Moving house in Germany: An experience like no other!

DW (English)

Michael Müller, our "average German," is moving. What challenges will he face and what are the typical rituals Germans follow when changing apartments?

Transcript

00:00Michel and Müller, an average German, and his partner Julia are taking things to the

00:07next level. They're moving in together. So how big is their apartment? Which housewarming

00:12gifts are they going to receive? And how many German bureaucratic hoops are they going to

00:15have to jump through before they settle in? Let's find out.

00:21Like 38% of Germans, Michel and Julia are moving house in order to improve their living

00:26space. But like 61% of Germans, Michel is clearly stressed by the move.

00:33Michel's niece, Clara, is helping with the move. It's common in Germany for friends

00:38and family to help you move, particularly in exchange for pizza.

00:4352% of Germans live in rented accommodation, which is actually the highest in the European

00:56Union. For context, 37% of the French live in rented accommodation while only 4% of Romanians.

01:04Friends in Germany tend to enjoy strong legal protections.

01:18As average Germans, Michel and Julia's apartment is the average size for two people, which

01:23is 102 square meters big, or 1,098 feet if you're lucky enough to still be using the

01:29imperial system.

01:32Which is comparatively spacious by European standards.

01:41It may surprise you to know that it's normal in German rental properties for there to be

01:57no kitchen, which means there's often just a single tap that you have to build around.

02:08German bureaucracy is notoriously dense, and changing addresses is no mean feat.

02:22At the minimum, you'll have to organise new contracts with internet and electricity providers

02:27to pay your mandatory TV and radio licensing fee, and register your new address at your

02:32local citizen's office, the Bürgeramt.

02:41You have to do this within 14 days of moving in, which is why it's very convenient that

02:46in some cities it's difficult to get an appointment.

02:49Michel's tried and tested strategy is to check the website every Tuesday and Thursday

02:54at 5.57am and feverishly refresh the page, but it's tiring work.

03:00Finally he gets an appointment, although in some states you can now register your address

03:04online, but let's not ruin this moment for him.

03:24More than half of Germans use moving house as an excuse to redecorate and renovate.

03:37But it doesn't mean they're very good at it.

03:48It may surprise you that in a nation of data privacy lovers, Germans have their surnames

03:53on their doorbells.

04:00Clara is bringing bread and salt, a traditional housewarming gift.

04:13It symbolises warmth, prosperity and sustenance.

04:25So how is moving house in Germany compared to where you're from?

04:29What do you give as a housewarming gift?

04:30As always, like and subscribe for more Average German.

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