Our tips for finding accommodation in the north-west

First things first: it pays to be early!

Start organising a place to stay as early as possible. Especially before the start of the winter semester, many students are looking for accommodation and it becomes more difficult.

Your planning - the most important questions in advance

Perhaps you are looking for your own flat for the first time now that you are studying. These questions will help you with your first search:

How do I want to live?

Firstly, you should take your time to think about how you would like to live. Perhaps you can't imagine coming home to an empty flat in the evening and would like to have flatmates in a shared flat? Or are you convinced that a flat on your own is the right way to go?

Also think about the ideal neighbourhood for your future flat. Would you prefer it to be close to the university to extend the precious minutes in bed in the morning? Or should it be quiet, i.e. not on the pub mile? Or maybe that's exactly what you like and you would prefer to live directly above your (future) favourite pub? Living in the countryside, i.e. a little outside, is also no problem, as your semester ticket gives you access to the entire public transport network.

As you can see, there are many factors that determine whether you feel comfortable in your flat. If you clarify your priorities before you start looking, you will save time and improve your chances of finding something really suitable.

On the other hand, as is always the case in life, you can't have everything when looking for a flat. So ask yourself next:

What can I afford?

In addition to your personal preferences and wishes, money is of course the main factor in deciding which flat is right for you. It's not a lot of fun, but it makes a lot of sense to work out as precisely as possible how much you can afford to spend on housing each month.

What is my budget?

It is important that you think about all the costs that you will incur in addition to the rent:

Housing costs: What is included?

Basic rent:

The basic rent is the pure usage fee for the flat, so to speak.

Service charges:

The basic rent plus ancillary costs (or operating costs) results in the so-called warm rent - this is the amount that you actually transfer to your landlord. The service charges include amounts for heating and water and possibly other items such as rubbish charges or cleaning the stairwell. Sometimes you also have to pay for a car parking space each month.

Electricity:

Electricity costs are generally not included in the service charges on the open housing market. How much you need to budget per month depends, for example, on whether the hot water supply in your flat runs on electricity and how economical your electrical appliances are. As a rough guide, you should budget €35 per month for electricity in a one-person household to be on the safe side.

Broadcasting licence fee:

The licence fee used to be called "GEZ fees", so you may remember the term. You currently have to pay around 18 euros per month per household - so you can share these costs in a shared flat. BAföG recipients can be exempt from paying the fee, but all other students have to pay it.

How much can I spend at once?

In addition to these fixed monthly costs, you should also consider the one-off amount you have available for the initial furnishing of the flat. You can probably take some things with you from home, others can be bought cheaply from classified ads - but don't forget the "small stuff": from hoovers, pots and plates to spatulas and doormats, furnishing a flat for the first time can quickly be more expensive than you might think at first glance.

A shared flat is also an advantage here: in most cases, for example, the kitchen is already equipped with the flatmates' utensils, which - if you ask nicely - you can certainly use for the time being. And of course, you don't need more than one hoover per flat.

The Studierendenwerk also offers furnished and semi-furnished flats and shared rooms, which means you don't have to pay for any initial equipment. Washing machines and tumble dryers are also available in our halls of residence.

Where can you look for accommodation?

Offers especially for students

In Oldenburg , students can also find suitable accommodation with the following providers:

GSG
Oldenburg's largest housing association has special offers for students in its programme, most of which are shared rooms.

Oscar Romero House
The Oscar-Romero-Haus is a student residence run by the Catholic University Community near the university. It offers furnished rooms and flats for twelve students, some for students with children.

Kolping Youth Centre Oldenburg
The Kolping youth residence in Kaiserstrasse (right next to the railway station) offers furnished single rooms for trainees and students up to the age of 27. The rent for students is approx. 385€.

Housing for help via the Etzhorn Citizens' Association
The Etzhorn Citizens' Association offers to arrange affordable housing as part of the "Housing for Help" project. The basic idea is that older people offer younger people subsidised living space in their house or flat. In return, the tenant supports the older person in everyday life, for example with help in the garden, shopping and the like. Caring activities are generally excluded!

vivum-art-living.de
Central, but not quite cheap flats for students in the heart of Oldenburg. The letting is completely digital.

The Jade University of Applied Sciences has compiled further tips and links for Elsfleth .

The following applies to Elsfleth, as well as to Emden and Wilhelmshaven: the private housing market offers much better opportunities for students than those in large cities or traditional university towns.

The private housing market

The majority of students find accommodation on the private housing market. Here are a few tips on where to start your search:

Notice boards

If you are at the university, be sure to take a look at the offers on the notice boards. Of course, you can also post a job application there yourself.

University notice boards are often also available digitally, for the University of Oldenburg for example on Stud.IP. You will receive your login details after enrolment. A large number of flats and rooms are advertised on this site or new tenants are sought. You can also publish your advert there.

Newspaper adverts

The regional daily newspapers (Nordwest-Zeitung, Wilhelmshavener Zeitung, Emder Zeitung) continue to publish housing offers. It doesn't hurt to take a look, but they are becoming less and less important. But it can be worthwhile: You can place an advert with your request yourself to draw the attention of potential landlords who don't want to advertise themselves. If you keep it reasonably short, the costs will also be limited.

Internet portals

The vast majority of flat listings are of course published online via the usual portals, for example

kleinanzeigen.de
wg-gesucht.de
studenten-wohnung.de
immowelt.de

Facebook could also help you: Search for suitable groups.

WG-Zimmer Pferdemarkt 15b

Housing database of the Studierendenwerk

We also offer a small, fine housing exchange on our website. Perhaps you'll find what you're looking for there?

Search now

Beware of fraud

Like anywhere else on the internet, you can also fall victim to scammers when looking for a flat. Please be sceptical: if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Very important: Never transfer money (especially not abroad!) before you have signed a contract and seen the flat!

Accommodation while you're looking for a room

If you are coming to the city to look for accommodation for a few days or if you still haven't found anything at the beginning of the semester, a youth hostel is an inexpensive alternative to a hotel (for Oldenburg and Emden). A holiday flat may also be an option. This option is particularly cheap if you get together with others in the same situation and rent a holiday flat together.

One final tip: be open to compromise

A lot can change very quickly, especially at the beginning of your studies. It is therefore not a good idea to invest too much time, money and energy in the search for the perfect flat. Maybe you'll soon realise that you'd rather study somewhere else after all? Or you decide to spend an early semester abroad? Or you find new friends who still have a great room in a shared flat? Or, or, or..

Studying is a phase of life in which you have comparatively much freedom and can be flexible. So if you only find a flat that's halfway suitable, then go ahead and take it: nobody is asking you to stay there until you graduate.