a, Rathauspassage, 76133 Karlsruhe
  • What should I take with me?
  1. Passport or identity card
  2. Residence permit or other permit for recent migrants from non-EU countries
  3. Proof of income (i.e. of your wages or benefits payments)
  4. Your current rental contract
  • What do you receive?: Certificate of eligibility for social housing (Please keep this document safe for future use)

8. Applying for housing benefits

People on low incomes can apply for Wohngeld (housing benefit). This a payment that subsidises your rent.

Please phone to arrange an appointment Tel.: +49 (0)721 133‑6470

  • Where? Liegenschaftsamt, Wohngeld, Lammstraße 7a,Rathauspassage, 76133 Karlsruhe
  • What should I take with me?
  1. Passport or identity card
  2. Proof of the incomes of all members of the household
  3. Proof of your rent (rental contract)
  • What do you receive?: Approval/rejection of your application for housing benefit (Please keep this document safe for future use.)

9. Registering for TV and radio licence fee

What is that? In Germany, citizens aged 18 and over who own a radio, television or computer must pay a Rundfunkbeitrag (TV and radio licence fee). It is used to support public service programmes broadcast on radio and television and streamed on the Internet.

Public broadcasters include channels such as ARD, ZDF or SWR. They are obliged to provide independent, objective and non-partisan media reporting. The TV and radio licence fee helps to support a free press, which is important for our democracy.

How much does it cost? The TV and radio licence fee is currently EUR 18.36 per month or EUR 55.08 per quarter per apartment – regardless of how many people live there or how many devices are in the apartment. You must pay this charge from the first month in which you are registered.

Certain groups of people, such as those receiving social benefits or with a disability, do not have to pay the TV and radio licence feeor receive a reduction. Ask for advice if this applies to you!

How do I register? The TV and radio licence fee registration form is available online at www.rundfunkbeitrag.de. Please send the completed and signed document together with the required proofs to “ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio, Beitragsservice, 50656 Köln”.

10. Waste separation

In Karlsruhe, garbage and organic waste can be disposed of in four different bins:

Residual waste (Restmüll): e.g. cold ash, rubber, hygiene articles such as handkerchiefs, ceramics, diapers.

Recyclable materials (Wertstoff): e.g. plastic or metal (packaging), untreated wood, aluminium foil, beverage/milk cartons, polystyrene.

Organic waste (Bioabfall): e.g. flowers and potted plants, eggshells, fruit and vegetable waste, coffee grounds, fruit peel (e.g. orange peel), raw and cooked food leftovers, tea bags.

Paper/cardboard (Papier/Pappe): e.g. paper, card and cardboard, books, catalogues, paper bags, writting paper, newspapers.

Other waste:

  • Batteries, glass, textiles and green waste are collected at the containers located throughout the city
  • Hazardous materials must be disposed of at the designated collection points or via mobile collections of hazardous materials.

You can find more information about waste disposal facilities at: www.karlsruhe.de/abfall

11.

Glossary

German Meaning
1-Zimmer-Wohnung One room apartment
Altbau Old building
Badewanne Bath tub
Balkon Balcony
Dusche Shower
Einzugsdatum Date when you move in your apartment or room
EG Erdgeschoss Ground floor
Etage Floor
Gasheizung Gas heating
Gesamtmiete See "Warmmiete"
Kaution Deposit Before you move in a new apartment or room you have to pay a deposit. The deposit usually amounts to twice or thrice "Kaltmiete". You get the deposit back after you move out unless you are responsible for damages done to the apartment or room.
Keller Basement
KM OR Kaltmiete Refers to the rent you pay for the use of the rooms. It does not refer to further costs such as water, heating, etc.
Möbliert Furnished: Usually an advertisement for a furnished apartment or room (you would receive a list of furniture that is included).
NK Nebenkosten Costs which you have to pay to your landlord in addition to the rent for room use ("Kaltmiete"). These costs usually include charges for water, waste, heating, etc. You pay the "Nebenkosten" on fixed monthly rate. However, at the end of each year your actual consumption of water, heating etc. will be accounted for. Depending on your consumption you may get money back or you need to make a supplementary payment.
OG Obergeschoss Upper floor
Sonstige Kosten Miscellaneous costs
Unmöbliert Unfurnished Most apartments or rooms are unfurnished. Please note that this is in most cases not explicitly mentioned in an advertisement. Unfurnished apartments neither include furniture nor kitchen facilities (oven, sink, etc.).
WM Warmmiete Refers to all the costs that you have to pay to your landlord ("Kaltmiete" + "Nebenkosten"). Before you sign a rental agreement you should check which costs are included in the "Nebenkosten". Usually you need to anticipate further costs for electricity, telephone and internet.
Waschmaschine Washing machine
WBS Wohnberechtigungsschein A voucher which authorises you to apply for a flat subsidised by the city
WG Wohngemeinschaft Flat sharing Living in a WG is usually cheaper than getting an own apartment and many students like to live in a WG for the company of their flat mates. However, you should note that there are different kinds of WGs. A WG can be a group of friends who decide to share a flat, but it is not unusual that students share a flat just for the sake of saving on the rent. Therefore it is not unusual that you can get a room in a WG even though you hardly know your flat mates. If you prefer a WG with friends, you might consider searching for an apartment with some of your study colleagues:
Zentralheizung Central heating
Zimmergröße Size of room
ZKB Zwei Zimmer, Küche, Bad Abbreviation for a two room flat.
Zwischenmiete Interim tenancy which is limited to a certain period. Many students advertise their room for an interim tenancy when they spend a semester abroad.

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