Hamburg Accommodation Guide
How excited are you to find your new home in Hamburg? We’ve put together our Hamburg Pre-arrival guide so you can find your new digs as quickly and seamlessly as possible – including a Hamburg city guide and useful information around health insurance.
We’ve got everything covered, from which areas you should be looking in, how to get to our college, searching for a flat and plenty of tips and tricks.
Plus, our friendly Student Support Team are here should you need any further accommodation advice, so don’t hesitate to get in touch
Apartments in Hamburg are categorised by the number of rooms, excluding the bathroom and the kitchen. So, ‘1 Zimmer’ would be a studio flat, plus a bathroom and kitchen, while ‘2 Zimmer’ would refer to one bedroom, a sitting room, a bathroom and a kitchen.
It’s also quite common to find apartments for rent without any built-in kitchen appliances: unless the property is advertised as having an Einbauküche (built-in kitchen) it may have only a sink and possibly a stove, so if you’re keen on home-cooking you’ll want to check this area carefully.
Note as well that two different rental prices will often be quoted on advertisements:
Kaltmiete and Warmmiete.
- Kaltmiete, or cold rent, refers to the cost of renting the property alone, with no extras
- Warmmiete, or warm rent, normally includes any charges for communal spaces, heating and water (although not usually electricity or internet, unless stated otherwise)
Please familiarise yourself with the three different kinds of rental:
- Mieten means to rent or to let, and refers to a direct contract between you and a landlord
- Untermieten means to sub-let – renting a room from someone who themselves has a contract with the landlord
- A WG, or Wohngemeinschaft, is a flat share, in which a group of people will come together to rent a property on equal terms
We have establish a short list of select accommodation providers, all within a short distance of our college. Let them know that you’re studying with us, and they’ll put you in touch with a member of their team who’ll be looking after all BIMM related queries.
Student Accommodation Providers:
Letting Agencies and Apartments:
General lettings
Private lettings
Please be aware that the agents listed have not been visited or vetted in any way by BIMM Institute Hamburg and you should therefore use them at your own risk.
A WG, or Wohngemeinschaft, is a flat share, in which a group of people will come together to rent a property on equal terms.
These are very common within Hamburg, and while some care is needed to ensure that you don’t end up living with people that you can’t get along with, they can be a fun and affordable option.
Finding Housemates
The European accommodation portal WGGesucht.de is a great free place to look for these, and local newspapers and community freesheets regularly advertise apartments and rooms.
Alternatively, you could sign up with one of the Mitwohnzentralen – accommodation agencies that specialise in filling rooms across the city, or even join and message the BIMM Hamburg Student Facebook group to find others heading to the city who are looking for people to share with.
The amount you’ll pay very much depends upon the type of accommodation you choose – for example, the privacy of a one-bedroom apartment will cost considerably more than a three-bedroom flat share.
As with all cities, where you live will affect the price: opting for lodgings right next to a U-Bahn line in the centre of a key nightlife district will take more from your wallet each month than somewhere a little further out.
- We recommend viewing a property at least twice. You’ll be more likely to notice problems the second time around
- Take someone with you or let someone else know exactly where you are when you visit a property, just to err on the side of caution
- It’s also a good idea to visit the area at night. If you do this, please ensure you stick to the point above and take someone with you
- Make sure you and all your other housemates view the property. Don’t take someone else’s word that the property is right for you
- Compare a range of different landlords and properties
- Take your time and don’t let landlords pressure you – there is a surplus of good properties in the area and you will find somewhere you like
- When you go to view, take notes and photos and use our checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything.
- Get informed – knowing your rights will help you view properties more critically and put you in a stronger negotiating position
Our Viewing Checklist
Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions – it’s a big decision.
- Does the place look well maintained?
- Will you be warm enough in winter?
- Will it be safe and secure?
- Does it have the space and facilities you
need (i.e. washing machine, heating,
fridge/freezer)? - Are the current tenants happy with the landlord
- Is the property affordable and good value?
- Is the area suitable for your needs?
Student Advice
Why not hear from the students who have lived and breathed the process? Discover our Accommodation Top Tips Checklist by Ells Sivakumaran.
BIMM Hamburg’s address is:
BIMM Institute Hamburg
Floor 3
Feldstraße Bunker
Feldstraße 66
20359 Hamburg
You may wish to consider living slightly further away and commuting into St. Pauli, especially if you’re already settled in Hamburg.
Remember that you’ll need to take into consideration the cost of travelling, and the time it will take to get into BIMM Hamburg, when making any accommodation decisions.
We recommend the following areas, some of which are within walking distance of BIMM Hamburg or a short commute:
- St. Pauli
- Sternschanze
- Neuer Pferdemarkt
- Karolinenviertel
- Hamburg Altona
Any questions?
For any questions regarding student accommodation or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM Institute Hamburg, please contact our Admissions Team on +49 (0)40 874 09 632 or email hamburg@bimm-institute.de.
