Infos for Tenants:

Questions:

How long do people rent?
Should owners be flexible on leases?
Why do lease periods start with 3 months so often?
Relationship with landlords?
Relationship with tenants?
How come places still are not fitted with active internet by the owner?
Lots of repairs and renovation necessary?
Do you have a cleaning company available?
Boardinghouse and hotel vs. Flat?
Which kind of people are your landlords?
Why do people rent their places furnished, what is the advantage?
Do you have legal support?
Do your landlords speak English?
Can you sort out a requirement in 24 hours?
5 things always to be done by tenants?
Why is Munich so expensive on accommodation?
What is the story about Nebenkosten?

Answers:

How long do people rent?
Standard answer is from 3 months to 3 years.  There have been many cases though when tenants started with a very short time span of 2 or 3 months and after 1.5 years they are still happily residing in the same place.  ^

Should owners be flexible on leases?
Absolutely.  See above!  The more flexible landlords are the better they rent their places.  Owners who demand a one year lease right from the start do make life very difficult for themselves and the agent.  Exceptions prove the rule though. ^

Why do lease periods start with 3 months so often?
Majority of tenants are working in IT projects which get renewed every 3 months in 90% of the cases.  Obviously the tenant does not want to rent longer then the initial projects runs. ^

Relationship with landlords?
An agency for furnished accommodation in Munich can only be as good as their contacts are.

The agent is dependent on the landlord and her/his credibility and vice versa.  References of landlords who have been working together with me for years can be provided without any problems.  We are known to be very pro-active and provide a personal service.  This means that we work together to identify the best accommodation solution and not the 2nd best.  ^

Relationship with tenants?
Renting a furnished place depends on the correctness of the agent and the owner as well as on everybody’s professionalism.  I believe in thoroghness, diligence and transparence.  We pay respect to all parties and maintain polite and friendly manners.  Keeping everybody updated is mandatory.  In days of email an easy game. ^

How come places still  are not fitted with active internet by the owner?
The owner would simply find himself picking up the fee once the flat is empty... and most of them do not want to take this risk.  Service Providers like Alice DSL offer internet connection for as little as 2 months.  Deutsche Telekom asks for 1 year contracts.  The customer always needs a German bank account though.  We have a small percentage of flat already fitted with active internet/phone though... just ask. ^

Lots of repairs and renovation necessary?
Some landlords are weary about “frequent changes of tenants” since the flat would “suffer”.
I always proof that unfurnished places suffer a lot more, simply by moving around all that furniture.  Furnished places remain as they are and lodgers are just arriving with their suitcase.  Some tenants do have a problem though airing their places well and it is still an illness to have that window half-ajar in winter. Hence the rental contract is very clear on all this and its effects.  Better safe than sorry.. ^

Do you have a cleaning company available?
Certainly, I can provide all those contacts without any problem. ^

Boardinghouse and hotel vs. Flat?
Having your own furnished place in Munich makes you part of the country and its lifestyle.  Staying in hotels or boardinghouses always maintains the guest feeling. ^

Which kind of people are your landlords?
I keep seeing a change of generation.  Now the majority of landlords have email addresses and speak English perfectly well. Makes the whole rental process very easy. ^

Why do people rent their places furnished, what is the advantage?
Majority of proprietors want to have access to their property in the foreseeable future.
Most importantly one can get easier access of one`s property.  Rental contracts on furnished accommodatioin always have a fixed end date so the owner maintains a good overview and  can plan easier due to this should he want to regain the place after the end date of the lease contract, ie for the reason of selling or simply for his own use. ^

Do you have legal support?
I always have good legal back up support and information when needed. ^

Do your landlords speak English?
Yes, majority of them do – I always liase between all parties anyway and guide tenant along as well as support the landlord with every issue.   ^

Can you sort out a requirement in 24 hours?
I am renowned for my speed of response and getting a rental contract arranged and fixed via email and attachment takes as little as 30 minutes. ^

5 things always to be done by tenants?
Paying rent and invoice on time, keep in touch with the agent/landlord (especially if there is a problem in the flat), keep updated on the lease duration and never leave those windows half-ajar in winter as well as airing the flat  well.  ^

Why is Munich so expensive on accommodation?
Munich has the highest rental prices AND purchase prices in Germany.  Munich is the jobmachine in Germany with mostly IT companies, pharmaceutical companies and the capital for all the publishing companies.  Global placers like Siemens, BMW, Knorr-Bremse, Linde, MTU, Infineon, Qimonda, .... etc etc are pumping staff into Munich.  Munich offers extreme high value of leisure with the mountains nearby, the cultural scene – let alone the excellent shopping and bar/restaurant scene.  ^

What is the story about Nebenkosten?
In recent years Nebenkosten – utilities – have gone up between 10% and 30%.
Electricity, gas or oil heating, sewage cost, caretaker cost, garbage, insurance all fall under this section and are NOT cash in the hand for the owner.  Tenants of furnished places in Munich do need to appreciate the value to have those costs included in their rent and they must consume economically.  ^