Why housing decides acceptances
Candidates from abroad have neither a rental history in Germany nor a credit record. Many landlords therefore refuse before a conversation starts.
Without a flat there is no registration of address. Without that registration there is no tax number, no bank account and often no appointment at the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde). Housing is thus not a side issue but part of the procedure.
In practice the housing offer often settles the acceptance. Between two similar jobs, candidates mainly weigh up whether they know where they will sleep.
Models used in practice
There is no single right solution. Five models are common, and they can be mixed.
Many companies start with housing they provide and later move to supporting a flat of the employee's own. That gives both sides time without putting the start at risk.
- The company provides a furnished room or flat and settles the rent
- The company rents the property and sublets it to its staff
- The company pays a contribution towards rent on the open market
- The company helps with the search and acts as a reference towards the landlord
- The company provides a temporary solution for the first weeks
What should be settled before the acceptance
Clarity beats generosity. Candidates decide on figures they can follow, not on loose promises.
Put the figures in writing, best of all in a short annex to the contract. The skilled worker then reads the same numbers that apply in your company.
- Type and size of the housing, single room or shared room
- Rent, service charges and the share the company carries
- Deposit and the date it is paid back
- Length of the tenancy and the notice periods
- Distance to the workplace and the connection without a car
- Furniture, kitchen, washing machine and internet
- Whether the address can be used for the registration
Legal points that are often missed
For the registration the authority asks for a confirmation from the landlord. Whoever provides the housing has to issue it.
Rent and employment are better kept apart. A deduction from wages is only lawful with a clear agreement, and limits apply to it. Have such clauses checked before you use them.
Tying the flat to the employment contract is delicate as well. If the job ends, the housing question is immediately on the table. A separate notice rule is fairer for both sides.
Tax, insurance and safety
Housing provided by the company can count as a benefit in kind for wage tax. Clarify the treatment with your payroll office or your tax adviser beforehand.
As landlord or intermediate tenant you carry responsibility for the state of the building. That includes smoke alarms, tested wiring, safe stairs and clearing snow.
Point the residents to insurance of their own. Private liability cover is customary in Germany and settles many everyday claims.
Record the condition of the flat at the start and at the end of the tenancy. A handover report with photographs saves argument about the deposit later.
When the market offers nothing
In some regions even a company finds nothing. Other routes then help.
Some firms buy or rent housing for the long term and use it for changing staff. Others talk to local housing associations and act as guarantor. The municipality is a good first point of contact too.
It is also worth looking at the journey. A flat in the next village works if a bus or a shared car runs reliably. Without a connection it becomes the reason for the next move.
When several people share
Shared flats are common. They work when the rules are set from the start. Lay down who uses which room and how kitchen and bathroom are shared.
Watch the mix of people. Staff on different shifts disturb each other's sleep. A shared bedroom rarely suits a company with rotating shifts.
Settle cleaning, waste and visitors in writing. Short house rules in the language of the residents work better than a talk after the first trouble.
What candidates want to know
These questions come up in almost every conversation. Answering them beforehand saves a round of talks.
- Where will I live in the first weeks?
- What do I pay each month, and what does that include?
- Do I share the flat, and with whom?
- How do I get to work without a car?
- Can I register my address there?
- Can my family follow later?
Preparing the first weeks
The start shapes the impression. Meeting somebody at the station or the airport costs little and is remembered for a long time.
Basic equipment helps: bed linen, towels, crockery and a note on heating and waste. A short sheet with contacts, emergency numbers and the way to work belongs with it.
Allow time for the offices as well. Registration, bank and health insurance can hardly be handled on the side in the first days.
Raise the house rules early. Quiet hours, waste separation and visitors are arranged differently in every country. A short conversation at the start prevents trouble with the neighbours.
Our part on the housing question
Regalis asks about your housing offer in a structured way in the questionnaire and explains it to the candidates in their own language. We agree the arrival and the first steps with both sides. The tenancy itself is signed by landlord and tenant.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to provide housing as the employer?
There is no duty to do so. In practice an offer clearly raises the number of acceptances, above all in rural regions.
May we deduct the rent from wages?
Only with a clear agreement and within the legal limits. Have the clause checked before you use it.
How long should company housing run?
Many firms plan for the first months and then support the move to a flat of the employee's own. What matters is that both sides know the period from the start.
What applies to shared accommodation?
It is permitted, but it needs clear rules on occupancy, cleaning and privacy. Reasonable equipment and space to withdraw to belong to it.
Please note
This article gives a general overview as at the date of publication. It is neither legal advice nor advice on tenancy law. Have contracts and wage deductions checked professionally in each case.