12.20 Advertisements for accommodation

Deciphering advertisements

German accommodation advertisements do not refer to the number of bedrooms in flats and houses, but to square metres of floor space (das Quadratmeter; m²). Floor space is also the means by which most rents for rooms in "Wohngemeinschaften" are usually calculated. You might for example see a phrase such as "65m² Wohnfläche", which means "65 square metres of living space". This living space normally comprises living room, dining room and bedroom(s).

 

Adverts may also refer to the total number of rooms in a residence - excluding the bathroom, hall and kitchen. So if you want a flat with a living room, a dining room and two bedrooms, then look for adverts with (4 Zimmer), or as the abbreviation in advertisements would have it (4Zi).

 

Note too the distinction between between "kalt" and "warm" when referring to rent. This has nothing to do with how warm or cold the building is, but instead whether the rent includes heating bills (warm) or excludes them (kalt). Make sure that you are aware of how much rent you are patying and what your rights and responsibilities are before you sign the lease (der Mietvertrag).