As soon as the Federal Agency for Migration and Refugees has taken a positive decision in your proceedings, you are obliged to search for your own flat and rent it by yourselves. Should you not be able to personally care for your subsistence at that time, the As soon as the Federal Agency for Migration and Refugees has taken a positive decision in your proceedings, you are obliged to search for your own flat and rent it by yourselves. Should you not be able to personally care for your subsistence at that time, the Jobcenter bears the cost of the flat. File an application in due time and make use of the assistance of advisory agencies. In your search for a flat, you have to consider the standard values of the Jobcenter regarding the size and the rent of the flat. Before you enter in a tenancy agreement, obtain the consent of the Jobcenter to it. The signed tenancy agreement can be used to apply for the payment of the security deposit, the relocation costs and the initial equipment for the flat by the Jobcenter.

When you have found an appropriate flat, you have to contact the Stromversorger (electricity supplier), the Abfallwirtschaft (waste disposal company) and the Rundfunkbeitragsservice (radio toll service). You can agree with the Jobcenter that the payments you are granted for your accommodation are directly transferred to the regarding company or institution.

As stipulated by law, it is not allowed to make any noise between 10:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m. as well as on Sundays and public holidays. Additionally, most houses have their specific house regulations. These are voluntary regulations that you accept to comply with by your signature on the tenancy agreement. The house regulations stipulate the rules for the cohabitation of all tenants in the house. Usually this includes a midday rest from 12:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m. Should conflicts with neighbours arise, it is useful to try and talk with them to find an amicable solution. If this is not possible you can contact your landlord.

In Germany, waste is separately collected and disposed of for recycling purposes. Specific bins are provided for paper and cardboard, bio-waste (e.g. fruit and vegetable residuals), plastic and the remaining domestic waste. There are also collection points or containers for other kinds of waste, for example glass and hazardous waste (e.g. batteries, electrical devices, etc.).

At public spaces, like parks or roads, please use the existing waste bins. Should there be no such bins, please take the waste with you until you can dispose of it.

To protect the environment and to save cost, consume electricity and water sparingly. When you ventilate your flat, turn down the thermostats of your radiators. Ventilate all rooms twice to four times per day. Open the windows wide for some minutes to avoid the occurrence of mould and the associated risks for your health. Do not overheat the rooms. Check the power consumption of electrical devices and use as many power-saving devices as possible. Disconnect not used devices from the electricity network and open your water taps not longer than necessary. To reduce your power consumption and to save electricity and heating costs you may contact an advisory service of the Verbraucherzentrale (Consumer Centre). When you receive allowances from the Jobcenter, such advice is free for you.