Important Information concerning the search for accommodation. Date: Please read the following information thoroughly!

Transcription

1 Important Information concerning the search for accommodation Date: Please read the following information thoroughly!

2 2 Important information concerning the search for accommodation Index: General Information Page 1. The accommodation market in Freiburg 3 2. Rents for furnished and fully equipped accommodations in Freiburg 3 3. Temporary solutions 3 4. Partly furnished and furnished rooms, flat sharing 4 5. Rental agreement 4 6. Kindergarten/school/Internet links in the matter of childcare 5 7. Pets 6 I. Your options to find an accommodation 7 A You are looking for a place to stay yourself 7 a) via advertisement 7 b) with professional help 7 c) by consulting alternative sources Mitwohnzentrale 8 d) in guest houses of the universities or research centres. 8 e) via acquaintances or other contacts in Freiburg 8 II. Accommodation provided by the MPI A MPI guest rooms 8 B MPI apartments 8 C Private landlords/landladies 9 D Placement procedure 9 E Frequently asked questions 10 F Your arrival 10 Annex: contact details 11

3 3 Important information concerning the search for accommodation Dear guest, you have just received the institute s confirmation concerning your planned research stay. Now you need an accommodation for the time you are here. Please note that a scholarship confirmation or a confirmation for a research place does NOT include your accommodation. The institute is not obliged to provide you with a place to stay. I. e. you are responsible for your accommodation yourself. However, since we are aware of the problems caused by the search for accommodation and since we want to spare you with complications possibly arising, you will find many helpful details concerning the topic in question in the following. General Information 1. The accommodation market in Freiburg Overall the price level in Germany concerning the rents is high. We have created the following list to give you an idea of the price situation. The prices under 2. are monthly rents! (as existing in July 2008). A daily or even weekly rental is usually much more expensive! 2. Rents for furnished and fully equipped accommodations in Freiburg Simple room without own shower/restroom/kitchen from 250 per month 1-room apartments including shower/restroom/kitchen 2-room apartments (for 2 persons with little child) 3-room apartments (for 3-4 persons, respectively a couple with 3 little children/max.) between 400 and 770 per month around 620 to per month between 800 and per month Please remember that the costs above mentioned are rent only. Usually additional costs will arise (fees for electricity, heating, water, sometimes garbage, TV, telephone). They usually range somewhere between 52 and 150 per month. Often you will be asked to pay a deposit of 1 or 2 monthly rents in advance or you will be charged with a fee for final cleaning. In view of the shortage of available living space and the MPI s exclusive location, rooms or apartments will seldom be available in the immediate neighbourhood of the institute. So usually they are to be found in other parts of the city of Freiburg, in the outskirts of town or in neighbouring communities. 3. Temporary solutions If you do not have the possibility to see to the room/apartment matter before your stay, then we recommend for the first few weeks renting an accommodation such as a room in a little pension or in an apartment-hotel. If you bring your family along, it is advisable to start looking for a place to stay at least 3-4 months before your arrival.

4 4 Important information concerning the search for accommodation 4. Partly furnished and furnished rooms, respectively flat sharing In Germany empty, partly furnished or furnished apartments are available for rent. Empty are apartments are really empty: i. e. without furniture, lights, curtains etc. Partly or fully furnished apartments contain at least single furnishing, sometimes even kitchen equipment. However, apartments are rarely rented fully furnished. In contrast, rooms or dormitory rooms are usually fully furnished. For visitors travelling on their own, it is possible to move into a furnished room or share a flat with others (as usual in other university cities as well). Having a furnished room means sharing the bathroom and the kitchen with the other tenants. The same situation is given sharing a flat with others. Everyone has his/her own room, but the kitchen and bathroom will be used together. You will find mostly students and young people in such a flat. It is a great opportunity to form new contacts with the flatmates. The established flatmates usually pick the new flatmate on their own which means without interference of the landlord/landlady as it is the case when renting the apartment directly from the landlord/landlady. Such rooms or flats might be found via newspaper ads, but also via notice boards around campus (for example in the cafeteria, the institutes etc.). Here you can look for offers or you might also issue a little note announcing that you are looking for afore mentioned accommodation. 5. Rental agreement If you are renting an accommodation, please remember that you might be asked to pay a deposit of 1 to 2 monthly rents. This deposit serves as a kind of backup for the landlord/landlady in case damages on the furnishing or rooms occur during the time of your stay. However, at the end of your stay the landlord/landlady will return your deposit with interest. Closer details should be regulated in the rental contract. The accommodation is considered being rented as soon as both the renter and the landlord/landlady have signed the contract. With your signature you acknowledge legally binding what is stated in the rental agreement. It is therefore mandatory to read the whole usually rather extensive agreement unhurriedly and in full detail before signing it. And do not forget to read the small print! The agreement states in particular the rent, the additional costs, the cancellation period, the settlement of potential repairing charges, the acceptance of renovation costs when you are moving out and the conditions for optionally occurring rises in rent. Furthermore it may contain additional agreements (such as the use of the garden, parking place etc.). If you want to bring along pets, you have to check with your landlord/landlady first if that is okay. The rental agreement also contains the common rules of the house, which, among other things, state that usually before 7 am, between 1 pm and 3 pm and after 10 pm all kinds of unnecessary noises have to be avoided. Furthermore they state how often and what the renter has to clean in the house parts used (staircase, entrance area, basement). If you do not understand parts of the rental agreement presented to you or have the feeling that you are confronted with unusual conditions, it is advisable to consult your German colleagues. In cases of doubt you may also turn to the German Tenant Association (DMB), respectively the local tenant association which can give you information about the legality of the conditions. The DMB also provides brochures concerning tenant law (Deutscher Mieterbund, Littenstr. 10, Berlin, Tel.: 030/ ).

5 5 Important information concerning the search for accommodation When moving in, you should organise the transfer of the accommodation in such a way, that you inspect the place in question together with the landlord/landlady and examine it for shortcomings (scratches, stains, depletion, damage, etc.). All shortcomings, however insignificant, should be put down in writing. Otherwise you may risk being charged with repairing costs or not getting back your deposit when moving out, just because the landlord/landlady assumes that all the shortcomings were caused by you. The list of shortcomings and damage has to be signed by the landlord/landlady and remains with you. 6. Kindergarten/school Children in Germany between the age of 6 and 15 have to attend school. School begins for all children with the attendance of Elementary School (1 st 4 th grade). Afterwards they have the choice between three types of school 1 : Secondary Modern School until 9 th or 10 th grade which leads to a CSE; the Middle School until 10 th grade which leads to a GCSE and the Grammar School until 13 th grade which leads to the A-levels. A-levels are mandatory to be accepted at a German university. Furthermore there is the Comprehensive School which unites all three school types and divides the students into groups according to their potential level. Lessons in Elementary School usually take place between 8 am and 12 noon, lessons in all other schools are held between 8 am and 1 pm. Only the Comprehensive School provides a full-time education. The attendance of public schools is free of charge. However, there are also private schools which demand school fees. For children between the age of 3 and 6 there is the kindergarten which can be attended voluntarily. The situation in the kindergartens is varying. The kindergartens are usually short of capacities and especially in major cities waiting periods are common procedure. Children are preferred who s parents are both working. The children are usually looked after from 8 am until 12 noon. Some kindergartens also offer afternoon care from 1 pm until 5 pm but those capacities are usually never free. The day care centres are open between 6 am and 5 pm (partly 6 pm). The children receive lunch as well as breakfast if required and they have the opportunity to take a little nap in the afternoon. The attendance of the children may be individually agreed upon for half a day or a whole day (8 hours). The fees vary according to the parents income and the location of the city in question. Places in nurseries, which take care of children between the age of three months and three years are very hard to come by. There are long waiting periods. In some research institutions and universities they have (by now) in-house kindergartens or at least information centres for childcare. Our partner institute for immune biology in Freiburg has its own day care centre which also may be attended by our guests children. (MPI für Immunbiologie, Stübeweg 51, Freiburg, Tel.: ) A so-called childminder which takes care of your child individually may be found via newspaper ad or the youth welfare office. Babysitters who look after your child for just a few hours during the day or in the evenings may most likely be found via colleagues or neighbours. Information about the kindergartens in your town may be obtained from the youth welfare office at the city council. Information about schools are provided by the education authority. To register your child in a school or kindergarten, you have to turn to the administration of the school or kindergarten in question. There you may also check in which grade your child should be integrated and if there is a German class for foreigners. 1 Since no other country has this kind of system, the translation of the first two types are not exactly correct. In Great Britain type one and two are described as Secondary Modern School whereas in the US they are called Junior High.

6 6 Important information concerning the search for accommodation Internet Links in the matter of childcare Pets It is advisable to leave your pets at home during your stay in Germany, because taking them along will confront you with unnecessary problems concerning the accommodation.

7 7 Important information concerning the search for accommodation I. Your options to find an accommodation A You are looking for a place to stay yourself a) e. g. via advertisement You may scan the apartment listings in the local newspapers (Badische Zeitung, for contact data see annex). On Wednesdays and especially on Saturdays an extensive advertisement part can be found. You may also issue an advertisement. In many cities there are additional so-called advertisement newspapers (in Freiburg: Schnapp, Zypresse) in which accommodation is offered among other things. There you will especially find advertisements for student rooms and flat sharing. Those ads are usually hard to understand due to all the abbreviations. So please see the below mentioned explanation for assistance: 5ZKDB: 5 rooms with kitchen and bathroom KM: just the rent without the additional costs 800,- + NK: : the rent + the additional costs Wfl.: living space (in square meters) G-WC: separate restroom DG: attic storey OG: upper floor/upper level EG: ground floor TG: underground garage Statements about the rent are usually concerning just the rent, i. e. costs for electricity, water, heating and waste disposal have be to added to the amount in question. The rents for fully furnished rooms usually include all the above mentioned costs. Look in the advertisements for the auxiliary Warmmiete (rent including heating and service charges), respectively warm or Kaltmiete (rent without heating and service charges), respectively kalt. Ask for the additional costs and what they include in detail while looking for a place to stay. The private apartment offers in Freiburg and neighbouring communities concerning fully furnished and equipped accommodations have become rarer and most important of all more expensive during the past few years. Attention: Accommodations offered by real estate agents (with the annex IMM or RDM) require a commission payment of up to 2 monthly rents. If there is a phone number in the ad you may contact the real estate agent or the landlord/landlady directly. It is advisable to call as early as possible (from 7.30 am on) and arrange a viewing appointment. However, many ads contain a so-called Chiffre-Nummer. This means you have to write to the newspaper referring to the Chiffre-Nummer in question. It is helpful to mention that you are a scientist or that you have a PhD, because many Germans still attach importance to status and title. b) e. g. with professional help The most expensive way to find an accommodation is to commission a real estate agency to find it for you, because here you will have to pay up to 2 monthly rents as commission fee. This is

8 8 Important information concerning the search for accommodation only worthwhile if you are staying longer. You should only turn to a real estate agent if he is a member of the Circle of German Real Estate Agents (RDM). c) e. g. by consulting alternative sources: Mitwohnzentrale 2 Most university cities have one or several Mitwohnzentrale(n), which provide apartments or furnished rooms. The offered apartments usually belong to individuals who temporarily sublet their place. However, you will also be charged with a commission (for the address see annex), e. g. Homecompany. d) e. g. in guest houses of universities or research centres Some universities and research centres provide accommodation in their own guest houses or apartments. Please inquire with the administration or the Akademische Auslandsamt (academic overseas office). There they will tell you whether apartments may be switched with or taken over from a German scientist who happens to leave for a research stay to another country. e) e. g. via acquaintances or other contacts in Freiburg II. Accommodation provided by the MPI The MPI happens to possess some accommodation possibilities mentioned under I. A. d). The number of foreign researches in our institute increases every year. Please understand our credo that we first and foremost want to provide initial help for those guests who visit us for the first time. If your stay with us is not your first one, we ask you to see to your accommodation independently. We are sure the above listed information will be of help to you for that purpose. Furthermore, you will find a list of contacts in the annex. Should you already be in Freiburg and have an accommodation at your disposal but have the desire to move into another one, we most gladly provide you with contact addresses or information sources to which you may turn to. However, in general, you are responsible for you accommodation yourself. A MPI guest rooms The guest house Silberbach was closed in October 2007 and therefore is not available anymore for MPI guests. The new guest rooms in the Fürstenbergstraße are available since 1. June Please find the respective information on our homepage: Information for visitor and guests or directly: B MPI apartments The MPI has together with its sibling institute in Freiburg, the MPI for immune biology room apartments at its disposal. Those apartments are owned by the Student Union Freiburg; however, we are allowed to assign them with our guests. Those apartments are located in the student housing estate am Seepark in the Sundgauallee. Please see the respective information on our homepage. 2 This is an agency providing accommodation in flats where the owner is temporarily not at home due to research stays or other obligations.

9 9 Important information concerning the search for accommodation C Private landlords/landladies Our institute has been cooperating reliably with the guest house of the Caritas-Association the Adelheid-Testa-Haus for many years. It is also located close to the MPI. Furthermore, we have been cooperating with a couple of private landlords/landladies for many years and they have been continuously offering us apartments and rooms for rent for our guests. In consideration of the increasing number of visiting guests, those accommodations are usually quickly exhausted. So if you are interested in this kind of accommodation, it is advisable to inform us as early as possible. D Placement procedure If you require the assistance of the MPI during your search for accommodation, you need to file a written application. If you want us to process your inquiry, please observe the following conditions: a) The scholarship granted by the MPG has to be accepted by you before filing the above mentioned application. The human resource department of the MPI has to be informed about the acceptance in written form (also before filing the application). b) Before filing the application you have to receive a written confirmation for your research place at the institute issued by either one of the two directors or one of the guest coordinators. Please understand that we have to verify your information with the information available at our end. If the administration does not have a scholarship acceptance or a research place confirmation, we unfortunately cannot assist you in your search for accommodation. As soon as we are able to confirm the data provided by you, we will process your inquiry. Please use the accommodation form for your inquiry. Scholarship holders of the Max-Planck- Society (MPG) receive such a form with their scholarship confirmation. You may also send an asking for the above mentioned form to: housing@mpicc.de. Just fill in the form, sign it and fax it to: + 49/761/ or send it via to housing@mpicc.de Should we not receive such a form from you, we assume that you have already found an accommodation. Furthermore, we would like to point out that even if you sent us such a form, we cannot guarantee an accommodation. If you send us this form, you will receive an acknowledgement from us. Please be patient. Sometimes it may take a couple of weeks or months until we are able to submit offers. Usually, we try to keep you informed by sending short progress reports. The number of visitors at the institute increases every year. To be able to assist most of them, we have to restrict our offers to 3 for each person. However, this does not mean that we are obliged to ubmit 3 offers. If the housing market does not offer any possibilities, it may happen that we do not even have one offer. As a consequence, we cannot offer you any kind of accommodation. An active search for accommodation by our administration staff is impossible (e. g. place an ad) since we lack the human resources for such an undertaking. As soon as we get offers, we will submit them to you via fax or .

10 10 Important information concerning the search for accommodation Should you receive more than one offer from us (3 max.) and decline all of them, then we are no longer in the situation to help you. This means you have to keep on searching on your own since we do not have the personal capacity for additional efforts. Since our institute is funded through public money, we may only operate as intermediary. We are not allowed to enter into obligations or conclude rental agreements with landlords/landladies. This means as soon as you have given us the order to rent the place in question, we will inform the landlord/landlady via written letter. However, the contact has to be established by you. To be able to do so, you will be provided with the full address, telephone number and, if existent, the address. To make the rental agreement come about, you have to conclude the contract with the landlord/landlady directly. The contract may either be concluded before your arrival via fax or by sending it through the post or after your arrival personally. Please see the important notes on page 4 concerning this topic. E. Frequently asked questions a) We are often asked if we have inspected the rooms respectively before giving them to our guests. This is only the case for MPI apartments and the MPI guest rooms. Inspections beyond the aforementioned ones are impossible due to resource related shortcomings. b) Every once in a while we are asked to conclude a contract with a Mitwohnzentrale (e. g. home company) in representation of our guests. We are in principle not allowed to do so since we cannot enter into contractual or financial obligations. c) Should the search for accommodation be extremely hard, it may be advisable to place an ad (see also page 7). This may be done via internet. You will find helpful addresses in the annex. However, you should only do that when you are already in Freiburg, so you are able to receive the offers and inspect the places yourself. The MPI cannot do this for you since we do not have the human resources to inspect the places and decide for the guest. F Your arrival If we were able to provide you with a place to stay, we need your arrival data: the exact day and the exact time of your arrival in Freiburg. Those details are conveyed to the landlord/landlady to arrange an appointment with you for the key exchange. Should you have taken care of an accommodation yourself, please keep your landlord/landlady informed about your travelling plans. Especially if your arrival date has changed (to a later date). So this leaves us nothing but to wish you a save trip and to say See you in Freiburg - Administration - Max-Planck-Institute for foreign and international criminal law

11 11 Important information concerning the search for accommodation Annex: Contact Data HomeCompany Freiburg Brombergstr. 17c (Hinterhaus) D Freiburg Telephone: +49 (0) 7 61 / Telefax: +49 (0) 7 61 / Internet: freiburg@homecompany.de Zypresse Verlags GmbH Postfach 5509 D Freiburg Geschäftsstelle Freiburg Brunnenstrasse 6 Tel: +49 (0) 761 / Fax: +49 (0) 761 / Internet: kleinanzeigen@zypresse.com Schnapp/Badische Zeitung: Badischer Verlag GmbH & Co KG Basler Strasse Freiburg Internet: schnapp@schnapp.de Freiburger Incoming & Touristik (FIT): Fremdenverkehrsbüro Yorckstrasse Freiburg Reservierungs-Hotline: +49 (0) 761 / Fax +49 (0) 761 / touristik@fwt-online.de

12 12 Important information concerning the search for accommodation International Office der Universität Freiburg: Privatwohnungsvermittlung und Gästehauswohnungen Anträge Corinna Behrendt Tel: +49 (0) fax: +49 (0) Studentenwerk Freiburg Schreiberstraße Freiburg Tel: +49 (0) Oder Kontaktadressen im Internet unter: Notes: