Dringlichkeitsschein Berlin: The WBS for Special Housing Need

In Berlin, a Dringlichkeitsschein is a housing eligibility certificate (WBS) marked "besonderer Wohnbedarf", meaning special housing need. It is issued to households that meet the income limit, have been registered in Berlin as their main residence for at least one year and are in a recognised emergency, such as a family in an apartment that is too small. Waitly sends you current WBS apartments in Berlin through its newsletter.

Last updated: 13 October 2026.

In short

The official Berlin term is "WBS mit besonderem Wohnbedarf"; people usually call it a Dringlichkeitsschein or urgency WBS. You apply for it with the normal WBS application at the housing office and add proof of your emergency. The note opens social housing that may only be let to households with special housing need. It does not guarantee an apartment, and you still apply to landlords yourself.

How is it different from a normal WBS?

The Dringlichkeitsschein is not a separate document but a normal WBS with an extra note. You therefore have to meet the same income limit as every other applicant. Our article on the WBS in Germany explains how the certificate works in general.

The legal basis is § 27(5) WoFG: if the funding agreement reserves apartments for certain households, the WBS records that you belong to such a household. Without this note, landlords may not let those apartments to you, even if your income fits.

Other cities use the term too. In Hamburg, the Dringlichkeitsschein is a separate procedure at the district office. You can find Hamburg's WBS rules in our article on WBS apartments in Hamburg. This guide covers Berlin only.

Who qualifies for a WBS with special housing need in Berlin?

You must have been registered in Berlin as your main residence for at least one year. On top of that, one of the following situations must apply. The Senate Department lists them as examples on its page about the WBS with special housing need:

• Households with children in apartments that are too small. Too small usually means fewer than one living room for 2 people, fewer than two for 3 people, fewer than three for 4 or 5 people and fewer than four for 6 or more.

• People with a disability rating of 50 or more whose apartment is objectively unsuitable for their condition.

• People in social housing assistance facilities or emergency accommodation, such as women's shelters or safe houses.

• People over 65 who give up an under-occupied rental apartment, meaning it has more rooms than household members.

• People who have to leave their apartment through no fault of their own, for example because of a building authority ban on use or because tied accommodation ends with their job.

• Recipients of benefits under SGB II and SGB XII (basic income support for jobseekers, in old age or for reduced earning capacity) who have been specifically told by the job centre or social welfare office to move to an "appropriate" apartment.

What if my situation is not on the list?

The list is not exhaustive. If your situation is close but does not match exactly, describe it in your application anyway and ask the housing office. People with disabilities may also find our guide to barrier-free apartments in Berlin useful.

How do I apply for the Dringlichkeitsschein?

You submit a normal WBS application to the citizens' office or housing office in your district, online or by post, and claim special housing need in it. There is no fee. Our Berlin WBS application guide walks you through the process step by step.

On top of the standard documents, you need proof of your emergency. The Berlin service portal lists, among others, the form "Erklärung über die persönlichen Verhältnisse und die derzeitigen Wohnverhältnisse" (declaration of personal and current housing circumstances). Depending on your case, suitable proof includes:

• your current rental contract or floor plan showing the number of living rooms

• a copy of your severe disability card, front and back

• a certificate from the facility where you are staying

• the notice or ban on use that forces you to move out

• the written request to move from the job centre or social welfare office

For online applications, all files together may be up to 30 MB, with a maximum of 5 MB per file. Under § 27(2) WoFG, the WBS is valid for one year. If your situation changes during that time, for example with another child, let the housing office know.

What changes in practice?

The note gives you access to a part of the market where fewer households compete. Some of Berlin's social housing may only be let to holders of a WBS with special housing need. Listings from Berlin's large housing companies state which WBS is required.

For new social housing, the share is fixed. Under the 2026 housing funding regulations, at least a quarter of the units in building projects with more than 15 funded apartments must go to households with a WBS and special housing need. Our guide to social housing in Berlin explains how subsidised housing in the city works overall.

You are still not assigned an apartment. Like everyone else, you apply to landlords, who choose among eligible applicants. With the note, you can also apply for every apartment that matches your normal WBS level.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a Dringlichkeitsschein?

Berlin does not publish a fixed processing time. It depends on the district and on whether your application is complete. Missing proof is the most common cause of delays, so submit all documents with your application.

Can I get a Dringlichkeitsschein if I have only just moved to Berlin?

Usually not. For special housing need, Berlin requires at least one year of main residence in the city. A normal WBS, on the other hand, can be requested even before you move to Berlin, from any Berlin housing office you choose.

Does the Dringlichkeitsschein get me more rooms?

No, the number of rooms follows the normal rules: in principle one living room per person. An extra room can be granted in individual cases, for example because of a disability. The housing office assesses this separately from the urgency note.

Don't miss new WBS apartments

With a Dringlichkeitsschein, speed matters most, because the reserved apartments are let quickly. The Waitly newsletter for Berlin tells you when new apartments become available, including WBS apartments. Signing up improves your chances, but it does not guarantee you a home.