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FlalingoGerman practice

English-speaking expats in Germany learning A1–B1 German · DE

German for a Rental Viewing in Germany

A viewing moves quickly, and a long memorised introduction will not help you inspect the home. Prepare a small question card with costs, condition and next steps. Your win is to ask three precise questions, confirm one answer and leave knowing what you must send, to whom and by when. Listen for numbers and exclusions such as aber nicht; they often carry the detail that changes your understanding.

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Published 10 Sept 2026 · Editor: Flalingo

Read it once. Then take one role.

A complete German exchange

Costs and condition

You meet the agent.

Agent

Guten Tag, kommen Sie bitte herein.

Hello, please come in.

You

Danke. Sind in der Warmmiete die Heizkosten enthalten?

Thank you. Are heating costs included in the warm rent?

Agent

Ja, Strom aber nicht.

Yes, but electricity is not.

You

Verstehe. Wird das beschädigte Fenster vor dem Einzug repariert?

I understand. Will the damaged window be repaired before move-in?

Agent

Ja, das ist bereits beauftragt.

Yes, it has already been commissioned.

You

Wann soll die Reparatur ungefähr fertig sein?

Roughly when should the repair be finished?

Notice: Warmmiete is a useful label, but it does not answer every cost question by itself. Ask exactly what is included and listen for exclusions. When you point to a defect, name the object first and ask about the future action. The passive form keeps attention on the repair rather than accusing the person showing the flat.

Applying

The viewing is ending.

You

Die Wohnung gefällt mir. Welche Unterlagen benötigen Sie?

I like the apartment. Which documents do you need?

Landlord

Die Selbstauskunft und Einkommensnachweise.

The self-disclosure form and proof of income.

You

Bis wann soll ich sie schicken?

By when should I send them?

Landlord

Bis morgen Abend.

By tomorrow evening.

You

Darf ich kurz zusammenfassen? Ich sende beides morgen, und Sie melden sich nächste Woche.

May I summarize? I send both tomorrow, and you contact me next week.

Landlord

Genau.

Exactly.

Notice: Summarizing catches missed dates, pronouns and responsibility. Be careful with sie: it may mean the documents, while Sie means the person you address. In speech, context must do that work. Replace vague bald or später with a day or deadline whenever the other person can give one.

Keep the structure. Change the detail.

Useful phrases

Was ist in der Warmmiete enthalten?

What is included in the warm rent?

Ask for included items.

Gibt es ein Kellerabteil?

Is there a basement storage unit?

Kellerabteil asks for a private storage unit; Keller could mean the basement generally.

Wird das vor dem Einzug repariert?

Will that be repaired before move-in?

Polite passive.

Ab wann wäre die Wohnung verfügbar?

From when would the apartment be available?

Wäre is politely tentative.

Welche Unterlagen benötigen Sie?

Which documents do you need?

Formal and direct.

Wie geht es nach der Besichtigung weiter?

What happens after the viewing?

Asks for next steps.

Repair the sentence

Common mistakes and clearer alternatives

Avoid

Was kostet die Miete warm?

Use

Wie hoch ist die Warmmiete?

This is the usual noun phrase.
Avoid

Du reparierst das?

Use

Wird das vor dem Einzug repariert?

Sie is safer with strangers.
Avoid

Ich will die Wohnung.

Use

Ich interessiere mich sehr für die Wohnung.

The alternative sounds professional.

Make it fit your situation

Two useful adaptations

Shared flat

Wie ist das Zusammenleben in der WG organisiert?

How is life in the shared flat organized?

Follow with one practical topic.

Extra costs

Welche Nebenkosten kommen zur Kaltmiete dazu?

Which service costs are added to cold rent?

Do not assume a total.

Your turn

Say a version that belongs to you

90-second viewing

You like the flat and notice a loose handle.

  1. Greet formally.
  2. Ask what Warmmiete includes.
  3. Ask about the handle.
  4. Ask for documents and deadline.
  5. Summarize next steps.
This exercise does not submit or save your draft.
Self-check after you speak

Common questions

Before you practise

Du or Sie?

Start with Sie when you meet an agent or landlord. If they explicitly offer du, you can switch; keep the choice consistent within your questions.

What should I ask about Warmmiete and Kaltmiete?

Ask which costs are included in each amount instead of assuming that Warmmiete covers everything. For example: Sind die Heizkosten enthalten? Electricity and other services may be separate in the agreement.

If I miss an answer?

Say: Könnten Sie das bitte langsamer wiederholen? Then isolate the missed point: Habe ich richtig verstanden, dass Strom nicht enthalten ist? This is more useful than asking for the entire tour again.

Checked context

Sources