Finding an apartment with an affordable rent isn’t all that easy in Germany. In fact, in many large cities it has become extremely difficult. Especially if you don’t speak German and aren’t familiar with the “rules” that govern how to submit applications and attend viewings. The search process has become even more tricky by amendments made to the German Real Estate Agents Act (also known as the “Orderer Principle”) in 2015. Since this change in the law was introduced, the person who commissioned the agent must pay the agent – and that is usually the landlord. This brings financial relief for the tenant – who in the past would usually have had to pay two months’ rent plus VAT to an agent if the landlord had hired one. But unfortunately, this change in the law hasn’t just brought positive repercussions with it.