Moving to Darmstadt: Costs Process & Districts

The choice of district says a lot about everyday life in Darmstadt. The Martinsviertel and the Paulusviertel are popular residential areas with period charm and short distances to the city centre, and are correspondingly in demand. Bessungen has quiet residential streets and a centre of its own, while Eberstadt in the south on the Modau has a more family-oriented character. For TU students, locations near the Stadtmitte campus or the Lichtwiese are practical.

Kranichstein in the north-east borders the forests of the former hunting grounds with Kranichstein hunting lodge, while Arheilgen and Wixhausen in the north have a village character with rail connections. Those looking for culture like to live near the Mathildenhöhe. For the move, access, floor and stairwell count above all – we clarify these during the survey so that enough porters and a stopping space are scheduled.

Darmstadt has held the title City of Science since 1997: students are spread across the Technical University, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, the Protestant University of Applied Sciences and the Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule. In addition there are the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, ESA/ESOC and EUMETSAT. Merck, Software AG and Deutsche Telekom provide many jobs, and Frankfurt am Main lies to the north in the Rhine-Main region.

The housing market in Darmstadt is considered tight, especially in central neighbourhoods such as the Martinsviertel. We do not quote specific rents – they depend heavily on location and condition. Many people nevertheless choose Darmstadt deliberately: for the short distances, the cultural offering around Art Nouveau and science, and recreation in the Oberwald or at the Großer Woog. Darmstadt is also the administrative seat of the government district and of the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg.

We rely on fairness and clarity: we move a 1-room flat from €349 and a 2-room flat from €594. For 3 rooms costs start from €889, for 4 rooms from €1,299. For a house or villa there is an individual quote tailored to your situation. We charge long-distance moves from €4.20/km. The easiest way to clarify everything else is during a free survey.

The price of your move is made up of volume, distance (€4.20/km), floor, lift and, where applicable, a parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone). We also offer furniture assembly and a part load.

Our services for your move at a glance:

1. Furniture transport: the safe way for your pieces of furniture. Furniture transport
2. House clearance: for a clean fresh start. House clearance
3. Business move: smooth moves for your business. Business move
4. Part load: efficient and cost-saving. Part load
5. Move with assembly: everything from a single source – including set-up. Move with assembly
6. Private move: your move in the best hands. Private move

We plan moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) for private and business customers. In the locations overview you will find places with their own pages, and details on long routes under Long-distance moves.

In Darmstadt, a temporary parking restriction zone for moves is set up by the road traffic authority in the Office for Mobility and Civil Engineering (Mobilitäts- und Tiefbauamt). According to the city's Digital Town Hall, an informal application by email to [email protected] is sufficient, and it must be received 14 days before the date. You should state:

• your details as the applicant
• street and house number
• the reason and the approximate length required in metres
• date and time as well as any different billing address

For a move, one to two days are usually approved; further days require a justification. The city gives an administrative fee of 27 euros for up to one week, 65 euros for up to one month and 140 euros for up to three months, in each case excluding signage.

The signs must be in place four days before the date (day of installation plus three days). They must comply with the StVO (German Road Traffic Regulations) and are your responsibility; on request the authority provides a list of signage companies, whose costs you ask about there. Questions are answered on the public authority number 115 (telephone 06151 115, Mon to Fri 7:30 to 18:00).

On request, we take care of the organisation through our parking restriction zone service. You can find the steps at a glance in our guide.

In the older neighbourhoods such as the Martinsviertel and Paulusviertel, we clarify stairwell, floor and loading route during the survey. We then decide whether a furniture hoist makes sense.

After moving in, you register with the registration authority. According to the City of Darmstadt, the deadline is two weeks after moving in. You need the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) and your identity card or passport; according to the city, a tenancy agreement alone is not enough. Registration is free of charge and, since 1 August 2024, also possible electronically via wohnsitzanmeldung.de, using an eID card, the AusweisApp and BundID. If you change parking zone, the residents' registration office updates your residents' parking permit, according to the city, for an administrative fee of 15 euros.

For old furniture, EAD Darmstadt offers free bulky waste collection by appointment. The items are placed in front of the property by 6.00 on the collection day, at the earliest after 18.00 the evening before, and must weigh less than 100 kilograms. According to the EAD, fridges, washing machines, PCs and televisions need a separate appointment via the customer portal. If you want to get rid of more, you will find support under House clearance.

Our page on moving within the city can be found under Moving in Darmstadt, and everyday tips in the article Living in Darmstadt.