Before signing a student tenancy agreement, check four areas: the total costs made up of basic and additional rent, the deposit, the term and any fixed end date, and your role as main tenant or subtenant. A room in a shared flat costs €510 per month on the national average, and the BAföG housing allowance is €380. That alone makes a close look at every line worthwhile.
Key takeaways
- Read the tenancy agreement in full before you sign, and have unclear points explained to you in writing.
- The gross rent (warme Miete) is your total monthly burden. It consists of the basic rent and the service charges.
- Ask about the amount, payment method and repayment of the deposit, and have the answers confirmed.
- For fixed terms, subletting and notice, the wording in the contract decides. Legal questions are best clarified with a tenants’ association or the Consumer Advice Centre.
What should you check in a student tenancy agreement?
A tenancy agreement sets out what you pay, how long you stay and which rules apply in the building. Go through it point by point before you sign. The following table shows which question to ask for which section.
| Point in the contract | Your question |
|---|---|
| Rent | What are the basic rent and the service charges, and how are they split? |
| Service charges | Which items are included, and how are they billed? |
| Deposit | How high is it, how do I pay it, and when do I get it back? |
| Term | Is the contract fixed-term, and what does the contract say about it? |
| Notice | Which notice period applies, and in what form must I give notice? |
| Tenant status | Am I the main tenant or a subtenant, and who is my contract partner? |
| House rules | Which rules apply to quiet hours, pets and shared areas? |
Basic rent, gross rent, service charges: how do you understand the costs?
The basic rent (Kaltmiete) is the price for the rooms themselves. The gross rent (Warmmiete) additionally includes the service charges, such as heating, water and waste collection. For the gross rent, you usually pay a monthly advance. At the end of the billing period, the landlord compares the actual costs with the advances, which results in either a back payment or a credit.
Whether electricity and internet are included in the rent is stated in the contract. The broadcasting contribution of €18.36 per month per flat comes on top, and in a shared flat you split it. Students receiving BAföG who do not live with their parents can apply for an exemption. Further ways to save are shown in our article on student status benefits (in German).
Example with assumed figures: Max, 22, pays €450 basic rent and a €60 service charge advance for his room, so €510 gross rent. Over twelve months he pays €60 × 12, which is €720 in advances. The statement shows actual costs of €780. Max pays €60 back.
How does the deposit work?
The rental deposit serves the landlord as security. Before you sign, ask how high it is, whether you can pay it in instalments, where it is held and when you get it back after moving out. Have the answers given to you in writing. A tenants’ association or the Consumer Advice Centre can clarify whether a particular amount is permissible.
For start-up costs such as the rental deposit, there is the study start grant (Studienstarthilfe): a one-off grant of €1,000. It applies to students under 25 who enrol for the first time in a full-time degree programme, if the person or the household received social benefits in the month before the start of studies. You apply through BAföG Digital, shortly after the start of the semester.
Fixed-term tenancy: what should you look out for?
A fixed-term tenancy agreement has a fixed end date. Check whether that date fits your study plan, and ask why the tenancy is limited. Also ask whether you can move out early if your place of study changes. Whether the term is effective in your specific case should be clarified by a tenants’ association or a legal adviser.
Subletting: what changes for you?
As the main tenant, you have the contract with the landlord. As a subtenant, you rent from a main tenant who is themselves the tenant of the flat. Before you agree, ask whether the landlord has consented to the subletting and who manages the deposit. If the shared flat has an internal agreement, record the division of costs, tasks and rules for moving out in it. Tips on applications and viewings are in our article on the shared flat search (in German).
House rules, notice and moving out
The house rules govern quiet hours, pets, the laundry room and shared areas. Read them when you move in and stick to them. Breaches can lead to trouble with the landlord.
The notice period is stated in the contract. Whether it is validly agreed is something a tenants’ association can clarify. Give notice in writing and have receipt confirmed. If several people are on the contract, clarify in advance who has to give notice. When handing over the flat, record the condition of the rooms in a handover protocol. Take photos of all rooms and sign only once every entry is correct.
Is there housing benefit or other relief?
Students generally do not receive housing benefit (Wohngeld). Anyone who could in principle receive BAföG is excluded, even if the BAföG amount would be zero. Exceptions and the application are explained in our article on housing benefit for students (in German). The BAföG housing allowance of €380 is below the average rent for a room in a shared flat in 76 of the 90 university cities examined.
If you are still searching, you will find strategies and portals in our article on the flat search during your studies (in German). The article on what students need when moving in (in German) helps after you get the keys.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check in a student tenancy agreement?
Check basic and gross rent, service charges, deposit, term, notice period and your status as main tenant or subtenant. Read the house rules too, and ask about anything unclear. Sign only once you have understood every point.
How high is the deposit for students?
The amount is stated in the tenancy agreement. Ask how it is paid and when you get it back. Whether the sum demanded is permissible can be clarified by a tenants’ association or the Consumer Advice Centre. For start-up costs, the study start grant of €1,000 can help if you meet the requirements.
Can a tenancy agreement be fixed-term?
Fixed-term tenancy agreements do occur. Read which end date the contract states and which reason the landlord gives. A tenants’ association or a legal adviser can assess whether the term is effective in an individual case.
How does the service charge statement work?
You pay a monthly advance. After the billing period ends, the landlord compares the actual costs with it. If the total is higher, you pay the difference; if it is lower, you receive a credit. Check the individual items on the statement.
How to proceed now
- Read the contract in full and mark the unclear passages.
- Clarify the deposit, the fixed term, the notice period and your tenant status in writing.
- If you have legal doubts, ask a tenants’ association or the Consumer Advice Centre.
- Document the condition of the rooms with photos when you move in.
- Check whether the study start grant, an exemption from the broadcasting contribution or other relief applies to you.
Related reading
- Finding a shared flat: tips for a successful search (in German)
- Student hall or shared flat: what suits you better (in German)
- Student starter kit: what you really need (in German)
- Housing benefit for students: who is entitled and how to apply (in German)
- Liability insurance in a shared flat and your own flat (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. The German version is authoritative.
