Accomodation

Guesthouse

The Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics offers rooms in its guesthouse for short-term stays (3 months at max.). The guesthouse is located on the campus only a few steps away from our building. Please be aware that rooms are limited and can only be rented for a maximum of 3 months. If you are interested in renting a room in the guesthouse, please ask the administrative assistant of the research group you will join.

Renting a room or appartment

In Germany you can rent furnished appartments or rooms in boarding houses or unfurnished appartments, as well as rooms in shared appartments (Wohngemeinschaft, also “WG”).

Boarding houses usually charge a monthly fee covering rent, heating, water consumption and runing costs, as well as electricity, heating, and internet.

However, if you rent an appartment in a residential building, electricity and internet are normally not included. Further, you need to understand that the rent is divided into two parts: the so-called "Netto-Miete" (net rent), usually called "Kalt-Miete" ("cold" = rent excluding heating and service charges), and the running costs, or "Nebenkosten". The running costs include heating, water consumption, garbage collection, street cleaning, etc. and are added to the net rent. Usually not included are costs for electricity and internet access (see brochure ‘Living and working in Germany’). 

It is also important to know that flats may be rented directly from the owner or the manager, or through a broker, in which case a considerably fee, the so-called "provision" has to be paid (usually two months of net rent + tax). This is in addition to the security deposit of around 3 months of net rent, which is usually requested. 

Student areas within the city of Frankfurt are: Bockenheim, Bornheim, Rödelheim and Nordend. Nice areas around the institute are Niederursel, Eschersheim, Heddernheim, Hausen, Ginnheim and all the small villages north of the institute. If you move to Nordweststadt, which is close to the institute also, check out whether the neighborhood is to your liking (many buildings date back to the 50ies).