We created a short video with 5 ways to find a room in Darmstadt.

Lora Stephan from Housing International explains how to find suitable accommodation and shares practical tips to help you with your housing search. Watch it for a quick overview, then read the article below for more detailed information and tips on your housing search.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that there are several options available to you:

• Shared flats (Wohngemeinschaften/WGs): Several people live together in a shared residential space. You would normally have your own room and share the kitchen, bathroom and living room with your flat mates. This form of living might not be for everyone, but it certainly has its advantages. As socialising can be difficult at first for some international students, having roommates means you won't be alone as often, you'll find it easier to meet new people and you'll get help with navigating the city (where to shop, how to find services, etc.). This is the most common form of accommodation for students, but you should decide for yourself if it suits you.

• Student dormitories (Studierendenwohnheim): TU Darmstadt does not own any student dormitories but works in cooperation with many student accommodation facilities in the area, such as Studierendenwerk Darmstadt. Most of the housing offered by Studierendenwerk Darmstadt is shared flats for two to four people (and sometimes more). Studierendenwerk isn’t the only provider of student accommodations but it has advantages in that it is not profit-oriented and the rooms are usually furnished. However, unlike other shared flats, you won’t be able to choose your roommates, as rooms are assigned at random. There are also many privately run student dormitories in Darmstadt, which offer studio apartments exclusively. These are generally more expensive but are preferred by many students.

• Single apartments: Living in a single apartment is often the most expensive option, but depending on your preference, it could also be the most comfortable. When you live in a single apartment, you usually have a small flat with your own bathroom, kitchen and bedroom/living room. Single apartments can be found in both student halls of residence and privately rented properties.

For exchange students

• TU Darmstadt's ESHA (Exchange Students Housing Assistance) service offers help and support to exchange students in finding accommodation in and around Darmstadt. They collaborate with several well-known public and private student accommodation providers, including: Studierendenwerk, Bauverein AG, and more. Please note that ESHA's services are only available to exchange students who have been formally accepted by TU Darmstadt's Exchange Programmes to study or participate in a research programme for one or two semesters (or a shorter period).

• ESHA's Registration Form: Once you have received an admission letter from the Office of International Relations, you will be sent a link to an application portal where you can apply for housing. Please log in to the Incoming Portal using the credentials you used for your application and fill out the “Follow-up Form: Housing Application and German Language Proficiency Information.” The ESHA team will contact you. Please be aware that, due to high demand, this process may take some time, and registration does not guarantee a placement. Therefore, please be aware that you may have to make alternative arrangements if necessary!

For international degree seeking students

• The Housing International Office is another service facility that gives advice and assistance to international students who are looking for suitable accommodation. They can explain Darmstadt’s housing market and general information about renting in Germany. They can also advise you on how to apply for a room in a shared flat. If you have any questions about housing in and around Darmstadt, they will be happy to help.

• Housing Assistance’s Registration Form: In order to help you with your search, they need to know details like what you want in an accommodation as well as your budget, so you should fill out their online registration form to provide this information. It’s important to remember that while they strive to provide you with offers for accommodation in accordance with your wishes, they cannot always guarantee a successful match.

Both of these services are free of charge.

Due to the number of students looking for accommodation and the limited amount of space in the student dormitories, being proactive is very important in finding accommodation. The more initiative you have, the more options you will find! Here are the steps you need to take to do that:

• Get to know more about the housing situation and market in Darmstadt and the surrounding areas by looking at various websites.
• Start to find some potentially suitable options as early as possible by filtering through the offers according to your criteria and budget.
• Start contacting the property owner, or real estate agents (please be aware that using an agent could incur extra costs!) or register for a room via the property’s registration portals.
• Don’t forget to ask for current photos and arrange a visit (in person or online) before you confirm, sign, or pay anything to protect yourself from fraud.
• Prepare the documents you may need and be prepared to pay the deposit and first month’s rent up front. The requirements can vary from place to place, but once you get into contact with the landlord, they should directly tell you what documents are needed. Keep an eye on your e-mail, so you don’t miss any important information!
• Sign your housing contract and organize a move-in date!

Finding accommodation can be a struggle and may take a long time, so here are some helpful tips that might help you:

• Remember to be safe: Even if cases of fraud rarely happen, do your best to protect yourself from housing fraud by communicating to landlords over trustworthy platforms, ideally through verified accounts when possible. Another tip would be to ask for current photos and arrange a visit to see the accommodation before agreeing to, signing, or paying anything. (An in-person visit would be great, but if you’re not in Germany or Darmstadt yet, then an online meeting is also a good option.) Remember, photos on the listing don’t always represent the current state of the accommodation.

• Don’t sell yourself short: When applying for a shared flat, you should treat your application (usually in the form of the messages you send through websites) seriously. Present yourself well and provide all the information your potential future roommates should know about you, such as your personal details, background, habits and hobbies. They may be more interested in having you as a roommate if they feel they have a full picture of who you are.

• Keep your search area wide: You can look for rooms in parts of Darmstadt that aren’t as central and heavily populated like Arheilgen, Kranichstein, Eberstadt, Dieburg or Wixhausen. Rent is often a little bit lower there, there are more options, and it’s still close enough to the university. You can reach the city center from these places in around 20 minutes with either a bike or public transport. Another option is to look for accommodation in towns around Darmstadt. You can now travel all around Germany with your semester ticket, that’s why many students at TU Darmstadt commute to the campus from all over the region.

• Sometimes temporary is better than nothing: As the housing market is difficult, you may not find your preferred room right away. But that doesn't mean you should give up! Also, searching once you’re in the area is easier than online, so start by staying in a hostel or hotel, or if you can, with friends or family. Once you are in Darmstadt and get to know people, you might even find a group to rent a flat to share together, as many providers don‘t like to rent the rooms individually. You may have to compromise at first (i.e. paying a higher rent) until you have the chance to find an accommodation for the long-term that suits you better.

There are a lot of things you need to learn when you are entering the German housing market, especially in crowded cities like Darmstadt, but don’t let that scare or intimidate you! With effort and patience, you can find accommodation that will suit your needs. Stay optimistic and remember that ESHA and Housing International will also try their best to help and support you in your search!

The main takeaway from this article is that you should start your search as early as you possibly can. Be it for international degree seeking students or exchange students, being early in applying for accommodation or filling in the forms will increase your chances of getting the accommodation you want. So, make sure that you start as soon as you’ve decided that you want to study at TU Darmstadt!

Good luck with your search!