Buying an apartment in Germany is an experience all in itself. Once the contract is signed, there’s an extra special perk: membership in the German home owner’s association for your particular building. You might know it as the “body corporate”, “condominium corporation”, “strata council” or “commonhold” in other countries. Once you’ve bought an apartment in Germany, you’ll come to know it fondly as the “WEG”, that is, the “Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft”. So… what exactly will you be getting yourself into? How does it work? And will you ever get out alive?
Tag Archive: berlin
What’s the Deal with Kirchensteuer/Church Tax?!
You moved to Berlin, landed a job and just received your first pay cheque. You notice a deduction called “Kirchensteuer” in the small print and wonder what it could possibly be…
What is Kirchensteuer?
Kirchensteuer (church tax) is a tax imposed on members of some religious congregations in Germany.
Tough Luck for Young Canadians in Berlin
At the Ausländerbehörde this morning, a client was informed that the rules have changed within the last six months regarding the Canadian Youth Mobility Program. Although I’ve seen a few Canadians received the permit in Berlin, the official line is now that Canadians need to apply for the Youth Mobility from Canada before they leave. This could be a bit confusing for the following reasons:
It’s true….. Everyone is moving to Berlin!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrgnkd-Lsl8]
About the Author: Kathleen Parker dedicates her time to helping English speakers settle into life in Berlin. Through her company Red Tape Translation, she offers phone interpreting for English speakers who are reticent to make German phone calls, and accompanies Australians, Kiwis, Canadians, Brits, South Africans, Americans, and many other international Berliners to their appointments at the immigration office, the job center, real estate agencies, and banks.