German for Short-Term Rentals: Ask If an Apartment Is Available for a Month
Learn to ask in German whether an apartment is free for one month, plus key rental words like Miete, Nebenkosten, Kaution and befristet.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need a place in Germany for just a few weeks or a month, the first question is whether the apartment is even free for that period. This lesson gives you the exact German sentence for that, plus the vocabulary you will hear in replies: Miete (rent), Nebenkosten (utilities), Kaution (deposit) and befristet (fixed-term). You will also learn how to ask about the price and whether the rent includes bills, so you can arrange a short-term stay with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an apartment is available for one month.
- ask how much the rent is and whether utilities are included.
- understand and use key rental words such as Miete, Nebenkosten and Kaution.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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Ist diese Wohnung einen Monat lang frei?
Is this apartment available for one month?
ist DEE-zuh VOH-noong EYE-nen MOH-naht lahng FRY
The most direct way to ask about a one-month availability. Use frei for 'available' in this context.
Ist die Wohnung für einen Monat zu vermieten?
Is the apartment for rent for one month?
ist dee VOH-noong fewr EYE-nen MOH-naht tsoo fair-MEE-ten
Slightly more formal; zu vermieten appears in ads and on signs.
Wie hoch ist die Miete?
How much is the rent?
vee hohkh ist dee MEE-tuh
Standard question for the monthly rent. Antwort: Die Miete ist ... Euro.
Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?
Are the utilities included in the rent?
zint dee NAY-ben-kos-ten in dair MEE-tuh ent-HAL-ten
Nebenkosten covers heating, water and building costs. enthalten means 'included'.
Wie hoch ist die Kaution?
How much is the deposit?
vee hohkh ist dee kow-TSYOHN
Kaution is the security deposit. For short stays it is often one month's rent or less.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask whether something is available for a period, use: Ist + [noun] + [time phrase] + frei? For example: Ist das Zimmer eine Woche lang frei? (Is the room free for a week?) or Ist die Wohnung drei Monate lang frei? (Is the apartment free for three months?). The time phrase comes before frei, and lang emphasises the duration. For a more formal tone, use zu vermieten: Ist die Wohnung für einen Monat zu vermieten?
When to use it
Use these questions when you contact a landlord, a subtenant or a short-term rental agency. Start with Ist diese Wohnung einen Monat lang frei? If the answer is Ja, die ist frei, follow up with Wie hoch ist die Miete? and Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten? If you need a contract, ask: Kann ich einen Untermietvertrag bekommen? (Can I get a sublease contract?) This is common for short-term stays in German cities.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, ist diese Wohnung einen Monat lang frei?
Hello, is this apartment available for one month?GOO-ten tahk, ist DEE-zuh VOH-noong EYE-nen MOH-naht lahng FRYJa, die Wohnung ist im Juli frei. Wie lange brauchen Sie sie?
Yes, the apartment is free in July. How long do you need it?yah, dee VOH-noong ist im YOO-lee FRY. vee LAHNG-uh BROW-khen zee zeeNur einen Monat. Wie hoch ist die Miete?
Only one month. How much is the rent?noor EYE-nen MOH-naht. vee hohkh ist dee MEE-tuhDie Miete ist 800 Euro, Nebenkosten sind inklusive. Die Kaution beträgt 500 Euro.
The rent is 800 euros, utilities are included. The deposit is 500 euros.dee MEE-tuh ist AHT-hundert OY-roh, NAY-ben-kos-ten zint in-kloo-ZEE-vuh. dee kow-TSYOHN buh-TRAYGT FÜNF-hundert OY-rohA little context goes a long way
In Germany, short-term rentals are often arranged as an Untermiete (sublease) rather than a direct lease. Landlords may ask for a Kaution and proof of income, even for one month. In Austria and Switzerland, some terms differ slightly: in Austria you may hear Mietzins instead of Miete, and in Switzerland Nebenkosten are sometimes called Nebenkosten or Charges. Always confirm whether the price is warm (including utilities) or kalt (excluding them).
One thing to watch for
Using für einen Monat frei when you mean 'free of charge for one month'.
Try this instead: Frei here means 'available', not 'free of cost'. To ask about a free-of-charge month, say: Ist der erste Monat kostenlos? (Is the first month free of charge?) For availability, use: Ist die Wohnung einen Monat lang frei?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask whether the apartment is available for one month?
Show a sample answer
Ist diese Wohnung einen Monat lang frei?
This uses the pattern Ist + noun + time phrase + frei. You can also say Ist die Wohnung für einen Monat zu vermieten? for a more formal tone.
2What does Nebenkosten mean, and how do you ask if they are included?
Show a sample answer
Nebenkosten means utilities. Ask: Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?
Enthalten means 'included'. You may also hear inklusive, which works in the same way.
3How do you ask how much the deposit is?
Show a sample answer
Wie hoch ist die Kaution?
Kaution is the deposit. Wie hoch ist ...? is the standard way to ask about an amount. You could also ask: Wie viel Kaution muss ich zahlen?
To rent short-term in German, start with Ist diese Wohnung einen Monat lang frei? Then ask Wie hoch ist die Miete? and Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten? Always clarify Kaution and whether the rent is warm or kalt.
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