A free privilege unknown to exactly those entitled to it: students, young families, pensioners, low-wage workers. The check costs an evening; the savings run to hundreds a month.
WBS: Who Qualifies for Subsidised Housing
The housing eligibility certificate opens flats 30–50 percent below market. Income limits are higher than people think: in Berlin almost half the city qualifies.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Wohnungsamt / Amt für Wohnen
Municipal authorityHousing benefit (Wohngeldstelle) and the WBS housing permit both go through your town's Amt für Wohnen.
Where to go in your city →
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I applied with a salary obviously above the limit — after allowances and two child deductions I passed easily. Calculate, do not guess.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Berlin and Hamburg set state limits well above the federal ones. Read YOUR state table — the federal number scares people off for nothing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is income counted at application or from last year? ▾
A 12-month forecast from the application: a recent job change or parental leave counts. Old one-off bonuses are not a verdict.
Do students with a scholarship get a WBS? ▾
Yes, students are classic recipients: scholarships and BAföG are almost always below the limit. Only university dorms do not require a WBS.
I hold a residence permit — can I get a WBS? ▾
Yes: you need a permit valid for at least 11 more months and permanent residence in Germany. Citizenship is not required.
Slightly over the limit — hopeless? ▾
Calculate precisely: gross income shrinks by lump deductions (10 percent and more), contributions and child allowances. Several states also offer WBS with permitted excess of 5–60 percent — ask the housing office.