Internet is probably the easiest to setup, yet slowest to start. Expect a two month waiting time at the minimum in and around Wiesbaden at the moment. To counteract this, you should call your provider of choice as soon as you have a signed lease and setup a connection appointment. There will probably be a one time setup fee (between 50 – 100 €). On average, bills are 35 € per month around the country for mostly excellent speed (for example, we are getting 120mb down). Like the US, there are one or maybe two main providers responsible for the actual infrastructure, while a contracting company actually bills and maintains your connection for you.

In Wiesbaden, O2 and Unity Media are the most common and personally we’ve been happy with Unity Media. Sometimes, share buildings have only one provider and thus the choice is easy. The landlord will know who to contact to setup your contract.

Telephone and internet can be bundled in Germany like they can in the states. I have not personally had landline ever in my adult life, but some might prefer to keep one.

If you only need internet for a short time, look for Ohne Mindestvertragslaufzeit offers. These are short term contracts which can be more expensive to offset the short usage. Like other contracts though, they often require a 3 month notice of cancellation.

Sometimes, satellite or cable connections are part of Nebenkosten, but require their own contracts for service. If there isn’t a dish on the building, you must ask for permission to install one and I have heard landlords are hesitant to do this in Altbau. I also have never had satellite or cable in my adult life, instead relying on streaming services. If you have a Chromecast or another streaming stick, I’ve found an excellent German news source for you.

Standalone buildings are easier to have cable and satellite connections wired to if they are not already wired. Sometimes contracts are even kept in place tenant to tenant and only require a change of name and bank account.

You should also be aware of the Rundfunkbeitrag, otherwise known as the “TV Tax,” which every household is liable for, not person. If two people are on the lease, it’s possible you will get two letters stating you are each responsible for the cost. If that happens, use this form to deregister from the list and note you are looking for Abmeldung when you fill it out. If you are registering a residence in your name for the first time, use this form. If you move, use this form. More general questions and overview (in English!) are here.

Setting up electricity is probably the only utility you need to worry about in a shared building. Even if you forget to do this, there will still be power at your place when you move in and even if you forget for a few weeks afterwards, you should still have power but you’ll probably get a letter (or your landlord will get a letter) reminding you to set up your account. If you receive this letter and then set up your account, you will receive a bill for what you’ve consumed from the move in date (or the contract date, whichever comes first). The bill is then adjusted to be the same amount each month for 12 months (or the duration of the contract) and will come out of your bank account automatically.

In Wiesbaden, the most common supplier is ESWE Versorgungs so they will probably be the default supplier, even if the previous tenant had a contract with a different company. There are hundreds of energy suppliers in Germany, usually regional, and the price differences are probably minimal at best. The tricky parts revolve around contract duration. Mostly they run for a year at a time, which means if you renew and then a month later let them know you want to move out, you may have already tied yourself to another 12 months with them you can’t get out of. In the end, ESWE may be your only choice in Wiesbaden and other cities would have similar default, only one choice supplier.

Contact ESWE here.

Water is not a utility you need to worry about when renting. It is almost always 100% included in the Nebenkosten which means like electricity, this is a fixed cost month to month which is adjusted at the end of your lease year. If you owe more than consumed, or vice versa, your landlord will send you an invoice with the amount owed / due shortly after the lease year ends, sometimes up to two months depending on the municipal provider. Wastewater or sewage is bundled up in this cost.

Since Nebenkosten is considered part of the total rent price, you will most likely not see a separate transaction in your bank account every month for this service.

If you pay more than what you actually consumed at the end of your contract year, you will receive an invoice showing what they owe you and the company will transfer this to your bank account. The same process works in reverse, if you consume more than you pay for. You can also ask for an estimate based on what the previous tenant used before you sign the contract, and a lot of companies have calculators on their sites for your use.

Trash should be treated the same as water costs. The landlord is responsible for the upkeep and replacement of the bins, the Hausmeister is in charge of setting the bins out (part of Nebenkosten).

In addition, if you are responsible for putting out your trash, use this schedule for Wiesbaden trash pickups.

Recycling, you may have heard, is kind of a big deal in Germany. Don’t screw it up.