How do you find an apartment in Berlin as a visiting scholar or researcher? Is it possible to secure housing before arriving in person without having stepped foot in the apartment? The whole process can seem like a herculean task. That is why Freie Universität Berlin is cooperating with ERG Universitätsservice GmbH to put property owners in touch with potential renters via their Accommodation Service.

Carlos Bravo-Prieto from Spain, for example, was looking for a place to live with his wife in the spring of 2022. After spending time in Barcelona and Abu Dhabi, he now has a postdoctoral position at Freie Universität Berlin’s Institute of Theoretical Physics. “We were surprised to find out that the rental market in Berlin is so tough,” says Bravo-Prieto. One of his colleagues suggested that he contact the Accommodation Service office. International postdoctoral researchers that have been invited to come to Berlin by Freie Universität can register with the office if they do not have a registered address elsewhere in Berlin. Bravo-Prieto wrote the office an email and filled out a short questionnaire about his personal budget, desired number of rooms, and contact information. He recalls that within two weeks he had already received several offers.

He ended up picking a place within walking distance to the university. “It was such a big help being able to ask someone any questions I might have had about finding an apartment in Berlin. And the fact that they actually found me an apartment is of course the best part!”

Bravo-Prieto’s landlady, M.C., has rented to international visitors before. She and her brother own a rental property in Dahlem – not far from her own home. She likes the idea of renting out the apartment to Freie Universität employees and guests. She herself travels frequently, both for business and pleasure, and is fascinated by foreign languages. Her husband is Italian, and they raised their children bilingually. “During my time abroad, I’ve had many positive experiences with people who shared my curiosity and openness for different cultures. I’m happy to pass that gift on to others,” M.C. says. In fact, she doesn’t see herself a just a landlady, but also as one of the first contacts for new arrivals here. She’s happy to point international guests in the right direction, whether they are wondering about how to register with the municipal government, or which public transportation ticket to buy, or where to find the best nearby bakery.

Helping others is only one part of it; M.C. also enjoys the intercultural exchange that comes with meeting international renters. “We often invite our tenants over for dinner or organize outings together. We do an Easter egg hunt in our garden every spring and are planning on a kayak trip with Carlos and his wife.” Of course, these are all just offers, M.C. says, not obligations. “But a lot of the people who rent from us are open to making new connections in Berlin, and we’ve definitely made some good friends over the years.” An Indian-American couple, who are former tenants, recently invited M.C. and her husband to visit them at their new home in Switzerland. “We can always count on good conversations. The different academic backgrounds of our tenants are fascinating. From biology to medicine to zoology to Chinese studies – and now physics, we get quite the mix of experts. And that’s just from four couples who have been here!”

Anika Bernard from the Accommodation Service office at Freie Universität is quick to point out that their services are free of charge for renters and property owners. “So if you have a furnished room, apartment, or house, we would love to hear from you – especially if it’s close to the university,” she says. “Obviously, we want to help facilitate international exchange in academia and provide people with the opportunity to discover new things, but we also want to make it as easy as possible for them to find housing on a practical level.” The Accommodation Service website has a template that property owners can use to advertise their rentals. They can download the form, fill it out, and return it to the office via email, ideally with photos of the property attached.

For Carlos Bravo-Prieto this is his first time in Germany. He says that while it’s great that his new apartment comes with an affordable price tag, the advice he has gotten from longtime Berlin residents in his first months here has been worth its weight in gold.

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Accommodation Service

Both apartment seekers and property owners can register on the Accommodation Service website.
Email: accommodation-service@fu-berlin.de

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The original German version of this article appeared in the Tagesspiegel newspaper supplement published by Freie Universität Berlin.