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Accommodation for International Students

Important information for your accommodation search

  • Heilbronn is a university town and home to several universities. For this reason, it is important to start looking for accommodation as early as possible, as cheaper options may no longer be available before the start of the semester.
  • The cheapest option for students is a room in the dormitories. Please note, however, that there may be longer waiting times to be allocated a room in student dormitories. You should therefore apply for as many options as possible (including private options).
  • Do not travel to Germany without confirming your accommodation. An address and registration of this is absolutely necessary for many other administrative processes.
  • It is highly recommended that you look for suitable accommodation before travelling to Germany.
Forms of accommodation

The most common forms of accommodation for students in Germany are apartments and shared flats(WG).  

  • An apartment is a flat that consists of one or more rooms and has its own kitchen and bathroom area. 
  • A shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft or WG) consists of several people who share a flat. Each person has their own room, and the kitchen, bathroom and living room are shared.
Furnishing

In Germany, flats can be rented furnished (möbliert) or unfurnished (unmöbliert). Unfurnished flats are usually offered for long-term rent by private landlords.

Warm rent and cold rent (Warmmiete & Kaltmiete)

Warm rent (Warmmiete) is the total amount of rent that you have to pay for a flat. It includes the so-called basic (or cold) rent and ancillary costs. 

Cold rent (Kaltmiete) is the cost of pure room utilisation. 

Ancillary costs (Nebenkosten) are, for example, the costs for water, heating, gas, refuse collection and electricity.

Deposit (Kaution)

A deposit is a sum of money that must be paid at the beginning of a tenancy. This sum serves as security for the landlord if the tenant causes damage to the flat or fails to pay the rent. You will receive the deposit back when you move out if the flat is in good condition.

Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung)

Personal liability insurance is insurance that covers the costs if you unintentionally cause damage to others, for example if you accidentally injure other people or damage their property (e.g. rented accommodation). Liability insurance is optional, but highly advisable for students living in rented accommodation.

Subletting

Students often sublet their room or flat to other students for a short period of time (approx. 3-6 months) because they do not need the room due to a semester abroad or internship. The landlord's authorisation is mandatory for subletting. A contract must also be concluded for subletting.

The DAAD offers further terms:

Aimed at: stealing your personal information or money.

This information is provided to the best of our knowledge and is not a substitute for legal advice.

We encourage you to use your common sense and information below to spot a scam. Please remember that students in desperate need of accommodation may unfortunately be targeted by scammers. Even if you are desperate to find accommodation - always think twice before signing or paying anything:

  • A deal that seems "too good to be true" is often not.
  • A landlord will not lower the rent for an apartment to "help you out".
  • Just because a landlord sends you a passport scan does not mean it is genuine - passport scans are available all over the internet.
  • English housing offers (unless bilingual) should make you think twice: why would a landlord in Germany only publish an offer in English.
Questions to ask yourself when looking for accommodation:
  • A room in a shared flat costs on average 350€ - 500€.
  • Single apartment / studio costs: 450€ - 800€.
  • Furnished accommodation is more expensive than unfurnished.
  • It is normal to pay a security deposit before you move in, if you are unsure please contact us at international-student-support@hs-heilbronn.de.
  • Viewing fees are likely to be a scam, you should never pay just to view a property.
  • Some student dormitories ask for a month's rent in advance, but private landlords usually do not.
  • If you are trying to rent from abroad from a private person, try to set up a video call with the owner to verify that they are real.
  • Check location on maps.
  • Do the images match the description and location on maps?
  • Are there any discrepancies in the description?
  • Type the name and email of a potential landlord into a search engine and see the results. Does this person live in the town? Do you find the landlord offering houses all over Germany in different cities (bad sign!)
  • "I am the landlord but I am currently living in other city in Germany (or abroad) and therefore cannot show the flat...." is a common sign of housing fraud nowadays.
  • Parking is limited and usually subject to an additional charge.
  • German flats do not usually have air conditioning.
  • German apartments are usually not furnished, so furnished apartments should be more expensive.
  • Rental contracts are generally for a longer period. The cancellation period is usually three months. Monthly cancellation options are usually only available for holiday homes.
  • Does the room look like a real home, or more like that pictured in a furniture store catalogue?
  • In Germany, it is normal practice to fill in a self-declaration form when viewing a property. The legal basis for data protection is always noted on this form, e.g. Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. f DSGVO
  • Passport scans should not be required to visit a place or even to sign a contract. You may be asked to show it when you visit the place, but a scan should not normally be required.
  • A so-called SCHUFA letter may be required. Students moving from abroad usually do not have a German bank account, so it is not possible to get SCHUFA information. You can get around this by first taking a room in a shared apartment. By opening a bank account and establishing some rental history, you should be able to get a positive SCHUFA score when you move to your next apartment.
  • Name, date of birth, current address etc. is usually information that landlords ask for in order to prepare a lease contract. Your bank details are generally not required in this case.

Student halls of residence

Studierendenwerk Heidelberg manages three student halls of residence in Heilbronn:

Near Bildungscampus
Important information for your application for dormitories of the Studierendenwerk Heidelberg
  • Heilbronn University does not allocate places in the dormitories. Students must apply for accommodation themselves.
  • It is also possible to apply for a place of residence without admission. As soon as you have been admitted to study at HHN, you can submit your letter of admission later (wohnen.hn@stw.uni-heidelberg.de).
  • Apply as early as possible. Applications received after 15 July (for the winter semester) or 15 January (for the summer semester) have far fewer chances and selection options.
  • Rooms in student dormitories usually have long waiting lists.
  • Note for students studying at the Bildungscampus: The dormitory at Cäcilienstraße 39 has very limited capacity and long waiting lists. Please apply also for other options (near Campus Sontheim and/or private offers).
  • To apply for a place in the dormitories, you must complete an application form on this page. After submitting the online application, you will receive a confirmation link by e-mail. This link must be confirmed within 5 days, otherwise your application cannot be processed. Please also check your spam folder.
  • The allocation of rooms and the dispatch of tenancy agreements usually begins on 15 July (for the winter semester) or 15 January (for the summer semester).
  • A confirmation of occupancy for a room in a dormitory can be sent up to 10 days before the desired move-in date. Cancellations are generally not sent.
  • Every 30 days applicants receive an automated reminder email with a confirmation link. In the email, you will be asked whether you are still interested in a place in a hall of residence. As long as you confirm this link, you will remain on the waiting list for a place in a hall of residence. As soon as you no longer confirm the link, the Studierendenwerk assumes that you no longer require a room in a hall of residence. Your application will therefore be removed from the waiting list.

Target group: Young adults with and without disabilities who would like to live together in a shared flat close to the centre of Heilbronn.

In new small neighbourhoods, residential units have been created in which people with and without disabilities live together. People with disabilities and students live together in inclusive shared flats.

The students live at a reduced rate thanks to their support services. This is supplemented and accompanied by support staff from Open Assistance.

Residents with and without disabilities have equal rights and obligations as citizens of the new neighbourhoods.

People with disabilities are actively involved in the process right from the start. They contribute their strengths and interests, thereby shaping the social space.

The neighbourhood is actively shaped. Everyone has the same starting conditions, nobody has to fit into existing structures. In our opinion, this facilitates inclusive development and promotes the empowerment and autonomy of the residents.

Who can book a bed place?

Places at WH|1 are offered to among others international students of the educational institutions at the Bildungscampus Heilbronn.

What kinds of bed places does WH|1 offer?

There are 6 units with a total of 30 dorms of different sizes and occupant numbers. One of these units is designated as barrier-free and gender-neutral (6.5). All the units can be accessed through the stairwell or the elevator. The layout varies based on the size of the dorms and the number of occupants. All dorms are fitted with a bed (usually a bunk bed), locker and wardrobe. Some units have additional storage and seating areas.  Please note: you have to bring your own bedding, including bed linens and fitted sheets

Can I move in and out at any time?

The contract always starts on the first of the month. The contract always ends on the last day of the month after 1 or 6 month.

What kinds of communal areas does WH|1 offer?

WH|1 has a laundry room with washing machines and driers and a large drying room. Each unit also has communal areas with a kitchen and seating spaces for meeting and interacting with other users. All communal kitchens are equipped with electrical devices, crockery and kitchen utensils. Each user is assigned their own compartment in the fridge and in the store cupboard. Bicycle racks are also available.  A large sanitary area is provided with a washroom, showers, and women's, men’s and accessible WCs.

Further information can be found here.

Private offers

The AStA room database contains accommodation offers from private landlords without commission for Heilbronn, Künzelsau, Schwäbisch Hall and the surrounding area.

In case of questions, please refer to the student service office:

Temporary accommodation

If you are unable to find permanent accommodation, you can move into temporary accommodation for a short period of time until you find a permanent place to live. However, we advise you to only do this in emergencies! 

Please note that in temporary accommodation such as hotels or private providers, it is generally not possible to register for a short rental period. Without registration (Anmeldung), you cannot open a bank account or apply for a residence permit. 

Do not travel to Germany without accommodation. An address and registration of this is absolutely necessary for many other administrative processes.

Contact person for international degree-seeking students

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