Why speed matters more than anything
The state-owned companies and most cooperatives don't allocate to the “best” applicant – they work through enquiries in order or close the form as soon as they have enough applications. A listing stays online for a median of only around 114 hours – measured on our own data. If you only want to “have a quick look” in the evening, the flat is usually gone.
The consequence: your application has to be ready to go before the flat appears. The push arrives, you tap “View flat”, fill in the form, attach your finished folder – five minutes, done.
The application folder: build it once, use it again and again
Create one PDF file (or a folder on your phone) with everything landlords ask for:
- Proof of income for the last three months (payslips; for the self-employed, the latest tax assessment)
- Schufa credit report: for many landlords the free data copy under Art. 15 GDPR is enough; some insist on the paid “credit report for landlords” (Bonitätsauskunft).
- Rent clearance certificate (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung) from your current landlord (informal – a simple request is usually enough)
- Copy of your ID and a completed tenant self-disclosure form
- If you have one: WBS – without it, subsidised flats are off-limits, see Applying for a WBS
How applying works with the big landlords
With HOWOGE, degewo, Gewobag, GESOBAU, STADT UND LAND and WBM, the way almost always goes through an online form directly on the listing – and that is exactly where every WohnAlert alert links to. No account at WohnAlert, no extra steps: the application runs entirely with the landlord. Then you wait; if you're invited, a viewing follows, often as a group appointment. Accept even if the time is inconvenient – if you cancel, the next person moves up.
The state-owned companies rarely ask for a cover letter. With cooperatives, on the other hand, it is often worth it: two or three honest sentences about who is moving in and why the flat suits you – no essays.
Why good applications fail
- Too late: the most common reason. Alert on, folder ready, react immediately.
- Incomplete: if a document is missing, the application goes to the back of the queue – sending it later costs exactly the time you don't have.
- Wrong target group: a WBS-restricted flat without the certificate, a senior flat without the right age, subsidy limits ignored. Read the listing carefully; WohnAlert already shows the WBS requirement in the alert.
- Unrealistic rent: as a rule of thumb, many landlords check whether the net rent is below a third of your net income.
Beware of fraud
Never pay money before you have seen a flat from the inside and signed a contract. No “reservation fee”, no deposit by transfer abroad, no copy of your ID to private individuals whose identity you don't know. The official landlords that WohnAlert monitors don't ask for money before the contract is signed – fraudsters do.
FAQ
How quickly do I really have to apply?
Which Schufa credit report do I need?
Do I need a cover letter?
Do I apply through WohnAlert?
What do I do after I get the flat?
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This guide has been carefully researched, but it is not legal advice. Income limits, fees and procedures change – the information from the authorities and landlords is binding.
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