Accommodation

Finding the right type of accommodation is a challenging task. Accommodation in Hamburg is both hard to find and comparatively expensive. KLU supports you in finding suitable accommodation, but does not offer housing itself.

Get started

To start off, this blog article is a short and light-hearted introduction to the topic, written by one of our colleagues. We recommend warmly to take the 5-10 minutes it takes to read it, as it touches on many of the relevant topics.

Please also check Student Services section on KLU's website for general information about accommodation in Hamburg. 


Current accommodation offers

A KLU alumni is looking to sublet her one-room apartment in close vicinity to the Stadtpark:

Apartment type: One-room apartment
Tenancy period: December 24 to December 25
Size: 47 m²
Rent: 850 € (warm; incl. electricity and WiFi)
Deposit: 1600 €
Furnishment: Table and chairs, desk, kitchen+bathroom
negotiable: Washing machine, cupboard
Pictures: here

If you are interested in the offer or have further questions, please contact Maryna directly at maryna.kordon6@gmail.com.

Currently, we do not have any further availabilities or received any offers that we can share.
If you are looking to rent out your room because you are going abroad/graduating/found a nicer apartment and want to get out of the lease early, why not suggest a KLU student as a subsequent tenant?
Just write to studentservices@klu.org and we are happy to post your offer here and share it with the KLU community!

General information for flat hunting

Whatever type of accommodation you go for, please bear in mind to book a hotel/hostel for your first nights in Hamburg. Finding a room in Hamburg may take a while, especially at the beginning of the academic year. Most rooms –incl. the student dorm rooms in the governmental-owned dorms–are available as of September 01 only. Since your first week on campus the KLU Welcome Week will start at the beginning of September, and you should not miss the Welcome Week, please book a hotel/hostel for the first night/s.

If you need a place to stay for a few days or the first weeks (e .g. when you will start looking for an apartment after arriving in Hamburg) Hamburg offers several options:

With a small budget

  • A&O Hostel: four hostel locations in Hamburg and starting from 9€ per night very affordable.
  •  Generator Hostel: low-priced, near the main rail station
  •  Instant Sleep: small hostel in the "Schanzenviertel"
  •  Motel One: budget hotel chain, four locations in Hamburg, including the city center
  •  Schanzenstern: two hostels in the districts of Sternschanze and Altona, easy to reach by public transport
  •  Youth hostels Stintfang & Horner Rennbahn: Stintfang is located directly at the Hamburg Harbor and Horner Rennbahn close to the subway station of the same name. Both are budget-friendly with a number of different room types available, mostly dormitory rooms with multiple beds, but also two bed rooms.
  •  Checking booking.com for last minute or season related discounts can often be a good option
  • AirBnB can be an option for a few days and sometimes be cheaper than a hotel, especially if you are travelling with more people.


Hotels – comfortable accommodation near the city center    

Affordable housing in Hamburg is in high demand, so it's crucial to begin your search for accommodation as early as possible. Dorm rooms fill up quickly, and finding a place on the open market can take several months. The sooner you start your search, the better your chances of securing the type of accommodation you want. While it's possible to find a great last-minute deal, we strongly recommend beginning your search about three months in advance to ensure you are on the safe side.

Rental prices in Hamburg vary widely depending on the district, apartment size, and level of comfort you’re looking for, making it difficult to provide a general estimate. For a 2-bedroom apartment, prices typically range from €600 to €1,300 plus utilities. To get a clearer picture of rental costs in different areas, we highly recommend checking out the rental map, which provides a comprehensive overview of prices across the city.

The map is from 2020, and while prices have generally increased since then, it remains a valuable tool for comparing different areas.

When it comes to personal safety, all districts in Hamburg can be considered safe. However, some areas are busier than others. HafenCity and neighborhoods near the Alster Lake tend to be quite expensive. Districts like Eimsbüttel, Sternschanze, and Ottensen are centrally located and very popular among students, making accommodation in these areas highly sought after. Finding a room or apartment is usually easier in districts like Hamburg-Nord, Harburg, Bergedorf, and Wandsbek. If you are on a limited budget, it's worth considering options outside the city center.

Hamburg has a safe, reliable, and well-connected public transportation system, making every district easily accessible. A commute of 30-45 minutes from home to university is quite common. Since you'll receive a transportation ticket valid throughout the entire Hamburg area, it might be wise to explore options in neighborhoods slightly outside the center. KLU is located in HafenCity, so we recommend searching for accommodation near underground stations along the U2/U4 lines.

Please find more information about each district in Hamburg here.


From ourexperience, emails that lack a friendly greeting (such as "Dear...") and a polite sign-off (like "Best regards" or "Warm regards") are significantly less likely to receive a positive response. Whether you are reaching out to landlords or potential flatmates, it's important to remember that they are looking for friendly and communicative tenants or roommates. In a competitive housing market like Hamburg, your email serves as your first impression, so it's crucial to start off on the right foot.

Begin with a brief introduction: one or two sentences about why you are in Hamburg and what you're looking for will usually suffice.

Here you will find a guide from the Hamburg Welcome Center tailored for newcomers. It also includes a handy list of common abbreviations you might encounter in German housing ads.


Generally, a scammer offers a room, studio or an apartment in a great location for an even greater price.

It is very important that you take note of our security advice as there are fraudsters all over the world – including the Internet, unfortunately. The following things should make you suspicious when looking for an apartment, for example: an apartment is located in “downtown” Hamburg, is cheap, contact person won’t be in Hamburg and you would have to meet another person for the keys. Please never transfer money or sign a contract before having seen the apartment/room at least via video call. Maybe you already know someone in Hamburg and can ask them, if they can have a look at the apartment, if you are unsure.

The governmental-owned student dorms are an exception of this rule.

Summary on how to recognize scam offers

  • Apartment in “downtown” Hamburg
  • 70-100 sqm
  • Furnished
  • € 500 all expenses paid; deposit € 500
  • Contact person won’t be in Hamburg
  • You would have to meet another person for the keys
  • You would have to transfer money in the first step
  • His/her cell phone won’t work (if you get a number at all)

Get a contract first before transferring money, make sure to video chat and see the room/flat yourself, you can ask for an ID copy as well to make sure. You can send us contracts if you are in doubt. You will find an example here (some points may not apply) You need individual support? Contact our Student Services Team (studentservices@klu.org) for any further individual support or advice.


General housing options for students

If you want more than average student housing and modern facilities within an easy distance to the city center and KLU, a private student dorm might be an option for you. Apartments in private student dorms have their own kitchen and bathroom. All additional costs like water, electricity, high-speed internet are included in the rent. Usually, all private student dorms have a waiting list, so you have to be fast! There usually is a minimum renting period of 6-12 months.

As the number of rooms in the Studierendenwerk dorms are very limited, looking at offers from private dorm providers might be another option, as they provide similar benefits such as furnished rooms, included utilities in the rent and a diverse and friendly community of students and dorm personnel.

Please find below a list of dorm providers, each with a short introduction. Should you have any questions about specific dorms or you have trouble understanding the application process, feel free to write to studentservices@klu.org and we will gladly help you.

To have a better chance of getting a response, given the opportunity, it is good to write a few sentences introducing yourself, what you are doing in Hamburg and why you would be interested in receiving a room. From experience, emails without at least a friendly greeting and sign-off are much less likely to receive a positive response.

Most landlords are looking for friendly, communicative tenants, so the email should be considered as the first impression, especially in a competitive market such as Hamburg.

Disclaimer: This list is just as a first source of information for you. It does not encompass all private dormitories in Hamburg and while we try to keep the information, especially about prices, as current as possible, there may be a difference in final prices. Kindly have a look at the respective websites to find the most accurate information.


96 rooms
Located in Wandsbek Hamburg east, close to shopping streets and cafés.

Bachstraße77
Located in "Komponistenviertel" Hamburg east, close to shopping streets, trains and KLU. Single flats available, also shared flats with 2 or 3 people possible! Website in German, click on "Bewerbung" for an application.


BH185
Offering apartments at a comparatively affordable price. Located directly at U1 Farmsen, travel time to KLU is about 40 minutes. 184 rooms in total available.

Waiting list is possible.

THE FIZZ
THE FIZZ is a private student residence that opened in March 2020 and is located in Hamburg Altona. A new dormitory complex from The Fizz will open in Fall 2024 in Hammerbrook.

1-room fully furnished apartments with small kitchen, private bathroom, high-speed internet and common areas like study or movie rooms. There are also double apartments for couples available. Travel time by public transport to KLU approx. 35 minutes.

If you are interested, you can apply directly through their website or you can send an e-mail to sales.hamburg@the-fizz.com (you can write in English) and inquire about the dorm. Please note that the rent in THE FIZZ can vary depending on different factors from size, to location within the dorm and others.


elevon Hamburg City
Mostly 1-room apartments of varying sizes and prizes located in the center of Hamburg near central station/U Steinstraße (about 25 minutes walking distance from KLU). The rooms are furnished and other benefits available, such as a rooftop terrace and the possibility to rent more storage room.m²

Kubus Living
Located in Harburg, approx. 30 minutes travel time to KLU and 20 minutes to the city center. Loft style apartments, around 60m². There is a minimum rental period of six months and you can stay there for up to three years.

Smartments
1-person apartments or shared flats around €800 (price includes all utility costs, Wi-Fi and SAT connection as well as modern furnishings). Each apartment has a kitchenette with microwave, ceramic hob, extractor hood and fridge and a private bathroom. Smartments offers apartments at three locations: Berliner Tor, Hühnerposten and Münzviertel (near central station). All locations are approx. 15 minutes by public transport from KLU.


Stuart
1-person apartments with all-inclusive rent (additional costs like water, electricity, high-speed internet). The apartments have a private bathroom, a pantry and very modern furniture. Stuart apartments are located in Hamburg-Ottensen. In the direct neighborhood, you can find plenty of shopping opportunities as well as sports facilities, restaurants and a train station (Hamburg-Altona). Ottensen is very popular among students. The travel time by public transport to KLU is approx. 30 minutes.

Since 2018 Stuart opened a second house in Wandsbek. This area could also be attractive, since it has a very good public transport connection and various shopping opportunities.


Urban Living Hamburg
1-person apartments with a rent that includes all utilities and high-speed internet).

Urban Living Hamburg is private student residence in Hamburg-Othmarschen (next to the student dorm Campus Hamburg) with 1-room fully furnished apartments. All apartments have a small kitchen, high-speed internet, common rooms like launderette, bistro, lounge. Travel time by public transport to KLU ca. 40 minutes.


DIE ZIMMEREI
Two dormitories in Hamburg (Wilhelmsburg and Central Hamburg). Apartments in Wilhelmsburg (15 minutes to KLU with public transport) are cheaper than the apartments in Central Hamburg (30 minutes to KLU with public transport).

Fully furnished, 1-2 rooms. All apartments include a small kitchen, a private bathroom + shower, free Wifi and a separate parking space for your bike. Application for rooms online.

If you do not mind paying an initial provision or a relatively high rent (compared to rents on the free housing market), searching a room or apartment (furnished) via a housing agency might be an option for you.
Agencies for short-term accommodation:


The websites below are serviced portals that connect landlords and renters, verifying and sometimes also photographing rooms. These services are expensive, with a higher rent for furnished apartments and additional service fees. They do offer benefits like fraud checks and some customer service also in English, but you must decide what suits your budget best.

You will find housing companies and private landlords in Hamburg mainly on the following webpage (only some are furnished): 

These links are especially useful in case you are already in Germany since it is often required that you are available for a flat viewing.

Other property management companies recommended in the past by fellow students or KLU staff are e.g. “Strokarck Hausmakler“ and “Potenberg-Gruppe“. You might address the property management companies with a letter.

  •     saying what kind of accommodation you are looking for
  •     that you are a KLU student
  •     and by giving financial proof.

Also, we have many Housing Cooperatives in Hamburg which are more social and reasonable priced than other companies and private housing.

SAGA
The municipal housing company SAGA has small (unfurnished) apartments in its portfolio that are particularly suitable for trainees and students in Barmbek-Nord - 15-22qm for around €250-€300. Minimum rental period 13 months.

You will register on each website your search (e.g. 1 room with balcony, min. 35sqm and max. €450). If a flat for rent meets your criteria you will be contacted via e-mail. Be aware that you need a person to co-sign with a stable working contact.

 Sites that we recommend to look for flatshares ("WGs") are:


The KLU Team also helps students with finding rooms from alumni or current KLU students who sublet their apartments to new students every year. In some cases, new students may also be able to take over leases of alumni in case they are going to leave Hamburg after graduation. This kind of accommodation varies from sharing an apartment with other students (from KLU or other universities in Hamburg) to renting a room in a private residence (whole apartment). Some KLU students also sublet their rooms/apartments during their semester abroad. Student Services posts these offers on this page and informs interested students via email.

Another possibility is to join our Facebook group „Students at THE KLU“. The community can be very helpful and you are able to get in contact with current students directly.

Once you have found accommodation

The monthly rent for an apartment is divided into “Kaltmiete” and “Warmmiete”. Kaltmiete is actually the basic rent. The costs for waste collection, gas, heating and other amenities in the house (utility costs) are called “Nebenkosten” and will be added to the “Kaltmiete”. The total rent is always the “Warmmiete” (=rent for the apartment and the utility costs). Usually still not all utilities are included in the “Warmmiete”. It is rather usual for electricity costs in Germany not to be included in “Warmmiete”. That means you will have to set up an individual account with your German utilities provider.
Most landlords will require a security deposit. This deposit is usually three times your monthly basic rent. The deposit has to be paid when moving in, and is returned when moving out of the apartment (subject to the condition of the apartment). Never pay a deposit without a written contract for the apartment!
Usually house rules are part of your rental contract. However, please find some general matters concerning living in German rented apartments here:

- Avoid loud noises, especially between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Mo – Sat) and all day on Sunday.
- Wash and dry laundry only in areas provided by the landlord.
- Leave cars, bicycles, etc., only in areas provided by the landlord.
- Install television or radio antennas only with the permission of the landlord.
- Inform the landlord immediately in case of any damages.
- Obtain the landlord's written permission if you wish to keep a pet.
- It is not allowed to grill, barbecue or make an open fire on a balcony.
- Keep your apartment clean and dry, so that no damage occurs.
- Ask your landlord in case you would like to sublet your apartment or if you would like to rent a room in your apartment to another person (it is usually not allowed but sometimes you can make an agreement with your landlord).
- Make use of the garbage cans you usually find in an area provided by the landlord. In Hamburg, using the blue recovered paper bin, the yellow recyclable material bin and the bottle banks is free of charge. Fees have to be paid for the collection of the black non-recyclable refuse bin and the green organic waste bin only. Usually, if you are tenant of an apartment or house, waste disposal fees are already included in the total rent.

When you register in Hamburg, you will receive a letter from "Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio" (formerly GEZ). Nearly everyone living in Germany is required to pay a fee to the public broadcasting institutions called "Rundfunkbeitrag". The fee is collected by the GEZ. Please find more information about the fee here and here.
Checklist for handing over an apartment
  • Handing over = checking for any problems with the apartment together with
  • landlord
  • Deposit to deduct any claims
  •  Make sure to handover a decent and neat apartment/room with no garbage left
  • Check the cellar and make sure it is empty and clean
  • Check the water, heater and electricity counters and write down the numbers (when
  • you get the yearly expenses calculation, check if these numbers were subtracted
  • Usually you will receive a transfer protocol signed by both parties
Please find here a typical German cancellation letter and its English translation.
More information about registration and de-registration can be found here.
 
Last modified: Wednesday, 10 July 2024, 3:11 PM