European Student Housing: Deposits, Kaution and Guarantor Requirements in Germany and the Netherlands for ASEAN Students

How the German Kaution works

German landlords ask for a security deposit, called the Kaution, and the standard amount goes up to three times your monthly cold rent (Kaltmiete, meaning rent before utility costs), according to DAAD . The landlord must keep this money in a separate, interest-bearing account rather than mix it with their own funds, and return it after you move out once any legitimate deductions are settled. Many landlords let you pay the Kaution in up to three monthly instalments instead of one lump sum at signing, so ask about this before assuming you need the full amount upfront.

Guarantor alternatives without German credit history

German landlords often check a SCHUFA credit report, the country's main credit bureau, before approving a tenant, and newly arrived international students have no SCHUFA file to show. DAAD points to accepted alternatives: a parental guarantee, a signed statement from a parent or guardian agreeing to cover the rent, proof of a scholarship or stipend covering living costs, or a salary or bank statement showing sufficient funds. Student dormitories run by the local Studierendenwerk (student services organization) generally skip the SCHUFA requirement entirely, which is one reason dorm rooms fill up fast and why applying the moment you accept your offer matters.

Where to look first in Germany

Apply to your university's Studierendenwerk dormitory waitlist as early as your admission letter allows, since these rooms come with a lower deposit and no SCHUFA check, though waiting lists in cities like Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt run months long. Your university's International Office also keeps lists of landlords used to renting to international students and sometimes runs a housing-help program for new arrivals. WG-gesucht and similar shared-flat (Wohngemeinschaft) platforms list private rooms too, but treat any request to send a deposit before viewing the room in person, or over video call, as a scam warning sign.

Getting your Kaution back

When your tenancy ends, the landlord has a reasonable period to inspect the unit and return your Kaution, since German law doesn't set one fixed deadline, though courts commonly treat around six months as a reasonable outer limit for straightforward cases. Provide a forwarding address, your home country address is acceptable, and request the return in writing if you haven't heard back a few months after moving out.

The Dutch housing shortage

The Netherlands' student housing problem is scarcity, not deposit rules. Cities with major universities, particularly Amsterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, and Leiden, have far more students than available rooms each intake, and private market rents in these cities run high relative to what students afford. Housing corporations linked to universities, such as DUWO, let admitted students register for a room allocation, and getting on that list the day you accept your offer matters more than almost any other step, since some corporations allocate rooms mainly by registration date.

Guarantor and deposit norms in the Netherlands

Dutch landlords, particularly in the private market, commonly ask for a deposit of one to two months' rent and sometimes a Dutch guarantor or proof of income well above the monthly rent. International students without a Dutch guarantor generally rely on their university's approved housing corporation instead of the open private market, since corporations built for international and exchange students tend not to demand a local guarantor the way private landlords do. Confirm with your university's international student office or the housing corporation directly what documentation they accept in place of a Dutch guarantor before you commit to a private rental.

Register your address in the Netherlands

Once you move in, register your address with the local municipality (gemeente) at the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP), since many essentials, including opening a Dutch bank account, arranging health insurance, and applying for a residence permit extension, require proof of a registered address. Landlords sometimes resist allowing registration at a rented address, particularly in informal subletting situations, so confirm before signing that registration is permitted, since living somewhere you are unable to register creates problems well beyond housing.

Watch for rental scams in both countries

Fake listings targeting international students appear on both German and Dutch rental platforms, usually offering a well-located room at a below-market price, with a landlord who claims to be abroad and asks for a deposit by international transfer before you view the property. Never send money before an in-person viewing, or a live video call with someone you trust physically inspecting the space, and verify the landlord's identity against the property's registered owner where your platform allows it.

Germany vs Netherlands: what to expect