How to View an Apartment in German: The Wohnungsbesichtigung Survival Phrases
The German phrases you actually need for a Swiss apartment viewing — with a realistic dialogue and the Bruttomiete vs Nettomiete rule every newcomer should know.
The Wohnungsbesichtigung is not just a viewing. It's a small interview. The landlord is checking if you can pay, if you'll be a good neighbour, and sometimes — if you can communicate in German.
Many newcomers prepare what they want to say, but freeze when the landlord asks something unexpected. A short question like "Was machen Sie beruflich?" (What do you do for a living?) can throw off a whole conversation if you don't know the word beruflich.
The good news: viewings are predictable. Most of them follow the same pattern of questions. Here are the phrases that come up almost every time.
Key phrases to know
- Wie gross ist die Wohnung? – How big is the apartment?
- Was kostet die Miete? – What does the rent cost?
- Sind die Nebenkosten inbegriffen? – Are utilities included?
- Wie hoch ist die Kaution? – How high is the deposit?
- Wann kann ich einziehen? – When can I move in?
- Gibt es ein Kellerabteil? – Is there a basement compartment?
- Sind Haustiere erlaubt? – Are pets allowed?
- Wer sind die Nachbarn? – Who are the neighbours?
- Kann ich die Küche / das Bad sehen? – Can I see the kitchen / bathroom?
- Ich melde mich, wenn ich Interesse habe. – I'll get back to you if I'm interested.
How it sounds in practice
A short dialogue between a Vermieter (V — landlord) and an Interessent (I — interested viewer):
V: Guten Tag, willkommen zur Besichtigung.
I: Danke. Wie gross ist die Wohnung?
V: 65 Quadratmeter, zwei Zimmer plus Küche und Bad.
I: Und was kostet die Miete?
V: 1'400 Franken inkl. Nebenkosten.
I: Oh, das liegt über meinem Budget. Ich suche etwas bis 1'200 Franken.
V: Hm… da Sie ein regelmässiges Einkommen haben, könnte ich Ihnen entgegenkommen und auf 1'300 heruntergehen.
I: Das wäre machbar. Kann ich die Küche sehen?
V: Natürlich, kommen Sie mit.
Notice how the viewer doesn't just accept the price. A polite "das liegt über meinem Budget" can sometimes save you 100 CHF a month. It works in Switzerland more often than people think (with private landlords) — especially in areas where the market isn't overheated.
Swiss culture note
Swiss landlords almost always ask for a Dossier — a folder of documents about you. Lohnausweis (salary slips), a Betreibungsregisterauszug (debt registry extract), your Arbeitsbewiligung (work permit), references from your last landlord or employer. Bring it printed to the viewing. People who arrive prepared are remembered.
Try it yourself
Imagine you're at a viewing. The apartment is 3 rooms, 1'500 Franken kalt, on the second floor, no elevator. Practise asking out loud:
- How much are the utilities?
- Is there an elevator?
- Can I see the bedroom?
- When can I move in?
Record yourself if you can. Even 30 seconds of speaking practice changes how the words sit in your mouth.
What's next
The Wohnungsbesichtigung is the first of four conversations you'll have during your time in any Swiss apartment. The next one comes when you actually like the flat: signing the Mietvertrag and negotiating the Kaution. That's the next lesson in this series.
Fide Prep
This lesson is part of Module 1 of the FIDE A1/A2 Exam Prep — the same topic that appears on the FIDE speaking exam as a "Wohnungen" picture-description task. The full book covers all 11 FIDE topics with dialogues, vocabulary, and cultural notes. It's available on here and as an interactive app with audio practice at app.fide-prep.ch.