When you look at a flat in a German-speaking country, one of the first things you want to know is what the rent actually covers. In this workshop you practise asking whether extra costs and heating are included, and you learn to understand a simple reply about a cold rent and a monthly utilities amount. You will work with short, realistic exchanges between an interested renter and a landlord. Listen to each recorded line, read the English meaning, then take the role of the renter or the landlord in the guided tasks.
Asking what the rent includes
Start with a general question about the rent. The line «Was ist in der Miete enthalten?» means "What is included in the rent?" This is a broad opening question you can use when you do not yet know which costs might be separate. If you want to ask specifically about extra costs, use «Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?», which means "Are the additional costs included in the rent?" For heating, use «Ist die Heizung in der Miete enthalten?», which means "Is heating included in the rent?" These three questions all ask about inclusion, but they focus on different things: everything in general, the additional costs, or heating. Choose the one that matches what you need to know. When you speak, keep your voice calm and let it rise slightly at the end so the other person hears a clear question.
Understanding the landlord's reply
A landlord may answer your inclusion question with a clear no and an explanation. The line «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.» means "No, the additional costs are not included. The rent is a cold rent." A cold rent is the rent without utilities, so you would pay extra for costs such as heating, water, or building services. After hearing that, you can ask for the amount. The line «Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten?» means "How high are the additional costs?" and «Verstehe. Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten pro Monat?» means "I see. How high are the additional costs per month?" The reply «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.» means "The additional costs are 150 euros per month. Electricity is not included." So the monthly utilities are stated, but electricity is separate. Listen for the word for electricity so you know it is not part of that amount.
Putting the exchange together
A full first contact can combine a greeting, your interest in the flat, and your inclusion question. The line «Guten Tag, ich interessiere mich für die Wohnung. Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?» means "Hello, I am interested in the flat. Are the additional costs included in the rent?" This is a polite way to open the conversation and ask your question at the same time. The landlord's answer «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.» tells you the costs are not included and the rent is a cold rent. You then ask «Verstehe. Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten pro Monat?», which means "I see. How high are the additional costs per month?" and the landlord answers «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.», which means "The additional costs are 150 euros per month. Electricity is not included." Notice the order: greeting and interest, inclusion question, answer, follow-up question about the amount, answer with the amount and the electricity detail. Keep that order when you practise, whether you speak as the renter or as the landlord.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?
Are the additional costs included in the rent?
zint dee NAY-ben-kos-ten in dair MEE-tuh ent-HAL-ten
Was ist in der Miete enthalten?
What is included in the rent?
vas ist in dair MEE-tuh ent-HAL-ten
Ist die Heizung in der Miete enthalten?
Is heating included in the rent?
ist dee HY-tsung in dair MEE-tuh ent-HAL-ten
Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten?
How high are the additional costs?
vee hoh zint dee NAY-ben-kos-ten
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Guten Tag, ich interessiere mich für die Wohnung. Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?
Hello, I am interested in the flat. Are the additional costs included in the rent?Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.
No, the additional costs are not included. The rent is a cold rent.Verstehe. Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten pro Monat?
I see. How high are the additional costs per month?Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.
The additional costs are 150 euros per month. Electricity is not included.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided renter and landlord exchange
You are interested in a flat and speak with a landlord. Read the renter's lines aloud, then read the landlord's lines aloud. Use the recordings to check your pronunciation and meaning.
Your task: Renter: say the line «Guten Tag, ich interessiere mich für die Wohnung. Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?». Landlord: say the line «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.». Renter: say the line «Verstehe. Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten pro Monat?». Landlord: say the line «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.». After you finish, swap roles and read the exchange again, keeping the same order of lines.
Choose the right reply
You hear a renter ask a question about the rent. Choose the landlord's reply that matches the question. The possible replies are the recorded lines «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.» and «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.».
Your task: Renter asks «Sind die Nebenkosten in der Miete enthalten?», which means "Are the additional costs included in the rent?" Which reply fits: «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.» or «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.»? Then renter asks «Wie hoch sind die Nebenkosten?», which means "How high are the additional costs?" Which reply fits: «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.» or «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.»? Say your chosen line aloud.
Recall the exchange with correct roles
Cover the recorded lines and try to remember the exchange from the beginning. You will speak both roles, but you must keep the renter and landlord parts correct.
Your task: Say the renter's opening line from memory, then the landlord's answer, then the renter's follow-up question, then the landlord's final answer. If you cannot remember a line, uncover it, read it aloud, cover it again, and continue. Then swap roles and repeat the same order.
Common questions
What does cold rent mean in the landlord's reply?
In the line «Nein, die Nebenkosten sind nicht enthalten. Die Miete ist eine Kaltmiete.», the landlord says the additional costs are not included and the rent is a cold rent. This means the stated rent does not cover utilities, so you would pay extra for costs such as heating or water. That is why the renter then asks how high the additional costs are.
Is electricity part of the additional costs in the recorded answer?
No. In the line «Die Nebenkosten sind 150 Euro pro Monat. Strom ist nicht enthalten.», the landlord gives the monthly additional costs and then says that electricity is not included. So the amount mentioned covers the additional costs, but electricity is separate. Listen for the word for electricity so you do not assume it is part of that monthly amount.
Sources and further reading
- german: ask about utilities includedChecked September 2026
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