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Looking for a room by yourself

If you prefer to look for accommodation independently, here are some tips and tricks as well as useful resources. Please be aware that the housing market situation in Hamburg - like in most big cities - is tense. Therefore, rents may be higher than in your home town, especially in central locations. There are different service providers such as home company. For the first days of your stay in Hamburg, you might need to book a hotel or private apartment via Booking.com or Airbnb. You can also approach the MLB team and ask for an updated hotel/hostel list.

 

 

General advice

Please be aware that the housing market situation in Hamburg - like in most big cities - is tense. Therefore, rents may be higher than in your home town, especially in central locations. 

We recommend that you look for a Wohngemeinschaft (WG) - a shared flat - which is the most common kind of accommodation for German students. Furthermore, unless you are bringing your own furniture, you should look for a Möbliertes Zimmer or a Möblierte Wohnung - a furnished room or apartment.

Useful abbreviations and vocabulary

When checking the real-estate section in the newspaper or elsewhere, this list of abbreviations may come in handy.

Abbr.GermanEnglish
BlkBalkonbalcony
ab sofab sofortimmediately
AppAppartmentapartment
cacircaapproximately
DGDachgeschossattic
EBKEinbauküchefitted kitchen
EGErdgeschossground floor
GgGaragegarage
HKHeizkostenheating costs
Hz/HzgHeizungheating
KMKaltmieterent without heating or electricity costs
(kompl.) einger.(komplett) eingerichtet(completely) furnished
KtKautiondeposit
LgLagelocation
MMMonatsmietemonthly rent
NKNebenkostencosts for heating, electricity, etc.
möbl.möbliertfurnished
mtl.monatlichmonthly
(1.) OG(1.) Obergeschoss(1st) floor
renovrenoviertrenovated
v. privvon privatfrom private owner
WhgWohnungflat
ZHZentralheizungcentral heating
ZiZimmerroom
zzglzuzüglichplus

Real-estate agency

Bucerius Law School has a cooperation agreement with the real-estate agency City Wohnen which has specialized in interim housing. As of 2015, renters no longer pay a commission fee to the agency.

Useful websites

Short-term accommodation

If you wish to stay in a hotel or a youth hostel while you are looking for something more permanent, here are some recommendations.

Residence halls

Hostels and guesthouses

Hotels