Find the best apartments for rent in Hamburg
Got your heart set on moving to Hamburg? Well you’re in luck, you’ve come across the perfect intro in order to successfully obtain your accommodation in Germany’s second largest city. If you’re looking for a true German experience, Hamburg is the perfect place for you. Home to stimulating architecture, the famous Hamburg port, and traditional straight-forward Germans. You can really indulge yourself in German life and culture in this city, all while still getting the opportunity to meet internationals from all parts of the world. And not to forget about those who are beer advocates, Hamburg residents love their beer and have a fantastic variety for you to discover.
Renting a flat in Germany can be a bit tedious and prolonged. For those who have lived in Germany know that you have to sell your soul, and your kidney to find an apartment... All jokes aside, finding an apartment in Germany is a full-time job but hopefully this guide can shed some light for you and help you get it done faster and easier.
To start off, be aware that the demand for trying to find an accommodation in Germany is extremely high. Landlords have the liberty to choose which tenants they think will be the best to live on their property. This is usually based on salary expectations and the income that you can prove you earn. The Germans love indefinite job contracts, and financial stability.. So if this sounds like you, you might be at the top of the competition for attractive renters!
There are two different kinds of rental contracts that exist in Germany: Warmmiete (warm rent) and Kaltmiete (cold rent). The warm rent simply means that the utility costs like heating and water are included. With cold rent, all utilities are excluded so you will have to pay the base rent plus utilities. You can save lots of money on rent with shared apartments in Hamburg. With a wohngemeinschaften(shared accommodation) , often an interview is required. Your application is more personalized and will include questions about your lifestyle and personality to see if you are a good match!
How long does it take to find an apartment in Hamburg?
Finding an apartment in Hamburg can be very time consuming, mostly because of competition and being approved by a landlord. You might also have difficulties finding the perfect space that you think would best suit you. It is recommended to give yourself up to a month to find an apartment. Find a medium/short-term stay on Spotahome’s website for your apartment search, or request to book a long term stay and get approved before your arrival to Hamburg!
What are the best areas to rent an apartment in Hamburg?
There are several residential areas throughout the city of Hamburg:
Altstad, is where many stay in Hamburg for tourists & sightseeing - the old town part of the city has five iconic churches for people to explore. Along with cultural institutions like theatres and convention centres.
There's also the famous St. Pauli. Home to Hamburg’s best nightlife if you’re keen to spend your weekend nights out in the town. St. Pauli is the undisputed king of nightlife in the city.
Hafencity, a great area to stay in Hamburg on budget. The former port of the city, now considered to be an urban regeneration project, is slower paced and a bit further out, but still able to navigate the city easily.
Check Spotahomes website where you can see a detailed map of available rent in any neighbourhood of Hamburg.
What is the average price of an apartment in Hamburg?
Average prices of apartments in Hamburg can range from 500-1200 euro, depending on the specifics of your accommodation. Private rooms can be in the 500-750 range and studios are usually upwards of 700 euros. One bedroom or multiple bedroom apartments can be 1000 euros and up on average. Spotahome offers all of these types of accommodations, you can filter out specifically what you are looking for on our website, this includes pricing, size, location, and more.
What are the advantages of renting a furnished flat in Hamburg?
Renting a furnished flat in Hamburg will make your life way easier. No need to buy any new furniture that you won’t end up using in the long-run, all you have to do is fill in the spaces with your personal belongings! Maybe add some decor to give it your personal touch.. But one thing to be aware of is that sometimes apartments are not equipped with kitchens.. Yes, you read that correctly. While this might be strange to some, in Germany, this phenomenon is quite common. So be sure that your apartment has a fully equipped kitchen so you don’t have to hassle with buying any extra appliances or cabinets.
How big is a Hamburg apartment on average?
Hamburg apartments are not known to have substantial amounts of space, but they are not ridiculously small either. Averaging about 65 square metres for apartments. You will usually get what you pay for, more expensive accommodations will have more space. At Spotahome website available apartments will show clear depictions of size with photos and exact measurements for each one.
What documents do I need to rent a flat in Hamburg?
You will need one of or all of these documents to ensure your eligibility for most flats in Hamburg: ID or passport, application form, three months salary slip, schufa certificate (to see if you are debt free/credit worthy), and possibly a reference letter from the previous landlord.
However, this process will be much easier when you book with Spotahome and you may even be free of some of these documents. Everything can be done online from the comfort of your home.
Some more apartment hunting info and tips in Hamburg:
- You need to make decisions fast.
- They count rooms individually, counting living rooms as a room too instead of just bedrooms. Make sure you add an extra room during your search to the number you are looking for.
- Even though the rent might be low, the person with the highest salary will probably get the apartment.
- If your salary is low, no worries, you can get a guarantor.
- Always send applications in German.
- Make the application personal.
- Be aware of scams, ask to see apartments in person - or trust Spotahome which is scam free!