Apartment Search Nightmare in Germany
Hello and welcome, my international friends, I’m Alex, owner & founder of Relobay, but also a professional relocation consultant with 9 years of experience in helping people navigate the tricky world of apartment hunting in Germany. Today, I want to share a heart-wrenching story about my friend Manuela’s recent apartment search in Frankfurt, which serves as a stark reminder of the challenges newcomers face in the German housing market.
Manuela is a brave single mother of two, determined to find a new home in Frankfurt. One day, she excitedly messaged me about her discovery – a dream apartment in the very building where I currently live. The rent was unbelievably cheap at just €990 per month, including utilities, for a two-bedroom apartment in a desirable neighborhood. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it was.
What made this situation even more perplexing was that my neighbors were still living there, so how could it be for rent? As it turns out, Manuela found this seemingly perfect opportunity on immobilienscout24, a popular property listing website in Germany. She noticed many other hopeful applicants in front of the building, all eager to meet the owner and secure this fantastic deal.
With sheer determination and a beautifully prepared application document in hand (Germans love their paperwork), Manuela decided to make a personal visit to the owner. She even brought a bottle of wine and flowers, hoping to leave a lasting impression. However, when she tried to discreetly place her gift at the owner’s doorstep, she was confronted by the owner himself.
Manuela explained that she had seen the apartment listed online and had come in person to discuss renting it. To her surprise, the owner clarified that he had never advertised the apartment for rent – he intended to live in it himself. This situation, which initially appeared to be an apartment scam, took a much darker turn.
Immobilienscout24 offers a „Plus+ membership“ with supposed benefits such as a professional applicant portfolio, credit checks, proof of rent payments, income verification, and identity proof – all provided with a few clicks. Unfortunately, scammers were exploiting these features to steal personal information, including bank details, income statements, IDs, and much more. Many unsuspecting applicants sent all their sensitive information to these criminals, believing they were applying for that apartment. Just imagine what these criminals can do with all that information, without the victims even knowing or noticing it!
Manuela, fortunately, did not have a „Plus+ membership“, so her personal information remained safe. Devastated by the revelation that her dream apartment was a hoax, she immediately reported the incident to the police. Unfortunately, there’s not much the police can do beyond contacting the website owner to shut down the fraudulent listing.
Manuela’s search for her dream apartment continues, but this story underscores the difficulties faced especially by newcomers in Germany’s housing market. The lack of German language skills, rapidly rising rent prices, and intense competition during viewings can be overwhelming. Furthermore, in Germany, the landlord holds all the cards, and if they don’t like an applicant, there’s little recourse.
So, what’s the takeaway from this harrowing experience? Well, it’s simple: If you’re new in Germany and searching for an apartment, consider enlisting the help of a relocation consultant from Relobay. They have personal experience with the German housing market and can guide you through the process.
Relobay is an amazing online platform connecting you with trusted relocation consultants, making the entire relocation process simple and affordable. With Relobay, you gain direct access to the top consultants at the best prices on the market.
Don’t let Manuela’s story be your story. Apartment hunting in Germany can be challenging, but with the right guidance from a relocation consultant, you can navigate the market safely and efficiently. Your dream apartment may be just a consultant away, and Relobay is here to help.
Stay tuned for more stories and advice on how to navigate your life in Germany!
