Housing Entitlement Certificate (WBS): Who Needs One

Subsidized apartments (Sozialwohnungen) are often cheaper than comparable units on the open market, but not everyone is allowed to rent one. If you're looking for publicly subsidized housing, you first need a housing entitlement certificate, known in Germany as a Wohnberechtigungsschein, or WBS.

Who's actually eligible

Adults with permanent, lawful residence in Germany can generally apply for a WBS. Many municipalities also require a minimum registration period at your current address, often around two years, before issuing a certificate. What matters most is your household income over the past twelve months, which has to fall below a limit set by state law.

Income limits differ by state

Each German state sets its own income limits, based on the federal Housing Promotion Act (Wohnraumförderungsgesetz). In Berlin, the standard limit for a single-person household is currently €18,200 in annual gross income, according to the Berlin tenant advisory service. If you exceed that limit by up to 40%, you can still get a WBS with an income limit of 140 in Berlin, which applies to a larger pool of apartments with medium income thresholds instead of the standard WBS-100 units.

Where and how to apply

The WBS is applied for at the housing office of the municipality where you're looking for the subsidized apartment, not necessarily where you currently live. In many larger cities, applying online is possible. Documents you typically need to submit include income proof for all household members covering the past twelve months and a valid ID.

What the certificate doesn't guarantee

A WBS only entitles you to apply for a subsidized apartment; it doesn't guarantee a specific apartment or priority over other WBS holders. The actual allocation is still decided by the respective landlord, usually a municipal housing company or a housing cooperative.

Our Anmeldung guide covers what to do at the citizens' office once you've secured your new apartment, and our job center furniture grant guide has details if you receive Bürgergeld instead.