Furnished vs Unfurnished Apartments in Germany

Renting in Germany operates on assumptions that surprise most newcomers from the UK, US, or elsewhere. The default is unfurnished — and in Germany, "unfurnished" means something more bare than it does in most countries. Understanding the distinction upfront prevents both logistical and financial surprises.

The German Default: Unfurnished

The baseline rental apartment in Germany is unmöbliert (unfurnished). This typically means:

• Empty rooms with bare walls (often not freshly painted)

• No floor coverings in some cases — some apartments have concrete or screed floors

• No light fixtures — ceiling roses with bare cables are standard; tenants supply their own fittings

• No curtain rails or window coverings

• And most significantly: no kitchen

The last point is the most consequential. In Germany, a fitted kitchen (Einbauküche) is not considered part of the apartment. It is the tenant's property. When a tenant moves out, they often take the kitchen with them — cabinetry, countertops, oven, sink and all. Some apartments are advertised with the explicit note "without kitchen" (ohne Küche), but even in apartments listed without this caveat, the kitchen may be absent or minimal.

This is not unusual or a sign of a poor-quality property. It is the standard market practice.

The Kitchen Takeover Deal

In practice, most outgoing tenants do not want to transport an entire fitted kitchen to their next apartment. This creates the Küchenübernahme — an agreement between the departing tenant and the incoming one to transfer the kitchen for a negotiated sum.

The price is set privately between the two tenants, not by the landlord. Typical ranges:

• A basic, older fitted kitchen: 300–800 EUR

• A mid-range kitchen in good condition: 800–2,000 EUR

• A high-spec modern kitchen: 2,000–3,500 EUR or more

There is no legal obligation to take over a previous tenant's kitchen, but refusing leaves an empty kitchen space that the incoming tenant must either leave bare (and live without a kitchen) or fill themselves. Buying and having a kitchen installed from scratch typically costs more than the Küchenübernahme price, so acceptance is usually the rational choice.

The condition of the kitchen should be inspected carefully before agreeing to a price. If the kitchen is old, damaged, or includes appliances that no longer work properly, the asking price should be negotiated accordingly. Prices are not fixed and negotiation is normal.

Other Items Typically Not Included

Beyond the kitchen, new tenants renting unfurnished in Germany typically need to purchase or arrange:

• Light fixtures — ceiling roses with bare wires are the norm; budget for basic fittings throughout

• Curtain rails and curtain rods — apartments rarely have them installed

• Window coverings — curtains, blinds, or Rollos (roller blinds) are the tenant's responsibility

• Any storage — wardrobes, shelving, and storage units are not standard even in better apartments

Factoring these costs into the total moving budget is important, particularly for anyone arriving from a country where "unfurnished" still means carpets, curtain rails, and at minimum a functioning kitchen.

What "Furnished" Actually Means

A möbliert (furnished) apartment in Germany typically includes:

• A kitchen with appliances

• Beds, sofas, and basic furniture

• Light fixtures and window coverings

• Sometimes kitchen crockery and cookware

Furnished rentals are common in the short-term rental market and among properties aimed at business travellers and new arrivals. The quality and completeness vary significantly. Always verify what is included — "furnished" on a German listing does not guarantee a standardised level of provision.

Short-Term Furnished Options

For expats arriving in Germany before securing a long-term apartment, furnished short-term options include:

• Wunderflats — purpose-built for expats and business travellers; fully furnished apartments, typically minimum one-month rental, priced at a significant premium over long-term market rates

• Homelike — similar model, corporate-housing platform with furnished apartments across German cities

• Airbnb extended stays — available in most cities but at higher cost than specialist platforms for stays beyond one month; useful in a pinch

The premium for furnished short-term accommodation is substantial — typically 50–100% above equivalent long-term unfurnished rents. This cost should be treated as a transitional expense rather than a long-term arrangement.

When Furnished Makes Sense

Furnished accommodation is appropriate in specific circumstances:

• New arrivals who need accommodation immediately while searching for a long-term flat — the competitive nature of German housing markets means finding the right apartment often takes weeks or months

• Short-term assignments of less than 12 months, where purchasing furniture and kitchenware would not be cost-effective

• Expats on corporate packages where housing is provided or reimbursed — the premium cost is absorbed

For anyone planning to stay in Germany for more than a year and expecting to stay in one apartment for that period, unfurnished is almost always the better financial choice, even accounting for the upfront costs of fitting out the apartment.

Key Takeaways

• The German rental default is unfurnished — this often means no kitchen, no light fittings, no curtain rails, and sometimes bare floors

• The Küchenübernahme (kitchen takeover from the previous tenant) is standard practice and typically costs 500–3,000 EUR depending on age and quality

• Budget separately for light fittings, curtain rails, and window coverings when moving into an unfurnished apartment

• Furnished short-term options (Wunderflats, Homelike, extended Airbnb) carry a 50–100% premium over long-term market rents — treat them as a transitional cost

• For stays over one year, unfurnished is financially preferable despite higher initial setup costs