Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
Last update: 27.06.2022
Accommodation for doctoral candidates in Frankfurt
The following brochure should make your quest for affordable accommodation in Frankfurt
easier.
The GWC will be pleased to provide you with all necessary information for a successful
accommodation search in Frankfurt. It is our goal to make you feel comfortable in Frankfurt
and to assure that you have a fruitful and successful stay at Goethe University. Knowing
that the quest for accommodation may prove to be rather demanding and in order to
facilitate your personal quest we would like to inform you about some issues and facts
related to accommodation in Frankfurt.
Please be aware that it might be quite challenging to find an accommodation in Frankfurt
and the prices are very high as Frankfurt is an attractive place for living, being an
economically very busy city. Do consider apartments in Frankfurt’s flat shares as well.
Basically, there are two possibilities to find a place to stay in Frankfurt:
1. There is a private accommodation market in Frankfurt. However, for three reasons
it might be difficult to be successful on the private accommodation market:
a. landlords mostly will not rent out apartments to someone they have not
seen in person, i.e., when you are not in Frankfurt, it is very difficult to be
chosen, especially as there are generally more than 50 people that react to
interesting accommodation offers.
b. Landlords do not tend to rent apartments for only a couple of months: They
are looking for someone who intends to rent an apartment on a long-term basis.
c. Most apartments offered on the private accommodation market are not
furnished.
2. There is a large variety of hotels and inns available in Frankfurt. The prices vary
between 80 and 300€ per night. You can book some of them on a long-term
basis for cheaper rates. For hostels, prices may be considerably cheaper, starting
at about 30€ for a private room, and 11€ for a bed in a dorm.
Please be aware that it may be even more difficult to find an accommodation in Frankfurt
when looking for more than a single apartment and rental costs in Frankfurt are rather
high compared to other cities in Hessen. In Germany, it is quite common that an average
of 40% to 50% of the net salary is spent on accommodation. Generally, you should
calculate around 500€ - 700€ for a single flat, 600€ - 950€ for a two-room flat and 750€ -
1.400€ for a three-room flat.
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
Please be aware that it is generally not possible to cancel a reservation or only under very
specific conditions. Therefore, you are fully responsible for expenses related to reservations
even if you finally decide not to come to Frankfurt or to arrive later.
1. The rental market
Entering the private rental market is one possibility for the apartment search.
Furthermore, rental advertisements can be found and placed in the internet You could for
example post your own advertisement on the websites mentioned above or on notice
boards. Furthermore, you can enlist the help of a real estate agency to find
accommodation.
Flat shares
If you are looking for a single room, you may consider moving into a flat share
(Wohngemeinschaft, or, simply WG). Oftentimes, there may be more economic
alternatives to be found in flat shares. The most used platform for this purpose is
www.wg-gesucht.de/en/.
You will find offers both in German and English and may contact them directly via the
platform. Even when the offer is in German, users are usually open for English speaking
requests. You can also post a search request on the platform that can be accessed by
other users who are looking for a flat mate.
When contacting offers, it is common to introduce yourself (age, occupation, leisure time
activities, etc.) and your preferences for a shared living (for example, concerning
smoking, pets, common activities). Generally, the communication is much more informal
and personal when searching for a flat share.
Please be aware that due to the high number of requests, many users may not respond
to all requests. Once you hear back from a person, they will invite you to visit the flat.
You can also suggest an online meeting & tour.
Following some more online links for the private real estate market in Germany:
• www.immowelt.de (real estate research in Germany)
• www.immonet.de
• www.immozentral.com
• www.immobilienscout24.de
• www.nestoria.de
• www.wohnung-jetzt.de (private rentals without commission)
• www.wg-gesucht.de/en/ (flatshares)
• https://housinganywhere.com/
Please find the link to the housing initiative of universities and students councils in the
Rhein-Main area, the cities of Frankfurt and Offenbach and the Studentenwerk Frankfurt
(in German):
http://www.wohnraum-gesucht.de
please be aware that both websites are in German.
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
There is a useful Telegram group for flat shares and apartments in the Frankfurt &
Offenbach area, also including short-term sublets. You can join by using this link
(t.me/joinchat/RkTIs9FfQiB0mHCV) and contact offers or post your own request.
(Please be aware that many offers are in German. However, users are usually open for
English-speaking requests.)
Otherwise, you may consider:
Holiday homes:
• www.wimdu.de
• www.fewo-direkt.de (available in German & French)
Serviced apartments:
• www.the-flag-frankfurt.de
• www.bed-and-brains.de/
Apartment swaps:
• http://SabbaticalHomes.com (apartment swaps among academics)
• www.homeexchange.com
• http://homeforswap.com
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
Below you find some real estate agencies that specialize in (furnished) rooms/apartments
for rent:
WohnRaumAgentur
Voltastrasse 76, D-60486 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: +49-(0)69-71 91 23 - 0
Telefax: +49-(0)69-71 91 23 – 23
Internet: http://www.wohnraumagentur.de
E-Mail: frankfurt@wohnraumagentur.de
City Living
Bornheimer Landstr. 44, D-60316 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: +49-(0)69-48 00 24 16
Telefax: +49-(0)69-48 00 24 18
Internet: www.city-living.de
E-Mail: i[email protected]
City-Residence GmbH
Hansaallee 2, D-60322 Frankfurt/M
Telephone: +49-(0)69-299 05 - 0
Telefax: +49-(0)69-299 05 – 353
Internet: www.city-residence.de/
E-Mail: Frankfurt@city-residence.de
HomeCompany Mitwohnzentrale GbR
Sandweg 63, D-60316 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: +49-(0)69-19445
Telefax: +49-(0)69-25787922
Internet: www.frankfurt.homecompany.de
E-Mail: frankfurt@homecompany.de
Home For Times
Elefantengasse 19, D-60313 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone: +49-(0)69-24 24 70 95
Internet: www.homefortimes.de
E-Mail: info@homefortimes.de
9 Flats GmbH
Hongkongstraße 7, D-20457 Hamburg
Telefon:+49 (0)30-983216799
Internet: www.9flats.com
E-Mail: [email protected]m
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
2. Information on rental contracts
Before moving into an apartment, you usually set up a rental lease with your future
landlord. By signing it you enter into a legally binding agreement and should therefore read
it carefully before signing, including the fine print. Purely verbal rental agreements are
rather uncommon in Germany.
The lease should include the following information: basic monthly rental charge not
including monthly additional costs such as garbage removal, water, taxes and, in some
cases, heating and hot water (Kaltmiete), monthly additional costs (Nebenkosten), starting
date and duration of the rental period (in the case of fixed-term leases), term of notice for
open-ended contracts (usually 3 months), the tenant’s rights of use (basement, common
areas, garden etc.), possible obligatory renovations before moving out (professional carpet
cleaning, painting, etc.). Any existing deficiencies in the flat should also be noted so that
you will not be held responsible when moving out. According to German legislation, it is
permitted to keep small pets (guinea pigs, caged birds, rabbits, and hamsters). If you
would like to keep cats or dogs, you should discuss it with your landlord in advance.
Some landlords will agree to terminate the tenancy before the term of notice runs out if
you are able to provide a new tenant in time. If anything in your lease strikes you as
strange or unusual, do not hesitate to consult the Goethe Welcome Centre.
Security Deposit
It is common in Germany for a property owner to ask for one or two months’ rent as a
security deposit. The money is put in a savings account for you and is paid back in full
when you move out unless you have caused any damage in the apartment or have not
fully paid your rent. The maximum permissible deposit is three months’ rent.
Before moving in you usually fix an appointment with your landlord to receive the keys.
3. Hotels, pensions and hostels
A range of various accommodation options is available for shorter stays in Frankfurt
when looking for longer-term or permanent accommodation. The following contains
information on hotels, boarding houses, and inns.
Hotels: www.hrs.de/hotel/
www.booking.com
Hostels:
Haus der Jugend Frankfurt
Deutschherrnufer 12, D-60594 Frankfurt
Phone: +49-(0)69-6100150
Internet: www.jugendherberge-frankfurt.de
E-Mail: jugend[email protected]
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
Frankfurt Hostel
Kaiserstraße 74
60329 Frankfurt am Main
Phone:+ 49-(0)69-2475130
Internet: www.frankfurt-hostel.com
Five Elements Hostel
Moselstraße 40
60329 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 (0) 69/24 00 58 85
Internet: www.5elementshostel.de
E-Mail: wel[email protected]
A&O Hostels Frankfurt Galluswarte
Mainzer Landstraße 226-230
60327 Frankfurt
Phone: +49-(0)69 269 150 - 3400
Internet: https://www.aohostels.com/de/frankfurt/
3. Student dorms
Studentenwerk Frankfurt – Dorms:
-PhD students are generally excluded from all dorms run by the Studentenwerk
Frankfurt.
Bauverein Katholische Studentenheime – Dernbach Haus:
(! currently undergoing renovation – available in summer/winter 2022)
-PhD students are accepted with restrictions
-25 rooms for PhD students and exam candidates; common kitchen and bathrooms
-Inhabitants have to be enrolled and must not be above 29 of age.
-Occupancy up to four years (or longer, if doctoral status continues)
-Further information: www.bauverein-frankfurt.de/index.php
Student dorms of Protestant church – Susanna-von-Klettenberg-Haus:
-PhD students are accepted with restrictions
-Age limit of 29
-Further information: http://www.ev-studentenwohnheime.de/37.html
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
Martin-Luther-King-Haus:
-PhD students can apply
-Have to be enrolled as PhD students
-Further information: http://wp.foerderungwerk.eu/370-2/
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management – Student dorms:
-Information: www.frankfurt-school.de/en/home/about/campus/dorms
GWH Studentenwohnheime – Studentenwohnanlage Ben-Gurion-Ring:
-Applicants have to be enrolled
-no restrictions with regard to age or number of semesters
-Further information: www.gwh.de
Schneider Bau GmbH – Student dorms Campus Riedberg:
-PhD students can apply, as long as they are enrolled
-Further information: www.schneider-bau.com/studentenwohnungen
Wohnrauminitiative Frankfurt e.V.:
-Application for PhD students possible; contact via email or telephone
-Further information: http://wif-ev.org/
Please be aware that the information on the student dorm websites is mostly in German.
However, you may reach out to them via email or telephone for inquiries.
4. List of abbreviations for the accommodation search
If you want to search for accommodation in Germany privately, you will
discover that advertisements contain a lot of abbreviations. To help you search
more efficiently we have compiled a list of most common abbreviations:
2-Zi-Whg
2-Zimmer-Wohnung
Abstellk
Abstellkammer
Blk / Balk.
Balkon
DG
Dachgeschoss
D
Diele
DU
Dusche
EBK
Einbauküche
EFH
Einfamilienhaus
EG
Erdgeschoss
EB
Erstbezug
G-WC
Gäste-WC
HK
Heizkosten
HH
Hochhaus
KM
Kaltmiete
Kaution
deposit
Keine zusätzl. Prov.
no additional commission
KDB
Küche, Diele, Bad
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main — Goethe Welcome Centre — welcome_PhD@uni-frankfurt.de
MM
Monatsmiete
NK / NBK
Nebenkosten
NR
Nichtraucher
OG
Obergeschoss
RH
Reihenhaus
Stellpl.
Stellplatz
TG
Tiefgarage
TL
Tageslicht
warm/WM
Warmmiete
Wfl.
Wohnfläche
WG
Wohngemeinschaft
WK
Wohnküche
ZH
Zentralheizung
Contact:
Email: [email protected]