Michael Müller, our "average German," is moving. What challenges will he face and what are the typical rituals Germans follow when changing apartments?
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00:00Michel and Müller, an average German, and his partner Julia are taking things to the
00:07next level. They're moving in together. So how big is their apartment? Which housewarming
00:12gifts are they going to receive? And how many German bureaucratic hoops are they going to
00:15have to jump through before they settle in? Let's find out.
00:21Like 38% of Germans, Michel and Julia are moving house in order to improve their living
00:26space. But like 61% of Germans, Michel is clearly stressed by the move.
00:33Michel's niece, Clara, is helping with the move. It's common in Germany for friends
00:38and family to help you move, particularly in exchange for pizza.
00:4352% of Germans live in rented accommodation, which is actually the highest in the European
00:56Union. For context, 37% of the French live in rented accommodation while only 4% of Romanians.
01:04Friends in Germany tend to enjoy strong legal protections.
01:18As average Germans, Michel and Julia's apartment is the average size for two people, which
01:23is 102 square meters big, or 1,098 feet if you're lucky enough to still be using the
01:29imperial system.
01:32Which is comparatively spacious by European standards.
01:41It may surprise you to know that it's normal in German rental properties for there to be
01:57no kitchen, which means there's often just a single tap that you have to build around.
02:08German bureaucracy is notoriously dense, and changing addresses is no mean feat.
02:22At the minimum, you'll have to organise new contracts with internet and electricity providers
02:27to pay your mandatory TV and radio licensing fee, and register your new address at your
02:32local citizen's office, the Bürgeramt.
02:41You have to do this within 14 days of moving in, which is why it's very convenient that
02:46in some cities it's difficult to get an appointment.
02:49Michel's tried and tested strategy is to check the website every Tuesday and Thursday
02:54at 5.57am and feverishly refresh the page, but it's tiring work.
03:00Finally he gets an appointment, although in some states you can now register your address
03:04online, but let's not ruin this moment for him.
03:24More than half of Germans use moving house as an excuse to redecorate and renovate.
03:37But it doesn't mean they're very good at it.
03:48It may surprise you that in a nation of data privacy lovers, Germans have their surnames
03:53on their doorbells.
04:00Clara is bringing bread and salt, a traditional housewarming gift.
04:13It symbolises warmth, prosperity and sustenance.
04:25So how is moving house in Germany compared to where you're from?
04:29What do you give as a housewarming gift?
04:30As always, like and subscribe for more Average German.