Private housing market

<b>Private housing market</b><br /> <br /> Compared to other university towns, there are plenty of available flats in Bochum and rents are not very high. If you don't want to live in university residences, or could not get a place there, you can look for accommodation on the private housing market. Prices are only slightly higher than are residences.<br /> <br /> <b>Finding flats and rooms</b><br /> <br /> Flats and rooms can be found through:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://media.floridarealtors.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jan2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://media.floridarealtors.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jan2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <b>Advertising in the papers</b><br /> On Wednesdays and Saturday you can find housing ads in local newspaper. You can advertise for flats there yourselves.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>Housing exchanges on the internet</b><br /> On the internet you can find various exchanges advertising accommodation in Bochum. Many sites are specialised in procuring flat shares (Wohngemeinschaften=WGs).<br /> <br />     Internet portal and housing exchange: <a href="http://www.studenten-wohnung.de/">http://www.studenten-wohnung.de</a><br />     Houseshare-exchange: <a href="http://www.studenten-wg.de/">http://www.studenten-wg.de</a><br />     Internet portal and housing exchange: <a href="http://www.studentenbrett.de/">http://www.studentenbrett.de</a><br />     Houseshare-exchange: <a href="http://www.wg-gesucht.de/">http://www.wg-gesucht.de</a><br />     Houseshare-exchance:  <a href="http://www.wohnung-jetzt.de/">http://www.wohnung-jetzt.de</a><br /> <br /> Blackboard at RUB (Bild: Thilo Machotta)Blackboards<br /> On the blackboards near the student residence provider service of the AKAFÖ, in the student unions (ASten) of the universities and in university buildings you can often find housing ads. You can also leave an ad describing what you are looking for.<br /> <br /> <b>Building societies</b><br /> Over the last few years building societies, too, have started to recognise students as potential customers.<br /> <br />     VBW Bauen und Wohnen GmbH: <a href="http://www.vbw-bochum.de/">http://www.vbw-bochum.de</a><br /> <br /> <b>Hints for flat-hunting</b><br /> <br />     Start looking for a flat or a room as early as possible. Expect the search to require a fair amount of time. As rooms become harder to get in students residences at the beginning of the semester, it is advisable to fill in an application with the AKAFÖ or providers of private residences early on.<br /> <br />     It is helpful if someone from Germany can assist you when searching for a flat, advise you or help you to translate adverts or tenancy agreements.<br /> <br />     Check in advance what the distance to university is, and whether all necessary facilities (Kindergarten, school, shopping sites) are nearby.<br /> <br />     In close proximity to the university, affordable appartements and flats are rare. They are cheaper a little further towards the city-centre (around the Oskar-Hoffmann-Straße) or in the north of Bochum. In general, it is somewhat more expensive living right near the U35 than it is a ten minute walk away from the underground station. Small flats are more expensive than big ones, that is why sharing flats is fairly affordable.<br /> <br />     The rent index facilitates comparing the rents. Within the rent index owners and tenants associations state the height of the local average rent which must only be exceeded within certain limits – thus the tenant is secure from arbitrary raises.<br /> <br />     If you have problems with your landlord, the tenants' association can help.<br /> <a href="http://www.mieterbund-bochum.de/">http://www.mieterbund-bochum.de</a><br /> <div> <br /></div>

Private housing market

Private housing market Compared to other university towns, there are plenty of available flats in Bochum and rents are not very high. If y...

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Everyday tips for living

<b>Everyday tips for living</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Rent and deposit</b><br /> <br /> The rent price is mostly named as "cold", i.e. net rent before bills (that is without costs for heating, water, waste disposal, maintenance) or as "warm", i.e. final rent. In student residences all rental prices are inclusive of bills.<br /> <br /> When moving into a student residence or a flat, a deposit of 1-3 monthly rents is usually required. If you hand over room or flat in an unobjectionable state, you will receive your deposit back. In AKAFÖ-residences the deposit is two monthly rents.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://due.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Tips-for-Living-the-Lifestyle-You-Want.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://due.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Tips-for-Living-the-Lifestyle-You-Want.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <b>Waste separation</b><br /> <br /> Waste seperation (Bild: Photocase.com)The Germans consider waste separation a matter of great importance, especially for ecological reasons – the separated waste is reused. At universities, in residences and at German stations, too, there are separate containers for different types of waste.<br /> <br /> Green SpotAll wrappings carrying the "Green spot" (e.g. plastics, cans, tetrapaks) go into the yellow bin bag or the yellow container or bin. Yellow bin bags can be obtained from Remondis (Phone 0234/ 8921-0).<br /> <br /> In addition, batteries, glass as well as paper and cardboard are separated. While the paper is collected from home (this is the use of the Blue Bin), glass must be taken to a collection point nearby. Batteries contain poisonous additives and should not be put into the normal waste. They are collected in shops (i.e. supermarkets). The rest of the waste goes into the grey or black bin for "remaining waste".<br /> <br /> If you don't know what waste has to go where, you can look at the website of the Environmetal Sevice Bochum (USB).<br /> <br /> <b>Bulky waste</b><br /> <br /> If you have furniture, greater parts of your furnishing or bigger electronic appliances to throw away, you can have bulky waste collected from your door by the USB once a year free of charge. You do, however, have to order the picking-up in advance.<br /> <br /> <b>Further information</b><br /> <br /> Here are some further useful links with regard to housing and living:<br /> <br />     Information about living in Germany<br />     <a href="http://www.campus-germany.de/english/1.120.306.html">http://www.campus-germany.de/english/1.120.306.html</a><br />     Removal company<br />     <a href="http://www.rewirpower.de/home/energie/umziehen.html">http://www.rewirpower.de/home/energie/umziehen.html</a><br />     Advice for tenants<br />     <a href="http://www.mieterbund-bochum.de/index.php?id=12">http://www.mieterbund-bochum.de/index.php?id=12</a><br /> <div> <br /></div>

Everyday tips for living

Everyday tips for living Rent and deposit The rent price is mostly named as "cold", i.e. net rent before bills (that is withou...

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Short notice accommodations

<b>Short notice accommodations</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Hotel</b><br /> <br /> key for a hotel room (Bild: sxc.hu)Especially in the first few days many students and their parents need accommodations in Bochum on short notice. There are numerous hotels, hostels and boarding houses in various quality and price classes in Bochum. In general boarding houses are furnished very sparingly but they are also lower priced than hotels.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.studying-in-canada.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Accommodation-Canada-700x465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.studying-in-canada.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Accommodation-Canada-700x465.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <br /> You can find a list of hotels in Bochum here:<br /> <br />     <a href="http://www.bochum-tourismus.de/uebernachtungen/index.php">http://www.bochum-tourismus.de/uebernachtungen/index.php</a><br />     <a href="http://www.booking.com/city/de/bochum.de">http://www.booking.com/city/de/bochum.de</a><br />     <a href="http://www.casamundo.de/">http://www.casamundo.de/</a><br /> <br /> The Youth Hostel of Bochum on the Humboldtstrasse, the hostel Aleppo on the Nordring, the Kolping-Haus on the Maximilian-Kolbe-Strasse (all three are in the downtown area) and the hotel Formule 1 on Cruismannstrasse (in Bochum-Riemke) for example are relatively inexpensive. All of them can be reached either by car or with the subway.<br /> <br /> <b>Sublet</b><br /> <br /> Many students that are not in Bochum for a couple months sublet their rooms during this time. If you don't find a place to stay right away, you can move into a dormitory or apartment as a subtenant and continue to search for housing. Offers to sublet are either posted on notice-boards or in the dormitories themselves.<br /> <br /> If you would like to sublet your room or apartment you should let your landlord know in order to avoid problems. In the dormitories from the AKAFÖ you are allowed to sublet your room as long as you have informed the AKAFÖ.<br /> <br /> <b>Houseshare-agencies</b><br /> <br /> Houseshare-agencies mostly arrange rental of furnished rooms in house-/flat-shares for a limited time-span from a few days to one year.<br /> <br />     Houseshare-agency Bochum: <a href="http://bochum.homecompany.de/">http://bochum.homecompany.de</a><br />     Houseshare-agency Ruhr-Area: <a href="http://www.interlodge.de/">http://www.interlodge.de</a><br />     Houseshare-agency Germany: <a href="http://www.mitwohnzentrale.de/">http://www.mitwohnzentrale.de</a><br /> <br />

Short notice accommodations

Short notice accommodations Hotel key for a hotel room (Bild: sxc.hu)Especially in the first few days many students and their parents ne...

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Tips and rules for dormitories

<b>Tips and rules for dormitories</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Janitor/Caretaker</b><br /> <br /> In all dormitories there is at least one janitor employed. The janitor is among other things responsible for helping students who are moving in or out, for repairs, booking trades people, etc.<br /> <br /> The office hours are posted on the janitor's office. In the janitor's office you can also get help with questions, problems or damages. The janitors in AKAFÖ-Dormitories can speak at least basic English.<br /> <br /> <b>Keys</b><br /> <br /> Every dormitory has a master key system. When you move into a dormitory you receive a key from the janitor. The room key also locks and unlocks the house door, the kitchen and other common rooms. Be sure to observe the following information pertaining to your key:<br /> <br />     You may not give your key to a third party and you may not make copies of your key.<br />     For security reasons you should always lock your room when leaving. You are responsible for all items on the inventory list.<br />     There are frequently cases of theft in dormitories. For this reason you should always keep the entrance door closed and use the intercom system before you let anyone in.<br /> <br /> <b><br /></b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.hercampus.com/sites/default/files/2011/08/18/hs2%208_15_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://www.hercampus.com/sites/default/files/2011/08/18/hs2%208_15_11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b>Rules of the House</b><br /> <br /> Living together with many people in a dormitory does not work without any rules. These are recorded in the Rules of the House. The following rules apply everywhere:<br /> <br />     From 22 o'clock till 8 o'clock (that means from 10 p.m. till 8 a.m. – don't forget to learn this way of telling time!) is "Nachtruhe" in Germany (and in all dormitories). Please inform your neighbors if you are planning a party.<br />     You should avoid making noise that would disturb your neighbors. Particularly televisions and stereos should be set on low volume.<br />     Please observe the fire prevention regulations.<br />     If you invite guests into the dormitory you are responsible for their behavior.<br />     If you see people in the dormitory who do not belong there, you have the right to ask them to leave!<br /> <br /> <b>The Laundry room</b><br /> <br /> Laundromat (Bild: Photocase.com)As a general rule, dormitories have a laundry room in the basement. Here you will find washing machines and dryers which you can use to wash and dry your laundry for small price.<br /> <br /> In the AKAFÖ-dormitories you can pay with the money card (Geldkarte). You can apply for a money card at the janitor's office and pick it up later at the AKAFÖ. The card is transferable. The money card can be charged at the Sparkasse machines (in the Uni-Center).<br /> If the cash card from your bank has the money card function you can also use it.<br /> <br /> In private dormitories you pay either with monetary coins or with special washing coins which you can get from the caretaker.<br /> <br /> The washing machines and dryers show how long the process will take. Please collect your laundry promptly so that other residents can use the washing machines and dryers.<br /> <br /> <b>The Laundromat</b><br /> <br /> If you don't have your own washing machine you can wash and dry your laundry yourself at the Laundromat. There are also laundries and dry cleaners in Germany but they are only reasonable if you own clothing that you can't wash yourself.<br /> <br /> In downtown Bochum there are two Laundromats (on the Nordring and the Südring); one load there costs approximately 3,- €.

Tips and rules for dormitories

Tips and rules for dormitories Janitor/Caretaker In all dormitories there is at least one janitor employed. The janitor is among other t...

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Student self-administration in dormitories

<b>Student self-administration in dormitories</b><br /> <br /> Every dormitory has a collegiate dormitory self-administration. Those are students who are in charge for all matters of the dormitory life and act as a contact person for the residents. For the student self-administration there are funds made available by the student unions and the AKAFÖ.<br /> <br />     Summer festivals of the dormitories<br />     http://www.sommerfeste.de.vu<br /> <br /> <b>Plenary meeting (Heimvollversammlung - HVV)</b><br /> <br /> The most important panel at the dorms is the plenary meeting. All residents can participate at that meeting and vote too. At this meeting all important questions will be discussed, e.g. the composition of the TV program, the use of the dorms own bar, shared activities or purchases for the dorms. Most of the time there is a voting of the spokesmen and their representatives. The plenary meeting can make decisions, which have to be implemented by the dormitory spokesmen afterwards.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://housing.ku.edu/sites/housing.ku.edu/files/images/general/hompage/Community%20Building%20-%20South%20East%20Perspective_900x500px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://housing.ku.edu/sites/housing.ku.edu/files/images/general/hompage/Community%20Building%20-%20South%20East%20Perspective_900x500px.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <b>Dorm-spokesmen and dorm-council</b><br /> <br /> The dormitory self-administration is consisting of the dorm-spokesmen and their representatives.<br /> <br />     The spokesman of the dormitory is organizing dorm events and is the first contact person for dorm-based questions. His functions also involve the convening and supervision of the plenary meetings, the management of the recreation rooms as well as the equipment, the maintenance of the dormitory websites and the contact with the manager of the dormitory.<br />     The representatives of the dorm-spokesman are dedicated students who are in charge of defined areas. For example there can be a cleaning maintenance supervisor, a women’s representative or a treasurer. Other people are in charge of certain rooms or shared items (e.g. games or tools).<br /> <br /> The dorm-spokesman and its representative form the dorm-council.<br /> <br /> <b>Floor-spokesman</b><br /> <br /> In addition to the dorm-spokesmen each floor should have a floor-spokesman. It's the contact person for all floor-based issues. The floor-spokesman represents the interests of the residents of each respective floor towards the other dormitory residents and informs the floor members about the decisions made at the plenary meeting.<br /> <br /> <b>Spokesmen-council or spokesmen constellation</b><br /> <br /> At some dormitories the floor-spokesmen form a spokesmen-council or a spokesmen constellation of the dormitory. The spokesmen-council can have miscellaneous functions, from solving of floor-based problems to the voting of the dorm-spokesmen.<br /> Often there is no separate spokesmen-council and the floor-spokesmen participate in the meetings of the dorm-council.

Student self-administration in dormitories

Student self-administration in dormitories Every dormitory has a collegiate dormitory self-administration. Those are students who are in c...

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Forms of Housing

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.thespacestudio.com/images/falcuttwaybigimage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.thespacestudio.com/images/falcuttwaybigimage2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b>Forms of housing in the dormitories</b><br /> <br /> There are different forms of housing in the student dormitories.<br /> <br /> The student residence Sumperkamp is suitable for handicapped students (Bild: AKAFÖ)<br /> <br /> <b>Single room: </b>You have your own furnished room and share the kitchen, washroom and lavatory with the neighbors (approximately 7-12 people) on your floor.<br /> <br /> <b>Apartment:</b> An apartment consists of a bedroom with its own bathroom and kitchenette. There are furnished as well as unfurnished apartments.<br /> <br /> <b>Double Apartment: </b>A double apartment consists of two bedrooms and a kitchen and bathroom which are shared. It is ideal for couples or parents.<br /> <br /> <b>Shared Apartment (WG): </b>Several people (2-7) share an apartment, where each person has his or her own bedroom. WG rooms are offered furnished as well as unfurnished.<br /> <br /> There are special living arrangements available for families, couples and handicapped students.

Forms of Housing

Forms of housing in the dormitories There are different forms of housing in the student dormitories. The student residence Sumperkamp...

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Step 6: Accomodation - Dormitories

<br /> <b>Student's Hall of residences run by the AKAFÖ</b><br /> <br /> The first point of contact for students looking for a room is the AKAFÖ. The AKAFÖ runs 19 halls of residence with 4.200 places on offer,(There st 1 Student residence in Gelsenkirchen city ) which are particularly popular with foreign students: they are close to the university, usually furnished and relatively affordable. In seven of the AKAFÖ residences places for disabled students are on offer. There is special accommodation available for families and couples.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0014/101309/Liberty-Hall-Photos-017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://www.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0014/101309/Liberty-Hall-Photos-017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Monthly rent varies between about 198,- € (for a room in a shared flat) and 817,- € (flat with a number of rooms), bills of course included. All rooms have a high-speed internet-connection, the costs for which are already included in the rent.<br /> <br /> In most residences there are saunas, bars, party-, TV- or sport rooms that offer you plenty of opportunity for spare-time activity and for meeting new people.<br /> <br /> Depending on the kind of accommodation you are looking for there is a waiting period ranging form three months to two semesters. Especially at the beginning of the winter semester there is a shortage. If you apply early on, chances of getting a room rise considerably! You can apply for accommodation before being accepted onto a course!<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Contact</b><br /> <br /> You can apply online or in person at the AKAFÖ:<br /> <br /> Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ)<br /> Studentisches Wohnen<br /> Studierendenhaus Room SH 062<br /> Universitätsstraße 150<br /> 44801 Bochum<br /> Opening hours:<br /> Monday and Tuesday:  9 - 13 h<br /> Thursday:  9 - 13 h and 14 - 17 h<br /> <a href="http://www.akafoe.de/wohnen">http://www.akafoe.de/wohnen</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <b>Private student dormitories</b><br /> <br /> In Bochum, there are also some private student dormitories in which foreign students can rent a room. These dormitories are mostly financed by the Protestant or Catholic Church but there are privately owned hostels as well.<br /> If you want to apply for a private dormitory, please do so directly at the particular dormitory administration.<br /> <br /> For further information and consultation please contact:<br /> <br /> Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Bochumer Studierendenwohnheime in privater Trägerschaft<br /> Haus Michael<br /> Mr. Gerhard Kuriewicz<br /> Laerholzstraße 3<br /> 44801 Bochum<br /> Phone 0234/ 7093-0<br /> <a href="http://www.hausmichael.de/wohnheime.html">http://www.hausmichael.de/wohnheime.html</a><br /> <br /> Spokesmen: Pastor and Dipl.-Ing. Lars Relitz, Evangelisch-Freikirchliches Förderungwerk e.V.<br /> Schlüterweg 2<br /> 44799 Bochum<br /> Phone 0234/ 383700<br /> <br /> <b>Dormitories of the Technical University of Applied Sciences</b><br /> <br /> The Technical University of Applied Sciences has its own dormitory close to the university (Westhoffstrasse 15). This dormitory offers accommodation to 196 students. It is always two students who share a kitchen and a bathroom. The monthly rent (including heating) amounts to 190,- €off-site link and the deposit is two monthly rents.<br /> <br /> For further information please contact:<br /> <br /> Wohnungsverwaltung der DMT-LB (dormitory administration)<br /> Ms. Jenny Krziwo<br /> Gebäude 1, room K 020<br /> Herner Straße 45<br /> 44787 Bochum<br /> Phone 0234/ 968-32412<br /> <a href="http://www.tfh-bochum.de/wohnheim.html">http://www.tfh-bochum.de/wohnheim.html</a><br /> Office hours: Tuesday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 3 - 4 p.m.

Step 6: Accomodation - Dormitories

Student's Hall of residences run by the AKAFÖ The first point of contact for students looking for a room is the AKAFÖ. The AKAFÖ runs...

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