Aside from finance, a big motivation to buy a home in the UK is to have more self-determination in your home life. Renting places you under someone else's control to a large extent.
You often can't decorate much. Can't fit better windows, and windows where I've rented have usually been poor quality. Can't replace the washing machine even if it's not working properly. Can't put up shelves.
Can't fit solar panels or better insulation, or replace carpets. Sometimes you can't even paint the walls.
In the town where I live nearly all rental properties are "furnished", to the point that there aren't many unfurnished properties to choose from. This means you can't change the furniture - couches, tables, curtains (drapes), beds, wardrobes etc. Often there is an old TV you would never choose for yourself. Of course you do make some choices when you decide where to move into, but there may not be anything particularly to your own taste, and what you want will change over time anyway.
Aside from the lack of self-determination while in there, there is a constant threat of "no reason" evictions which landlords exercise from time to time. Because no reason is given, it doesn't take much. I've seen it done sometimes by rental property agents just so they can advertise a large rent increase on the open market which would not seem reasonable applied to the existing tenant - that time, the landlord didn't particularly want the tenant out, but the agent saw a chance to get their new-tenancy fees and advised the landlord to evict.
Long term stability in a rental property is a luxury in some areas, and finding another property nearby may not be possible. Got a child in school? Don't assume they will be able to stay in the same school.
I have encountered rental situations where it is required to pay 12 months rent up front every year during the tenancy (on top of 1.5 months deposit) - but only if you're not well off enough to qualify for monthly rental payment. This sucks if the reason you are moving is because of a no-reason eviction from a previous place, so you quickly need to find another property as well as 13.5 months worth of rent at short notice. Naturally, you can't use the deposit from the previous place in that scenario as you won't get it in time, and you won't get all of it.
Speaking of 12 months, in the town where I live and I gather in many others, 12 month tenancies are the maximum you can get. Technically every year there's a new tenancy, usually with new contract fees to pay, and the possibility they might decide not to renew it. If you're really unlucky there might be a new credit and income check each renewal, which you will fail if you fell on hard times, such as between jobs. This duration is because UK law has additional tenant protections with tenancies longer than 12 months. So of course landlords don't offer them.
Yes, most of these things are indeed different in Germany (and I knew of most of the situation in the UK, I know people who lived or live there and the differences are wild). For example:
You often can't decorate much.
No issue unless you fix it back up when you move out.
Can't fit better windows, and windows where I've rented have usually been poor quality.
There must be laws in Germany, because I don't remember living in an apartment where the windows weren't top notch. That's also very necessary with temperatures sometimes going below -10°C.
Can't replace the washing machine even if it's not working properly.
Like all appliances, furniture, anything, it's "bring your own" in Germany (unless you have a common laundry area... not super common I think).
Can't put up shelves.
Same as before, as long as you fix up the holes when you move out, not an issue.
Can't fit solar panels or better insulation,
Don't know about solar panels. Like windows, never lived in an apartment without proper insulation in Germany (in the US on the other hand...).
or replace carpets.
You can put in whatever floor you like as far as I know, and I've done so.
Sometimes you can't even paint the walls.
Definitely not an issue in Germany.
This confirms my impression that renting in the UK is indeed very different from renting in Germany. It seems like the UK also treats renting as more of a short term arrangement, while in Germany people may spend decades or their entire life in their rental apartment, so it's their space to create.
No issue unless you fix it back up when you move out.
You can be completely prohibited from "damaging" things, including painting, in many jurisdictions. You also may have to match whatever grade of paint the landlord used. Some will use very expensive paints, or totally inappropriate paints, knowing it will lead to large deposit forfeiture, or the ability to collect excessive monies from the tenant.
There must be laws in Germany, because I don't remember living in an apartment where the windows weren't top notch. That's also very necessary with temperatures sometimes going below -10°C.
In many apartments, especially illegal suites, you might not even get a window. The heating is your problem if the windows suck, and while in some jurisdictions there might be necessary temperature ranges the landlord must maintain, that's only if it's a "utilities included" apartment. Your heating bill could bankrupt you.
Like all appliances, furniture, anything, it's "bring your own" in Germany (unless you have a common laundry area... not super common I think).
Often not the case, and is often a "feature". Again, it targets poor people, who then have a lower quality of life, and higher revolving costs. It's expensive to be poor.
Same as before, as long as you fix up the holes when you move out, not an issue.
As before, you may be flatly prohibited from doing any damage to a wall.
Don't know about solar panels. Like windows, never lived in an apartment without proper insulation in Germany (in the US on the other hand...).
Canada would like to have a word regarding insulation. Same with Australia, Japan, the US, etc.
You can't make structural changes to a rental, and that definitely includes solar panels. You can negotiate something with the landlord, but it doesn't stop them from evicting you after it's done. You'll need a lawyer.
You can put in whatever floor you like as far as I know, and I've done so.
Nope. You might be able to negotiate it, but you'll need a lawyer.
---
When you rent, and you don't have a lot of money, it's fucking terrible. Low quality housing, low quality appliances, low quality life. It has higher revolving costs, and the absolute instability makes it untenable. Many of my family members bought and restored shitty in-bed campers as a safety net against eviction because it was constant and punishing.
This is advice for very high income, or already wealthy people.
I was certainly not wealthy or high income, as a student with no money, my parents not chipping in for rent, food, or university supplies, and keeping afloat with part time jobs.
But this was the mid-2000s, so things probably changed. Even with the exorbitant rent in Munich back then already, I wouldn't know with how it would work now with what the rents have become since.
Comments
Aside from finance, a big motivation to buy a home in the UK is to have more self-determination in your home life. Renting places you under someone else's control to a large extent.
You often can't decorate much. Can't fit better windows, and windows where I've rented have usually been poor quality. Can't replace the washing machine even if it's not working properly. Can't put up shelves.
Can't fit solar panels or better insulation, or replace carpets. Sometimes you can't even paint the walls.
In the town where I live nearly all rental properties are "furnished", to the point that there aren't many unfurnished properties to choose from. This means you can't change the furniture - couches, tables, curtains (drapes), beds, wardrobes etc. Often there is an old TV you would never choose for yourself. Of course you do make some choices when you decide where to move into, but there may not be anything particularly to your own taste, and what you want will change over time anyway.
Aside from the lack of self-determination while in there, there is a constant threat of "no reason" evictions which landlords exercise from time to time. Because no reason is given, it doesn't take much. I've seen it done sometimes by rental property agents just so they can advertise a large rent increase on the open market which would not seem reasonable applied to the existing tenant - that time, the landlord didn't particularly want the tenant out, but the agent saw a chance to get their new-tenancy fees and advised the landlord to evict.
Long term stability in a rental property is a luxury in some areas, and finding another property nearby may not be possible. Got a child in school? Don't assume they will be able to stay in the same school.
I have encountered rental situations where it is required to pay 12 months rent up front every year during the tenancy (on top of 1.5 months deposit) - but only if you're not well off enough to qualify for monthly rental payment. This sucks if the reason you are moving is because of a no-reason eviction from a previous place, so you quickly need to find another property as well as 13.5 months worth of rent at short notice. Naturally, you can't use the deposit from the previous place in that scenario as you won't get it in time, and you won't get all of it.
Speaking of 12 months, in the town where I live and I gather in many others, 12 month tenancies are the maximum you can get. Technically every year there's a new tenancy, usually with new contract fees to pay, and the possibility they might decide not to renew it. If you're really unlucky there might be a new credit and income check each renewal, which you will fail if you fell on hard times, such as between jobs. This duration is because UK law has additional tenant protections with tenancies longer than 12 months. So of course landlords don't offer them.
Yes, most of these things are indeed different in Germany (and I knew of most of the situation in the UK, I know people who lived or live there and the differences are wild). For example:
No issue unless you fix it back up when you move out.
There must be laws in Germany, because I don't remember living in an apartment where the windows weren't top notch. That's also very necessary with temperatures sometimes going below -10°C.
Like all appliances, furniture, anything, it's "bring your own" in Germany (unless you have a common laundry area... not super common I think).
Same as before, as long as you fix up the holes when you move out, not an issue.
Don't know about solar panels. Like windows, never lived in an apartment without proper insulation in Germany (in the US on the other hand...).
You can put in whatever floor you like as far as I know, and I've done so.
Definitely not an issue in Germany.
This confirms my impression that renting in the UK is indeed very different from renting in Germany. It seems like the UK also treats renting as more of a short term arrangement, while in Germany people may spend decades or their entire life in their rental apartment, so it's their space to create.
You can be completely prohibited from "damaging" things, including painting, in many jurisdictions. You also may have to match whatever grade of paint the landlord used. Some will use very expensive paints, or totally inappropriate paints, knowing it will lead to large deposit forfeiture, or the ability to collect excessive monies from the tenant.
In many apartments, especially illegal suites, you might not even get a window. The heating is your problem if the windows suck, and while in some jurisdictions there might be necessary temperature ranges the landlord must maintain, that's only if it's a "utilities included" apartment. Your heating bill could bankrupt you.
Often not the case, and is often a "feature". Again, it targets poor people, who then have a lower quality of life, and higher revolving costs. It's expensive to be poor.
As before, you may be flatly prohibited from doing any damage to a wall.
Canada would like to have a word regarding insulation. Same with Australia, Japan, the US, etc. You can't make structural changes to a rental, and that definitely includes solar panels. You can negotiate something with the landlord, but it doesn't stop them from evicting you after it's done. You'll need a lawyer.
Nope. You might be able to negotiate it, but you'll need a lawyer.
---
When you rent, and you don't have a lot of money, it's fucking terrible. Low quality housing, low quality appliances, low quality life. It has higher revolving costs, and the absolute instability makes it untenable. Many of my family members bought and restored shitty in-bed campers as a safety net against eviction because it was constant and punishing.
This is advice for very high income, or already wealthy people.
I was certainly not wealthy or high income, as a student with no money, my parents not chipping in for rent, food, or university supplies, and keeping afloat with part time jobs.
But this was the mid-2000s, so things probably changed. Even with the exorbitant rent in Munich back then already, I wouldn't know with how it would work now with what the rents have become since.