Renting in Berlin made me realise just how bad we are treated in Australia

February 17, 2026 — 6:00pm

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When my partner told me he wanted us to move to Berlin, I was up for it. I have German heritage, and I also like the language a lot, and the best way to learn is actually by being on the ground and practising every day.

There are plenty of benefits to living in Berlin. For one, you’re legally mandated to use all 28 days of your vacation allowance every year. While it’s definitely advised you learn German, you can get by for the most part speaking English. Another perk is the treasure trove of second-hand clothing stores here. Berliners are exquisitely stylish, and you can easily assimilate for next to nothing.

If there’s one part of all this that I really wasn’t looking forward to, it was moving house. No matter where you are in the world, this is a minefield of dodgy landlords, inflated rents, and a litany of hidden maintenance issues. Then there’s the added pain of buying furniture, setting up internet and electricity – all that once you’ve dropped a third of your life savings on the deposit. The fact that rents are soaring across much of Australia hasn’t helped.

But it turns out that the process of renting in Berlin is a world of improvement compared to what I’ve been........

© Brisbane Times