Housing

To make it easier for you, to find an accomocation in a city as sought after as Hamburg, we have compiled a list of options and places to start your search for your perfect dorm or apartment. Please read all the information carefully.

Dorms by the Studierendenwerk Hamburg (not for Freemovers)

An application for a Studierendenwerk dormitory is only possible via our International Office.

The Studierendenwerk Hamburg is an inter-university service for Hamburg students of all universities. Their offer includes a number of dorms (“Wohnheim”) across Hamburg. The International Office assists exchange students to rent a room in one of those residences.

There is no guarantee that all students will get a room, due to a limited amount of rooms. We have no influence on the allocation procedure and can't predict in which dormitory will be an available room.

You will be able to apply during your application process in Mai or in November. We will send a registration for directly to you.

Rooms in the Studierendenwerk residences can only be rented for a period of 6 months or 12 months and the contracts runs only from the following dates for the Winter Term 2024/25:

1st September 2024 to 28th February 2025
1st October 2024 to 31st March 2025

The monthly rent for a room ranges from € 326 to € 447. This includes fees for electricity, water and internet use. If you only have a limited budget available for rent, please indicate on the application form the maximum amount you are able to pay. The Studierendenwerk takes it into account when assigning you a place in the dormitory.

If your application is accepted, you will receive an e-mail directly from the Studierendenwerk with an offer and a rental contract for the period you have named in your application. If you want to rent the room you must sign the contract and send it back to the Studierendenwerk within the given deadline.

Rent has to be paid at the beginning of each month (the 5th day of each month at the very latest). In addition, you have to pay a cash deposit of € 300 together with the first rent. This deposit will be returned to you at the end of your stay, provided that you have not caused any damages or rental debts.

It's not possible to terminate or cancel the contract early and you are not allows to sublet the room. It's also not possible to extend the contract.

FAQ's Studierendenwerk Dorms

Dorms of other Non-Profit Organizations

Apart from the dorms of the Studierendenwerk, there are other student dorms offered by non-profit organizations in Hamburg. Applications have to be sent directly to the dorm you are interested in. Each dorm has its individual application process. Please address the providers directly for further information and details.

https://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/hamburg/

Shared Apartments

It is quite common in Germany to share a flat (“WG”) and many students offer unfurnished or even furnished rooms for a limited time while they go abroad themselves. On the following websites, private rooms to let and sub-let are being advertised.

https://www.wg-gesucht.de/

https://housinganywhere.com/

https://www.studenten-wohnung.de/

Instead of looking for a room on these platforms, you could also post a request (“Gesuch”) there. Some people might not be keen on receiving hundreds of e-mails and rather look for a new flat mate themselves.

With flat shares, it is not common to pay any money before arrival/signing the lease agreement – so please be careful with demands concerning advance payment as they are likely to be fraud.

Apartments

In case you stay for more than one semester, it might make sense to rent out a place on your own. However, apartments in Hamburg are expensive and usually landlords do not like to rent out for less than one year.

www.immoscout24.de

www.immopool.de

www.immonet.de

www.wohnungsboerse.net

www.wohnung-jetzt.de

www.das-zeitwohnportal.de

www.nestoria.de

Search on Social Media

As an alternative or addition to the conventional search tools, you can also consider checking social media platforms like Facebook for information about available apartments and rooms. Especially if you are looking for a shared apartment, housing groups like the following are helpful

Immobilienmarkt Hamburg und Umgebung | Facebook

Hamburg Rentals | Facebook

WG, Zimmer, Wohnung, Büro in Hamburg gesucht!!! | Facebook

WG & Wohnung Hamburg gesucht | Facebook