Smartments Review: Furnished Apartments in Germany with Anmeldung
This page takes an in-depth look at Smartments, a short-term accommodation provider in Germany offering high-quality apartments with Anmeldung. Below, we will cover what Smartments offer and assess why they may be the perfect accommodation choice for newcomers to Germany.
Once you have decided to move to Germany, you will quickly be confronted with a lengthy to-do list in order to make the move a success. From visas and insurance to banking and jobs, there is a lot to figure out. But more often than not, the number one anxiety for newcomers to Germany is finding suitable housing. After all, arriving in a new country without a secure roof over your head can be scary!
Thankfully, there is a great solution for newcomers to Germany in the form of Smartments. Smartments offer high-quality serviced apartments across Germany that are beautifully designed yet affordable, can be quickly booked online and offer the all-important address registration (Anmeldung). Put simply, Smartments apartments are the perfect first home from which to launch your life in Germany.
Where are the Smartments apartments located in Germany?
Smartments are continually increasing the number of locations they operate across Germany. Currently, they offer studios and apartments in:
Click on the links above to explore the apartments offered by Smartments in their different locations.
What is included in a Smartments apartment?
All Smartments apartments are fully self-contained with their own kitchenettes and private bathrooms. The apartments are also furnished and serviced. This is ideal for newcomers as you not only get your own place to call home but it also saves you from having to lug bedding, crockery and cooking utensils to Germany.
While the room inclusions may vary slightly between locations, Smartments apartments generally include the following furnishings as standard:
High-speed WiFi
Double bed and bedding (sheets, duvet, pillows, etc.)
Flatscreen TV
Armchair or sofa
Shower and towels
Shower gel and shampoo
Hairdryer
Cooking appliances (stove/hob, microwave, toaster)
Fridge
Dishwasher
Kitchen utensils (pots, pans, etc.)
Nespresso machine and kettle
Dining table
Clothes hangers
As detailed above, the Smartments apartments are fully furnished. In addition to this, you will also find a range of services and equipment within the apartment buildings. This includes:
A staffed front desk
Personal letterboxes
Vending machines
Cleaning supplies
Washing machine
Dryer
Drying rack
Iron and ironing boards
Benefits of booking a serviced apartment with Smartments
As well as being beautifully designed and furnished, there is a wide number of additional benefits to booking a serviced apartment with Smartments:
1️⃣ You can complete your Anmeldung at Smartments
One of the absolute key benefits of booking an apartment with Smartments is that you can register at the accommodation, a process that is known as Anmeldung in Germany.
Anmeldung is the cornerstone to any successful relocation to Germany and is required in order to:
Obtain a German tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer).
Apply for a visa at an immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany.
Open certain German bank accounts, take out an internet contract, sign up for a gym, etc.
In order that you have sufficient time to complete your Anmeldung at Smartments, we recommend that you book an apartment for at least 30 nights.
For detailed info on how to complete your Anmeldung in Germany, see our German Anmeldung Guide.
❗ Hotels, hostels and Airbnbs do not permit Anmeldung in Germany. This can bring your relocation to an abrupt standstill. To avoid this issue, book a Smartments apartment for a quick and easy Anmeldung, which helps lay the foundation for a successful move to Germany.
2️⃣ You can quickly book a Smartments apartment online, without lengthy application paperwork
Booking an apartment with Smartments is as easy as booking a hotel. Just select your dates, pick your apartment type, enter your personal details, and reserve your apartment. You will then receive a payment link to pay for the apartment roughly 2 weeks before your check-in date.
When booking, you do not need to provide an employment contract, payslips or SCHUFA credit rating. This makes booking Smartments a whole lot simpler than with other accommodation providers, who often request an extensive array of application documents.
3️⃣ The Smartments apartments are serviced
With a Smartments apartment, you get a range of services including:
Weekly apartment cleaning.
A staffed front desk is on hand during weekdays to assist you throughout your stay.
A 24/7 self-check-in terminal.
24/7 in-house laundry facilities.
Private mailbox
High-speed WiFi
These services ensure that you have everything you need for a comfortable and secure start to life in Germany.
4️⃣ Location, location, location
One key selling point of Smartments apartments is their locations. As a company, they opt only for city-centre locations or locations that offer great transport connections to the city. Put simply, their locations are a great base from which to explore your new home city.
5️⃣ Smartments apartments buy you time to find long-term, permanent accommodation in Germany
It is almost impossible to secure long-term accommodation in Germany from overseas. By initially opting for short-term accommodation with Smartments (which can be booked for up to 6 months), this will ensure you have plenty of time to search for a long-term, permanent home in Germany.
How much does Smartments cost?
Now that we have looked at the main benefits of booking a Smartments apartment, it is important to review the cost of staying at their accommodation.
When it comes to pricing, this varies depending on whether you are opting for a short stay (2–6 nights), a medium stay (7 nights to 28 nights) or a long stay (29 nights to 180 nights). The nightly rate for the accommodation also varies based on the time of year, how far in advance you book and the location, but you can expect to pay roughly the following rates for a standard studio apartment:
Short stay: Approximately €90 – €100 per night.
Medium stay: Approximately €65 – €80 per night.
Long stay: Approximately €45 – €60 per night.
While not as cheap as a regular long-term lease, Smartments is considerably more affordable than most hotels and private Airbnbs. It is therefore a good short-term option for starting out in Germany while searching for permanent accommodation.
❗ An added bonus is that Smartments either request a very small security deposit or no security deposit at all when staying at one of their locations. With many accommodation providers requesting a security deposit equal to 2 months’ rent, opting for Smartments ensures that you do not have a large deposit tied up until the end of your stay.
What do people think of Smartments?
We have been recommending Smartments to newcomers to Germany for the last 5 years. One of the biggest challenges faced by newcomers to Germany is finding accommodation that allows Anmeldung – just by offering this, Smartments is something of a hidden gem and helps smoothen the relocation process for 1000s of expats a year.
When you combine this with the fact that the accommodation is high-quality, includes everything you need for your first few months in Germany, is easy to book and affordable, we are hard-pressed to think of a better accommodation option when first moving to Germany. When we have visited different Smartments locations over the years, we have always been impressed by the professionalism of the staff, the cleanliness of the accommodation and the atmosphere of the accommodation buildings.
But do not just take our word for it – as of 15.11.2022, Smartments had the following Google ratings at its different locations:
Berlin Prenzlauer Berg – 4.4 out of 5
Berlin Karlshorst – 4.2 out of 5
Berlin City West – 4.5 out of 5
Munich – 4 out of 5
Hamburg – 4.5 out of 5
Mannheim – 3.7 out of 5
As you can see, Smartments are well-reviewed by its guests across all locations, which helps give some added assurance that this may be the accommodation option for you when moving to Germany.
All in all, Smartments is a fantastic accommodation option for newcomers to Germany. It serves as the perfect launchpad to life in Germany, giving you a comfortable and secure place to call home, an address to register and plenty of time to then find your long-term permanent apartment.
For further tips on finding accommodation in Germany and registering at an address, see our German Apartment Hunting Guide and Anmeldung Guide.