Living

The following topics may be helpful when looking for accommodation:

We offer our guests and employees own accommodation at the location in Geesthacht and Teltow.

In Geesthacht you find the accommodation at the district Grünhof/Tesperhude close to Hereon Campus. We offer rooms in a guesthouse with shared kitchen and bathroom as well as shared rooms in smaller units and apartments for single use.

Three guest rooms are available on the campus in Teltow.

All accommodations are furnished. The rental period is limited. The rooms have Internet access and some have a television as well as a washing machine in the basement. They are each equipped with bathrooms and toilets for communal use and a shared kitchen. Depending on the property, common rooms are available for shared use. The apartments are available for sole use.

We make our living space available exclusively to our employees and our visiting scientists. Since the accommodations are very popular, we ask for early registration. Allocations are made in the order in which reservation requests are received. Our rental rates are all-inclusive, meaning that operating costs, including water, electricity, and heating, are included.

If you are interested in guest accommodation, please fill out the following form. Please note the rental conditions and prices listed there as well.

Once you arrive in Germany, it is advisable to start looking for private accommodation as soon as possible. We can give you tips and advices for the accommodation search and establish contact with private landlords depending on availability.

Please note that most apartments in Germany are offered unfurnished. Some landlords at least provide kitchen equipment or cooking facilities; but this is not the standard. There is one exception in Berlin: Here, the landlord must at least provide cooking facilities and a sink in the flat. Therefore, find out in advance how your potential new flat is equipped and which things you will have to purchase yourself.

In addition, rental apartments are often offered idicating the cold rent or net cold rent. This means that this price is only for the use of the room. In addition, there are other ancillary costs (e.g. heating, water, refuse charges, street cleaning, stairwell cleaning) and costs for electricity, telephone and internet as well as broadcasting fees. Which costs belong to the ancillary costs is stated in the tenancy agreement. As a tenant, you usually have to take care of the corresponding supply contracts for electricity, gas (occasionally also water) and telephone and internet services yourself.
Moreover, it is important to consider that a period of notice is agreed in many rental contracts. This means that the apartment must be canceled in due time; otherwise the contract and the included obligation to pay rent will continue.

Normally you have to pay a deposit (of a maximum of three months' rent) when moving into an apartment. You will receive this back with interest when you move out, provided no damage was caused by you. Therefore, the rooms and the existing equipment should be treated with care and always be held in a clean and tidy condition.

When you move into an apartment in Germany, you must pay the broadcasting contribution of €18.36 per month (as of 2021). This contribution is due for the use of public media such as television or radio broadcasting. It does not matter whether you use these channels or not. As soon as you move into an apartment, you are liable to pay the contribution.
For more information please visit the website of the broadcasting service.

It is also advisable to read the house rules thoroughly to avoid possible trouble with neighbours or other people. On weekdays, there is a legally regulated rest period from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.[/b], which should be observed in any case. On Sundays and public holidays, there is generally Sunday and bank holidays quiet time.

General information: