Everything you need to know about the German way of life

Four million flatmates 

 More than four million people in Germany share a bathroom and kitchen with people who aren’t family members. Flat-shares - known in German as a Wohngemeinschaft or WG for short - have been an integral part of the German way of life since the 1960s. It was then that young people began sharing a flat or house with non-family members - including in mixed-gender groups. These days, flat-shares are the most popular accommodation option for students, with one in three choosing to live in this way - partly for reasons of cost. It’s also not uncommon for senior citizens or commuters to share a flat or house, however. Cleaning rotas and communal cooking tend to be part and parcel of life in a flat-share - though they are by no means compulsory.  

Where’s the kitchen? 

German rental flats do not automatically come with a kitchen. That comes as quite a surprise to many expats in Germany. When a person moves house, they often take their kitchen with them - or sell it on to the new tenant moving in.  

There’s also space in the basement 

Individual storage compartments in the basement are typically German, even if you are only renting your flat. You can store all kinds of things there that you don’t have room for upstairs: bicycles, winter tyres, books, keepsakes from your childhood.  

Separating your rubbish is a must 

If you live in Germany, you won’t be able to avoid separating your rubbish. Normally there are several different bins and containers: for residual waste, organic waste, paper and packaging (often known as the “yellow bag” or “yellow bin”). In many places, glass is disposed of in public bins, separated according to colour. Which precise rules apply differs from city to city - in many buildings, a “waste plan” is displayed in the hall.  

Compulsory cleaning 

Keeping the house clean and tidy isn’t just considered good form by the neighbours - in most cases clear rules apply. In southern Germany, for example, a “cleaning week” is common practice - where apartment building residents take responsibility on an alternating weekly basis for cleaning the stairwell, paths or courtyard.  

Shush! 

Quiet hours also play an important role: in most towns and cities, quiet hours apply at night from 10 pm until 6 am - and all day on Sundays and public holidays. If you start drilling, hoovering or listening to loud music during these periods, you risk getting into trouble with your neighbours. Germany even has a law - the Federal Immission Control Act - to regulate nighttime quiet hours.