How much does a move cost first-time tenants on average?

The costs vary depending on the size of the flat and the distance. According to our price overview, a 1-room flat starts from €344 and two rooms from €589. We give you the fixed price after the survey. You can arrange a non-binding conversation by phone on 01625978461.

Do I need insurance for my first move?

The removal company is liable for transport damage under the HGB, limited to €620 per cubic metre of cargo space. For expensive electronics or heirlooms, additional insurance is worthwhile, which we offer on request. For the time after moving in, first-time tenants need contents insurance and personal liability insurance.

How do I find the right flat size as a first-time tenant?

There is no fixed rule. What matters is your budget for rent and service charges and the furniture you are bringing. Check the dimensions of your bed, wardrobe and sofa against the floor plan beforehand. If you have a housing entitlement certificate (Wohnberechtigungsschein), the permitted flat size is stated on the notice.

What belongs in the basic furnishings of a first flat?

The basic furnishings for first-time tenants include kitchen appliances such as a fridge and cooker, bathroom essentials and basic furniture such as a bed, wardrobe and table. Cleaning products and some first supplies should also be there on moving-in day. Good planning avoids unnecessary stress in the first days in the new flat.

How far in advance should I plan a move as a first-time tenant?

Ideally, first-time tenants start their move planning six to eight weeks before the actual date. That leaves enough time for cancelling contracts, re-registering and organising helpers or a professional company. Planning early avoids time pressure and makes it easier to find suitable dates with removal firms.

Can I do a long-distance move cheaply as a first-time tenant?

Yes, with a part load on a long-distance move you share the vehicle and travel costs with other jobs – often the cheapest solution for first-time tenants with few belongings. You can find more about long routes under Long-distance moves . Contact us for a quote after a survey.

What do I need to bear in mind at the flat handover?

At the flat handover as a first-time tenant you should draw up a detailed handover report and record any defects in writing. Photos of the rooms before moving in later serve as important evidence in disputes with the landlord. Allow plenty of time for this appointment so that you do not overlook anything.

How do I register my new address correctly after the move?

After moving in, you must re-register at the responsible residents' registration office within two weeks, otherwise you risk fines. Bring your identity card and a landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord. This re-registration is particularly important for first-time tenants, as many dealings with the authorities depend on it.

Is a professional removal company worth it for small flats?

Even for smaller flats a professional removal company is worthwhile, as time and physical strain are considerably reduced. Our private move service adapts to different flat sizes, see Private move . That way you spare yourself stress and possible injuries from heavy lifting.

Which documents do I need for my first tenancy agreement?

For their first tenancy agreement , first-time tenants usually need a Schufa credit report, proof of income and a tenant self-disclosure. Some landlords also require a guarantee if income cannot yet be sufficiently proven. Prepare these documents early to avoid delays in moving in.

How do I recognise a reputable removal company for moving into my first home?

When choosing a removal company , look for a survey before the quote, written fixed prices and genuine customer reviews. Every company is liable for transport damage under the HGB. We work from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide; you can find destinations under Locations . Advice on 01625978461.

BEFORE YOU SIGN

Flat Hunting and Tenancy Agreements: Documents and Clauses for Your First Flat

Q: What should I organise first as a first-time tenant?

As a first-time tenant you should first check the notice periods for your old flat and set a moving date in good time. At the same time, it is advisable to sign up for electricity, internet and insurance for the new flat. Re-registering at the residents' registration office should also be done within two weeks of moving in to avoid fines.

Application folder, Schufa, guarantee and the most important clauses in your first tenancy agreement – briefly explained.

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FOLDER, CONTRACT, ACCEPTANCE

Finding your first flat

Well prepared for your first flat acceptance

Folder and contract

Unsere Firma Flat hunting for first-time tenants: application folder, Schufa credit report, parental guarantee and the clauses in your first tenancy agreement.

Before your first move is planned, you need the acceptance for the flat. Many first-time tenants do not yet have a long employment history or a certificate confirming no rent arrears (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung) – which makes a complete application folder all the more important. As soon as the tenancy agreement is signed, our private move service takes care of planning, packing and transporting your furniture. We give you the price after the survey as a fixed price so that you can budget for it alongside the deposit and first rent.

Just call us on 01625978461 for non-binding advice.

Read the tenancy agreement calmly before signing: if it contains a graduated rent (Staffelmiete, § 557a BGB) or an index-linked rent (Indexmiete, § 557b BGB), the rent rises according to fixed rules. The deposit may be at most three months' net basic rent and can be paid in three instalments. You only pay an estate agent's commission if you hired the agent yourself. Once everything is clear, we take care of boxes, transport and furniture assembly – your goods are covered by liability under the HGB.

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AFTER THE ACCEPTANCE

PERSONAL ADVICE

After the acceptance: planning the move

Survey, then a fixed price for your first home

As soon as you have the acceptance for your first flat, it pays to call early: on 01625978461 we arrange a survey and then give you a transparent fixed-price quote for your move into your first home. That way you know what the move costs even before your first rent payment. You can also get a free initial consultation via our contact page.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

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ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED

What we take on after the acceptance

Planning, transport and assembly from a single source

There are often only a few weeks between acceptance and key handover, during which deposit, contracts and the move are all due at the same time. We take care of the move: during the survey we see your belongings and then give you a fixed price. We also discuss delicate furniture and narrow stairwells, as are common in older buildings, at the same time. We are liable for transport damage under the HGB at €620 per cubic metre of cargo space, and additional insurance is available on request. We are based in Berlin, Stromstraße 21, and operate nationwide – you can find destinations in the overview of locations.

Site survey

After the acceptance we look at your belongings and then give you a fixed price – just right for budgeting alongside the deposit and first rent.

Packing service

There is often little time between contract and moving in. We pack the kitchen and fragile items, while you deal with the deposit and documents – with our packing service.

Assembly service

We assemble new furniture for your first flat on moving-in day. Check the dimensions against the floor plan beforehand so that everything fits – with our furniture assembly.

No-parking zone

Once the moving-in date is in the contract, we apply for the zone. In Berlin the signs must be up 72 hours beforehand – via our parking restriction zone service.

APPLICATION FOLDER

What belongs in the folder

Landlords want to know whether the rent will be paid reliably. First-time tenants should have these documents ready before the first viewing – on paper and as a PDF, so that you can respond immediately after a good viewing.

Tenant self-disclosure

Name, occupation, income, number of people moving in. You do not have to answer questions about religion, family planning or party membership.

Proof of income

Usually the last three payslips; when starting work, the employment or training contract; for students, the BAföG notice.

Schufa credit report

You can get a copy of your stored data free of charge under Art. 15 GDPR (DSGVO). Some landlords want the paid credit report (Bonitätsauskunft) instead.

Parental guarantee

If your own income is still low, a written guarantee from your parents can convince the landlord. Clarify beforehand exactly what it covers.

No rent arrears

First-time tenants do not yet have proof from a previous landlord. A short note that this is your first flat of your own explains the gap.

ID and covering letter

A copy of your ID with data that is not needed blacked out, and a short covering letter about yourself. Personal sentences are more likely to stick in the memory.

SMALL HOUSEHOLD, SMALL TOUR

Part load after the acceptance

Good when there is not much furniture yet

With a part load, your goods are combined with other jobs on one tour. For a first flat, into which only a bed, shelves and a few boxes move at first, this is often cheaper than your own van. Allow a time window for it and coordinate it with the start of the lease in your contract.

Open cargo space of a red lorry with wrapped furniture, panels and boxes

FIRST FLAT SERIES

From
application to contract

Folder, Schufa, clauses

This part of our series for first-time tenants is about the time before the move: flat hunting with a complete application folder, the Schufa credit report, a possible guarantee from your parents and the clauses that matter in your first tenancy agreement – from graduated and index-linked rent to the deposit. Since 2015 the "whoever orders pays" principle (Bestellerprinzip) has applied to rented flats: whoever hired the estate agent pays them. You can read what to check at a viewing in the article Flat viewing: checklist. For a move to another city, there are our long-distance moves.

Putting together the application folder

Have your self-disclosure, proof of income, Schufa credit report and a copy of your ID ready as PDFs. If you then plan a private move, student move or small transport, you have the documents for the deposit and registration right to hand.

Schufa credit report and guarantee

The data copy under Art. 15 GDPR is free; some landlords want the credit report. A parental guarantee helps if your income is low. The move itself – with packing service, furniture transport or a part load – comes afterwards.

Clauses in your first tenancy agreement

Graduated rent (§ 557a BGB) and index-linked rent (§ 557b BGB) set out future increases. The deposit is limited to three months' net basic rent, payable in three instalments. You then coordinate the moving-in date from the contract with us for a furniture taxi or furniture assembly.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flat hunting and tenancy agreements

Answers on documents, costs, insurance, flat size, basic furnishings, re-registration and the tenancy agreement when moving into your first home.

As a first-time tenant you should first check the notice periods for your old flat and set a moving date in good time. At the same time, it is advisable to sign up for electricity, internet and insurance for the new flat. Re-registering at the residents' registration office should also be done within two weeks of moving in to avoid fines.

The application folder for your first flat

A complete application folder gives first-time tenants a head start for sought-after flats. It includes the tenant self-disclosure, proof of income – when starting work, the employment or training contract –, a Schufa credit report and a copy of your ID. You can get a copy of your stored data free of charge under Art. 15 GDPR.

If you have no income of your own, a guarantee from your parents can help. First-time tenants do not yet have a certificate confirming no rent arrears – one sentence in the covering letter explains this. If you have the folder ready as a PDF, you can respond on the same day after a good viewing.

Checking the tenancy agreement: graduated rent, index rent, deposit

Read the whole tenancy agreement before signing. A graduated rent sets increases in advance (§ 557a BGB), and an index-linked rent ties the rent to the consumer price index (§ 557b BGB). The deposit may be at most three months' net basic rent and can be paid in three instalments (§ 551 BGB).

You only pay an estate agent's commission if you hired the agent yourself – the "whoever orders pays" principle has applied since 2015. Also check whether the service charge prepayments and the moving-in date are clearly set out.

What the move costs after the acceptance

The cost of your private move depends on the size of the flat. A 1-room flat costs from €344, a 2-room flat from €589 and a 3-room flat from €894. Larger households with 4 rooms start from €1,269. For a house or villa we always prepare an individual quote, as the effort varies greatly here. If you are planning a long-distance move, you pay from €3.80/km. It is best to get advice during a free survey.

Volume, floor, distance: what moves the price

What matters is the volume of your household and the distance, which we charge at €3.80/km. The floor and whether a lift can be used also count. A parking restriction zone and booked services such as furniture assembly or a part load also play a role.

Services on the way to your first home

Once the contract is signed, book these services as needed.

Private move – your move to the new flat, well organised.

Move with assembly – furniture assembly and dismantling included.

Company relocation – your business moves without a long interruption.

Part load – cost-effective thanks to a shared load.

House clearance – professional clearance of items no longer needed.

Furniture transport – individual pieces of furniture transported safely.

Your first flat in another city

If the new flat is in another city, plan viewings and the move with more lead time. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide; more under Long-distance moves, destinations in the locations overview.

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