A cheap alternative to Airbnb in Berlin: temporary renting

For professionals or digital nomads staying in Berlin for 2 months+

Due to its widespread popularity, over the last couple of years Airbnb has been the first port-of-call fo those staying in Berlin for work, as well as for holiday tenants. While it was convenient for business people to book apartments via Airbnb to rent on a daily basis as an alternative to hotels, a longer rental period through Airbnb offered a less affordable option.

Since May 2016, Airbnb has had a hard time in Berlin. Renting furnished apartments to tourists is no longer legal, meaning that only a few landlords are still in possession of a permit. Most of the accommodations that are now offered on Airbnb are furnished rooms in an inhabited apartment, or private apartments that are offered for subletting due to the absence of the main tenants or owners.

The advantages of temporary housing agencies

However, if you are coming to Berlin to work for a longer period of time, there is still a cheap alternative to Airbnb, as renting furnished apartments to people who work here is legal. Here are some of the advantages of using a short-term rental agency:

Lower prices than Airbnb
On Airbnb the rate is always per night. Although some landlords give a discount if the tenant rents for the whole month, Airbnb's prices are still relatively high, when compared to the quality of the apartments. Temporary housing agencies can offer apartments of a higher quality with more freedom for the tenant for the same monthly price.

No service fee, commission etc. for tenants.
Airbnb charges a sizeable service fee to tenants, whereas with a temporary apartment, the tenant pays only the specified rent. Since the introduction of the new rental law for landlords, agencies may no longer charge the tenant any fees.

Short-notice flexibility
Temporary apartments can also be rented at reasonably short notice from several agencies. Provided that soon the prospective tenant has the OK from the landlord, the rental contract can be set up immediately.

Pre-visits
In contrast to apartments at Airbnb, furnished apartments can be viewed beforehand with the agency.You can usually arrange viewing appointments according to their schedule - helpful if you're pushed for time.

Right to extension
The rental offers on Airbnb have a booking calendar, which means that a tenant can only book available slots. Therefore, it may happen that the rental period can't be extended if the apartment has already been rebooked.In the case of temporary apartments, no further rental agreements can be set up if a tenant has arranged an extension option. In most cases, the tenant can let the agency know at least one month in advance whether they want to extend the lease or not, giving you more security during your stay.

Legal security
When renting an apartment for a limited period through an agency, you get a temporary lease - crucial for registering your address, and receiving post in Berlin. Unlike with Airbnb, registration in Berlin for a short-term stay is possible with a temporary lease contract, and confirmation from the landlord.

Honest photos
At temporary renting agencies you will find more honest, true-to-life professional photos, and even videos. It is normal practice for a good agency to create high-standard photos by their own photographers. The apartments are verified, i.e. visited by the agency, which means that the descriptions are objective and easy to compare with each other.

High-quality furnishing
Temporary apartments rented through agencies are almost exclusively furnished with the tenant in mind. There are no personal belongings of the landlord hanging around, so you can feel even more at home for much lower prices. The equipment of this apartment is usually also standard-checked, therefore of higher quality.

Professional cleaning and maintenance of the apartment
Also maintained with in the best interests of the tenant, temporary apartments are professionally cleaned after every rental - protecting you from any unpleasant surprises!

Local contact
At locally-based rental agencies you have a contact on hand to call during business hours -  a great advantage if, contrary to expectation, problems should arise at any time.

Personal key and apartment handover in different languages
No more being confronted with impersonal key boxes - the key, and apartment will be personally delivered to you as signed upon in the rental contract, with all details explained in German or English. A handover protocol is drawn up by the landlord or manager to avoid any miscommunication.

Tenant receives certificate of exemption from rent debts
Upon request, you will receive a certificate of exemption from rent debts from the renter, or the agency once you move out. This is a legal requirement if you want to apply for your own unfurnished apartment in Berlin.

Disadvantages of temporary housing agencies compared to Airbnb

Despite all the advantages, short-term renting is not for everyone. Have a look at some of the issues of short-term renting to decide whether it is for you:

Deposit
Tenants of a furnished short-term apartment sign a rental agreement with the tenant and pay a deposit, which is usually higher than that required by Airbnb. The repayment of the deposit is regulated by law, and the tenant will be refunded the deposit after moving out, minus the cost of final cleaning.

Examination of tenants
Prospective tenants are checked with renting agencies, and serious tenants who can present an employment contract with a company in Berlin have the best chances of getting a short-term furnished apartment. Depending on your situation this can put you at an advantage as a professional when looking for a place.

No user evaluation
Although tenants are checked by the agency for their suitability for the apartment, there are no user evaluations of the landlords as with Airbnb. However, tenants can be rest assured that all apartments have been verified by the agency.

Minimum rental period is two months
The minimum rental period for furnished apartments in Berlin is two months. Private landlords are lagally not allowed to let their apartments for less than two months, so short-term furnished apartments are better suited to those relocating for a longer stay.

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