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Is my landlord being illegal?
I have been renting a flat since June and have a contract until next June.
I've managed to find a better place in the meantime, and am currently in the process of trying to find someone to t… Hi all,
I have been renting a flat since June and have a contract until next June.
I've managed to find a better place in the meantime, and am currently in the process of trying to find someone to take over my lease, and it's proving a little difficult as the room is absurdly expensive for what it is. I took it because at the time I was in an insanely desperate situation and had to find some sort of accomodation but now that I can assess it with a clearer head I realise the set-up is completely absurd.
I'm wondering if, for the sake of myself and my housemate, and any future tenant, it's worth going to the Mieterverein. I'm unsure how long the process would take and if it's even possible to change anything - hence why I'm turning to Reddit for advice.
Here are a few of the things I think the landlord is doing which are shady:
The rent is 860 p/m, all bills (including electricity and wifi) are included.
The room is 18sqm and the entire apartment is 44.4sqm. The building was built in the 60s.
The base rent is 395€, utilities are 159€, electricity and internet 95€. He's charged also 156€ per month for furniture and a monthly sublease surcharge of 55€.
The furniture consists of several used Ikea pieces - about 6 items in total in the bedroom and the kitchen has also pots, pans, etc.
I don't pay the rent into his bank account - I pay it into a company's bank account. Upon Googling, it appears the company is solely comprised of him.
I know for a fact everyone else in the building pays a warm rent in the 400s. Their apartments are also furnished.
Let me know if I have any leg to stand on here, or if I'm being completely delusional. Every time I've listed the apartment I've received a barrage of hate comments about the price so I'm trying to action it to see if I can make the situation better for anyone involved.
Berlin on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates.… 🏨 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates. Consider visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) when prices drop by up to 30%.
🚇 Cheap Transport Options
A single public transport ticket costs 3.50 EUR for zones AB, covering most attractions. For longer stays, buy a 7-day ticket for 41 EUR or a Berlin WelcomeCard for unlimited travel and museum discounts. Locals often bike everywhere using the city's extensive bike lanes or rent a bike via Nextbike for 1 EUR per 30 minutes.
🍽️ Eating on a Budget
Grab a currywurst from a street stall for around 3.50 EUR or a döner kebab for 5-6 EUR. For groceries, head to Aldi or Lidl where a loaf of bread costs 1.50 EUR. Many bakeries sell pre-made sandwiches for under 4 EUR, perfect for a picnic in Tiergarten.
🎫 Free Attractions
Visit the Reichstag dome for free (book online in advance) and explore the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall. On Sundays, many museums offer reduced entry or free admission, such as the Museum für Naturkunde (first Sunday of the month free).
💰 Money-Saving Tips
Locals avoid tourist traps by eating at Späti (corner shops) for cheap drinks and snacks. Use the Berlin Pass for free entry to over 50 attractions if you plan to visit many sites, but calculate costs first as it starts at 59 EUR for 48 hours. Always carry cash, as some smaller shops and cafes don't accept cards.
🏛️ Discount Museum Days
Most state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, including the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. On Thursday evenings, the Jewish Museum offers free entry from 6 PM to 8 PM. Check individual museum websites for updated schedules.
🌳 Free Outdoor Activities
Spend a day at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park with free bike rentals and BBQ areas. Rent a paddleboat on the Spree River for 10 EUR per hour or join a free walking tour (tip-based) that covers major landmarks like Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
yeah the guide's got the main stuff down, one thing i'd add is that the späti culture is legit for saving money but specifically the ones in kreuzberg near kottbusser tor have the cheapest beers, like 0.80 eur for a can of sterni. also if you're doing the sunday museum thing, skip the pergamon queue and go to the hamburger bahnhof instead, it's way less crowded and has cool contemporary art plus the building itself is a converted train station so it's a vibe
for food, i'd say the best budget move is not the döner but the falafel at yafa on sonnenallee, 4 eur for a massive plate and it's open till late. and tbh the reichstag booking is a pain but if you miss it, the rooftop at the kollhoff tower near potsdamer platz is like 4 eur and gives you a solid view without the hassle
solid write-up, one thing i'd add is that the 7-day ticket is actually 41 eur for AB but you can get a 4-trip ticket for 12 eur if you're only here a couple days and it works out cheaper than single trips. also the museum sunday freebie is great but it gets packed, like at the pergamon you'll be queuing for 30 mins minimum. for a quieter free option, try the brücke museum in grunewald on a weekday afternoon, it's small but has killer expressionist art and no crowds. oh and for a cheap meal, hit up mustafa's gemüse kebab at mehringdamm, that line is long but it's worth the 5 eur for the hype tbh
honestly the cash tip is huge, a lot of tourists don't realize how many places are still cash only here. something the guide missed is that you can get a really cheap coffee at most bakeries for like 1.50 eur if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down, way cheaper than the hipster cafes. also if you're near a späti grab a beer for like 1 eur, way cheaper than bars obviously