It’s not uncommon for foreign residents to run into problems with accommodation when first arriving in the German capital. In part two of her story, Jordana del Feld explains how she finally got hold of the elusive anmeldung. In Berlin, people will let you down. At one point, I came across a German man who… Read More How far would you go to win the life of your dreams? One woman’s struggle to settle in Berlin (2/2)

It’s not uncommon for foreign residents to run into problems with accommodation when first arriving in the German capital. In part one of her story, Jordana del Feld explains how Berlin’s housing shortages made registration a struggle. Against all the odds, I won the tiny-yet-nearly-impossible-to-get piece of paper that stood between me and my Traumleben (dream… Read More How far would you go for the life of your dreams? One woman’s struggle to settle in Berlin (1/2)

In Berlin, it’s not unusual to enter a home adorned with plants, a supermarket selling organic produce, or a street without a flower stall, but the city goes even further than that to protect its environment. Anna Williamson discusses the value of green initiatives in creating a sustainable future for the German capital. “So is… Read More Why Berlin’s green outlook makes the city so special

By Miriam Partington  It poured with rain in Berlin today. It was an odd feeling. So used to sunny skies, I’d almost forgotten what it was like to have the weather appropriate your mood. It was a pathetic fallacy, if ever there was one. I don’t often find myself in what I would consider to… Read More October rain: why escaping from Berlin makes me love it even more

By Jessica Philbrick Being between homes and between spaces is an irritation everyone has experienced, particularly in a city like Berlin, where a shortage of available housing makes moving places a frequent occurrence. With winter swooping in and social life hours diminishing, it’s important to feel like your space is your own. Where we rest… Read More How to make a temporary space feel like home

By K.R. Woo I’ve lived in Berlin for over two years. I just started out as a freelancer, which means that pretty much no German landlord wants to sign a contract with me. Why would they risk having a foreigner with irregular income when there are thousands of people with stable jobs that they could rent… Read More How living out of a suitcase wreaked havoc on my health

By Wéko Tsai A friend from South Germany once told me Berlin is ‘poor and sexy’. While it may still be sexy, it’s certainly not so cheap anymore. Historically it’s always been cheaper than Southern Germany but with 40,000 people having relocated to the capital city since 2011, housing has become a true nightmare for… Read More Berlin’s housing nightmare: survival tips from a fellow flat hunter