Moving abroad is a very exciting prospect, however, the details of relocation can also be very daunting. Navigating a new system, a new language and dealing with formalities can be a challenge, this is where private relocation support can make all the difference.
Your top priorities when relocating to a new city should be visa (immigration), finding a place to live (home search), employment or educational opportunities and integration. Your relocation consultant can advise you on your options in advance.
Visa/Immigration: the type of visa you are eligible for will largely be linked to your country of origin, employment situation or educational studies. It is very important to know your options for immigration before you plan a move. IRC Berlin has the expert knowledge to guide you through your visa & immigration options.
Home search: knowing the housing market, areas of the city, and ballpark figures for rental costs/utilities is key for a successful home search. It is helpful to have a realistic expectation when you consult with your relocation assistant about what will be most suitable for you. IRC Berlin consultants have extensive knowledge of the city and can advise you as to the perfect match for you regarding area, amenities, public transport needs.
Cultural integration: This is where IRC can help, we offer intercultural training for new arrivals and their families to make their start in the new and foreign environment as easy as possible. Giving an insight into cultural differences, those ‘quirky’ German ways, and just how to navigate the German business landscape.
IRC Berlin is branching out into private relocation offering all the same benefits as we offer to our corporate clients. Our experienced consultants can support and assist every step of the way from visa and immigration, work permits, home search to giving a comprehensive orientation tour upon arrival. We want to make you feel at home in Germany and to make your transition process pleasant and successful, so that all you need to worry about is enjoying your new home!
Berlin’s rent cap, the so-called ‘Mietendeckel’ has been toppled with far-reaching consequences for many tenants.
The Federal Court of Justice, Germany’s highest court decided that by introducing the rent freeze the local government in Berlin had overstepped its power and the law was overturned. Berlin’s “Mietendeckel” law or rent cap “violates the Basic Law and is thus ruled void” according to the Federal Court’s decision.
This has implications for many tenants (up to 1.5 million) in Berlin, who have been paying reduced rent since February 2020.
What tenants must now consider:
1. There is no immediate possibility of termination leases because tenants have complied with applicable law. However, there is an immediate obligation to repay the difference (see 3.).
2. Consensual agreements without shadow rent, for example in the case of new leases, are valid.
3. Where otherwise effective civil law agreements on the amount of rent existed, these must be fulfilled within a reasonable period (14 to 30 days). This means that the retained rents on the basis of the rent cap are to be repaid. The repayment is due upon knowledge of today’s decision of the Federal Constitutional Court. A demand for payment by the landlord is desirable, but may not be necessary in a lot of cases. Those tenants which are unable to pay the outstanding amounts immediately should contact the landlord and if necessary request financial aid from the Berlin Government (https://mietendeckel.berlin.de).
4. In the case of shadow rental agreements after re-letting, the tenants’ association strongly advises seeking advice.
We would like to help you understand how to use a relocation company to assist your employees. What are the benefits for your business and your team in outsourcing this service to new recruits or employees who are taking up a position in a new location?
Whether you are hiring new recruits from abroad or moving existing employees from one office to another office in a different location, there are many administrative tasks and other things which need to be organised to get the person moved, settled in and integrated into their new role.
Time is money and if your employee can be efficiently supported then the time it takes to get their move organised can be optimised. By working with a relocation company you won’t need an in-house department and you will draw on people who bring the highest levels of experience and expertise.
Providing the option of a supported relocation is good for the company image, it shows that you value your employees, their families and their wellbeing.
Being able to offer a professionally supported relocation is a big asset when headhunting, it will give your company an advantage as it gives the employee incentive to move without feeling like a relocation would be too overwhelming.
Show your employee that you value their time by letting them avoid the ‘leg’ work when they partner with a relocation consultant they are relieved of all the big and small organisational tasks related to a move.
Supporting not just the employee but also their spouse and/or their family is also hugely beneficial to the overall well being of the employee.
The way an employee feels once they have moved to a new location can be imperative to their productivity. If they feel settled and happy then they will be motivated to start into their new role. They can be present physically and mentally knowing all the formalities of their move have been taken care of.
There are many costs, such as hotel costs, which can be avoided if an employee can relocate directly into furnished accommodation or their own apartment/house. Having a relocation partner on the ground makes organising this possible!
At IRC we can provide the support your employees need for a successful relocation. We have experienced staff, who understand the relocation from both a professional and personal point of view and who have the know-how to navigate any challenges which may arise. Let’s begin the relocation journey together!
We are excited to announce: IRC has moved our website to a climate positive host on WordPress. For every WordPress page, a tree is planted and the data processing centres and offices are guaranteed to be run completely generated by hydro-power.
Through WordPress partnership with RAIDBOXES they currently offset 40.48 tons of CO2 every month, in addition to the trees that have been planted – by funding certified carbon and plastic offsetting projects through Get Mads. This corresponds to a CO2 saving of more than 160,000 car kilometres.
The Child-care system in Berlin is fantastic however one of the biggest issues we see in our ‘new Berliners’ arriving with young families is finding Kita placement. We would like to introduce two great new start-ups which are offering an interim solution to bridge this problem and/or provide an alternative.
Work’n’Kid: Co-working with Child-care
Work’n’Kidunderstands the need to create a work-family balance; they offer a reliable child-care service on-site. They have a team of experienced childminders that take care of your child right next door to the coworking space and you have the chance to continue working at your own speed. In addition to your flexible desk and the existing infrastructure, they can provide you with plenty of networking opportunities with like-minded people from different backgrounds. Work’n’kid targets mainly parents of children from the age of 4 months to 3 years; however, if your children are older they are open to helping you find a solution. The costs can be reimbursed by your local Jugendamt, Work’n’Kid can assist you with the application for this.
Kids Circle: Childcare nearby & Online child-care
Kids Circle Nearby . Each group of children is looked after by accredited Kids-Coaches with extensive child-care experience. Activities span a wide range from playing, handicrafts or painting to dancing, reading, theatre and joint storytelling or music. The child-care is provided at 5 outdoor locations in Berlin and upon request at other locations too. Nearby takes place outdoors in all weather and only move to a child-friendly indoor location in case of heavy rain or thunderstorms.
They offer you:
loving child-care care close to home (e.g. the park or the playground next door) through a large number of care services & Kids-Coaches
flexible bookable child-care, 2 or 3-hour child-care care offers, which provide the greatest possible flexibility; can be booked up to 3 hours before the start
Online Childcare Kids Circle offers exciting online child-care services for children from 4 years to 11 years. Up to 4 children meet in a video conference and are looked after by online-proven Kids-Coaches. The coaches encourage the children to participate and are also the contact person for questions. The children can see each other and talk and interact with each other. The video conferences last 60 minutes and follow-up care of 30 or 60 minutes can be conveniently booked online.The video conferences are hosted on the Norwegian provider Whereby for data protection reasons because parents do not have to enter any personal data. In addition, the operation is very user-friendly and easy to understand.
We want to keep you updated on the current (25.05.2020) status of Corona rules in Berlin. Although there has been a significant loosening of the lock-down rules, many important rules are still in place to stop the spread of Covid 19.
Masks are required in all shops and supermarkets and on public transport at all times.
Social Distancing and keeping all contacts to a minimum are still in place, at the moment this will be reviewed on the 05.05.2020. You may meet with people from up to two households while keeping social distancing rules. Large gatherings are forbidden, this excludes demonstrations up to 100 people and church services up to 50 people. BBQs in the park is forbidden.
Clubs, Theatres and Cinemas are still closed. The only exception is drive-in Cinemas.
Sport is allowed in groups up to 8 people, social distancing must be adhered to at all times. Fitness/Yoga studios remain closed, this will be reviewed at the end of May, 2020.
IRC has launched a new and improved website, we invite you to come and read some more in-depth information about our work and our wonderful team!
Watch our new company clip and see what IRC Berlin is all about!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVHTB-oV63g&t=1
In June 2019 the Mietendeckel (Rent Control) Law came into force. We would like to provide you with a basic overview of the current situation and some links to further articles by local providers.
From when does it apply – The law will then be applied retroactively from June 18th, 2019, which means that any recent rental increases may be deemed as not valid.
Which apartments does it apply to – Apartments built before 2014. This does not apply to newly-built apartments that were ready to be occupied as of January 1, 2014 or social housing. Also not affected are living spaces which were previously uninhabitable or uninhabited – newly built attics, for example.
How should this be handled by tenants? – Tenants are being asked to comply with the law, check rent from June 2019 and then lower your payment – if there is an issue with the landlord, contact authorities. Estimated, one in six Berliner is eligible. It is, however, advisable to SAVE the extra rent money just in case this law is found to be illegal in the coming months and so that you stay on the safe side.
The major impact will be on new contracts, 9 out of 10 advertised flats will be offered at lower prices. Fines for landlords who do not comply can be up to half a million euros.
Hi there! I’m Juli, German roots but I grew up in New Zealand and have been living in Germany since 2004. I love sharing my passion for Berlin and all it has to offer with new ‚Berliners‘ and through my work as a freelance Relocation Consultant with IRC I have the opportunity to do so.
