6 Tips to AVOID getting SCAMMED in your apartment hunt in Germany

[@n1vca]

I am glad you priotized the scammer aspect, because that has gotten very serious. Wherever people are in desperate situation, these guys try to steal from you, its just very sad. When I was looking for another apartment here in Munich 8 years ago, I also bumped into a few scammers and I am sure they have not gotten less these days. My scammers sounded really nice in writing, but as soon as they noticed that I am not falling for it, they have become very silent ... since I am German and already living in the city, they knew I was less desperate than someone with a close deadline and tons of pressure for an urgent solution. So don't be mislead and please take this perfect advise from our beloved and masterful "heads of extreme-smoothling" very serious!

[@simplegermany]

Omg! What an amazing last line! Had to read that one twice and made us chuckle! 😊 Yes thanks for sharing your insights as well!

[@turjo119]

This sorta advice is pure gold...when I first came here I didn't really know half of this stuff. I got a student dorm through my uni, but even then I was really stressed cause I wasn't in Germany yet and didn't know who to trust. May the algorithm spread your content far and wide for all to see ❤

[@airtonsilva8006]

Every expat living or planning to live in Germany should watch this video! I had a friend that found a lot of scams while searching for an apartment. Luckily she is German and she knows these fake ads.

[@Visitkarte]

You two are awesome. Despite being able to understand German perfectly as a Swiss person, I got scammed by every renter so far. The first one, apartment over the garage, only 22m2, cost me little rent but over 700€ per month for heating- broken horrible heater just using electricity but never actually heating it properly. I only found out after a year. Never got the deposit back because I moved away and the owners “forgot” to pay it back. “You need to wait a year”. The second one was the best. Low cost, but also never got the deposit because of the waiting time. The third one, old Fachwerkhaus, I was the only renter who never got that flat moldy but they had one door with spots because the cloth hangers were bad quality and left a paint residue behind and the repainting “wasn’t good enough”. Also waiting a whole year to get the rest of the deposit back, probably never did because I moved back to Switzerland. Horrible experience with German landlords. For the first two flats I needed to pay even a realtor (according to the old laws).

[@1aalok]

I don’t live in Germany, but I’m big time admirer of your content and wish to settle in Germany.. commenting for better reach.. Prost!

[@simplegermany]

Thanks! 😊 Do you have any concrete plans yet to move to Germany?

[@pourdamghani]

I wish I had access to this video two years ago

[@simplegermany]

Now you have them for your next move 😉

[@berlinorama]

These are all very helpful tips. Under the category of being wary of people who say they are abroad, I would add to be very suspicious of alleged landlords who give long explanations about themselves and their lives, why they are in the UK (usually it is the UK, for some reason) etc. A landlord with an actual apartment to rent will not tell you their life story in emails or text messages. Also, if they send you or post photos, try uploading them to tineye or another reverse image search, and you may find that the apartment is actually in Bulgaria or someplace absolutely not in Germany. I have seen ads supposedly in Germany where anyone who lives here can tell from the windows, the stove or other items that the apartment is somewhere else. But of course if you have never been here you wouldn't know.

[@simplegermany]

Thanks for sharing these additional invaluable tips 😊

[@husumi2903]

Thanks for these informations

[@vigneshv6865]

Its awsome guys... Keep going

[@elfletes]

Thanks a lot for your advice!!

[@rynkydynky]

Just a personal experience that wasn't a scam because I got my deposit money back is that the apartment is yours only when they hand you the keys. I got all the paperwork and money deposit to rent an apartment and 1 week before moving they cancelled the business citing a "non-approval" from a local authority just to realise that the flat was rented to someone else who was willing to pay 400€ more than what it was on my contract. Nice content!

[@simplegermany]

Oh darn! Thanks for sharing!

[@joannunemaker6332]

You both give such good information. Thank you. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

[@elliek5350]

Perfect timing!) thank you as always!)

[@DmitriR]

Just my 5 cent, It's also worth checking the existence and validity of the power of attorney in case you rent an apartment which belongs to a fund/trust/company. Sometimes the rental agreement includes 2 or more middlemen (Assets management entity and the property management entity) who handle your payments, act as the landlord's representative and open a bail account for you where you deposit Kaution. If you rent an apartment from a private person, never hesitate to ask for a proof of the ownership rights on the apartment before you sign the contract.

[@elijahsamson6292]

Thank you for your video and good information. Also, please make a video about Electric Companies like Lichtblick, i have experienced something terrible with these, they sent 2 guys 2 weeks ago they came for Statistical Data and started to sell my girlfriend another electric company that is Lichtblick and saying it is normal in Germany, as they were making her sign a document without giving her all information, luckily i was there and i stopped her.. later she checked and yes she was not agreeing to such things and she sent them to cancel her agreement and delete her details etc... I checked Lichtblick and saw so many negative comments, I dont know why German Government do not do anything about such companies.. please help...

[@simplegermany]

The golden rule is to never say yes or sign anything you get solicited for. Always choose yourself and do your own research before agreeing to anything. We have a video on how to choose your electricity provider: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eavLlH2fjd1jqLc

[@elijahsamson6292]

@@simplegermany Thanks for your reply, yes i know and i have seen that video already thanks.

[@serina5021]

Might want to mention that the scammer sends emails duplicating a legitimate site, but they change just 1 letter and you have paid the scammer. Checking the URL address is important.

[@serina5021]

A lease is only as good as the owner is. A person claims they own the apartment. Even if they show you their ID, don't you need a city utility bill with the owners name so they match. I was presented with a blank lease, had a conversation with the woman, but when she sent me a utility bill it was 3 years old. So how can we protect ourselves short of having a real estate agent get involved?

[@YT_Gopnik_Mario]

This is usefull but i dont live in Germany bc im not planning on moving there

[@shobhitbobin404]

2:16 Why does it look like Yvonne is trying to stare into Jen's soul?

[@logic4612]

She is admiring her 😊😊