Common Abbreviations

This list covers most (but not all) of the abbreviations you might see while looking for a place to live. Feel free to refer to this guide if you are not sure what something means.

AB                           Altbau                              an old building

Bj.                            Baujahr                            year of construction

DG                           Dachgeschoss                top floor

EBK                         Einbauküche                 built-in kitchen

EG                           Erdgeschoss                   ground floor

KM                           Kaltmiete                         not including utilities

KT                           Kaution                            deposit

NB                           Neubau                           new building

NK                           Nebenkosten                   utility costs

NR                          Nichtraucher                     non-smoker

OG                      Obergeschoss                 upper floor

inkl.                          Inklusive                          inclusive

v-möb                      Vollmöbliert                     fully furnished

WC                          Toilette                            toilet

WBS                        Wohnberechtigungsschein (see below)

WG                          Wohngemeinschaft         apartment sharing

WM                          Warmmiete                      including heating and water

A Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS) is given to people with low income and some apartment listings will say WBS only – this is because there is usually some additional funding paid towards housing for people with WBS status and the apartment is offered for that specifically. For more information on WBS and whether you can apply, please see (in German only): https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120671/  or check the estimator here: https://ssl.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/wohnen/wbs/wbsformular.shtml