Furnished Apartments in Hamburg: Practical Solutions for Temporary Living

Furnished apartments in Hamburg are popular with students, professionals, and expats because they save the hassle and cost of buying your own furniture. Rents typically run higher than for unfurnished apartments, partly due to a legally regulated furniture surcharge.

How is the furniture surcharge calculated?

A furniture surcharge must be itemised separately in the lease and can't be set arbitrarily. The rule of thumb established by the Berlin Regional Court, used nationwide as a benchmark, sets it at roughly 2% of the furniture's depreciated value per month, as mietrecht.org explains. That value falls as the furniture ages.

Which districts are popular for furnished apartments?

Popular districts for furnished apartments in Hamburg include St. Pauli, the Schanzenviertel, Eimsbüttel, and HafenCity. St. Georg and the Neustadt are centrally located and offer a wide range of options. Eimsbüttel and Eppendorf are popular with families and young professionals, while St. Pauli and the Schanzenviertel attract mostly younger tenants.

Fixed-term or open-ended lease?

Both fixed-term and open-ended leases are common for furnished apartments. However, a fixed-term lease is only valid under Section 575 BGB if the landlord states a legally recognised reason in writing at signing. Without that justification, the lease is automatically treated as open-ended. For open-ended leases, the landlord's notice period is staggered under Section 573c BGB: three months, rising to six months after five years of tenancy, and nine months after eight years. The tenant's notice period is three months regardless of how long they've lived there.

What's the maximum deposit?

The deposit may not exceed three months' cold rent under Section 551 BGB, regardless of whether the apartment is furnished. The landlord must repay it at move-out unless legitimate deductions apply.

What should you check at a viewing?

Check the condition of the furniture and appliances carefully and document any defects with photos. An inventory list drawn up at move-in helps clarify later what belongs to the apartment and in what condition it was handed over.

Bottom line

Furnished apartments in Hamburg offer flexibility, but cost more than comparable unfurnished apartments because of the furniture surcharge. Knowing how it's calculated and insisting on an inventory list avoids later disputes over the deposit.