High housing costs make shared apartments attractive for trainees and students. But who should sign the lease? And what happens if someone moves out? The Bremen Chamber of Employees has compiled valuable tips.
Affordable housing is scarce
For most trainees today, having their own apartment is hardly affordable. A 2025 survey by the Chamber of Employees confirms this: over 70 percent of trainees living alone have to spend almost half their income on housing costs. Sharing an apartment can reduce the monthly burden: rent, electricity, internet, and other household expenses are divided among several people. Often, it's even possible to afford a larger or better-located apartment together.
Various contract options
However, to prevent the new shared apartment from becoming a legal or financial dispute, it's crucial to clarify who assumes which rights and obligations before signing the lease. The most important factor is choosing the right lease agreement model
- Everyone signs the lease.
If all flatmates are listed as main tenants in the lease, they generally have the same rights and obligations. This also means that each person can be held responsible for the entire rent, not just their own share, if another flatmate fails to pay. Termination of the lease is also usually only possible jointly. Moving out of the flat does not automatically remove someone from the lease. This requires the consent of all parties. Therefore, a clause explicitly allowing individual flatmates to move out is advisable. - One person is the main tenant.
This person signs the lease for the entire apartment and sublets individual rooms. They bear full responsibility to the landlord – for example, for rent payments and for any damage to the apartment. Written permission should be obtained before subletting. A separate written sublease agreement should also be drawn up with each roommate. This agreement should specify, among other things, the amount of rent, utilities, the security deposit, the use of common areas, and the notice period. Subtenants should bear in mind: If the main lease ends, their right to remain in the apartment may also be revoked. - Separate contracts for individual rooms:
If the owner rents out each room individually, each member of the shared apartment signs their own contract. In this case, each person is normally only liable for their own rent. However, the landlord usually decides who moves into a vacant room. This gives the shared apartment less influence over its composition.
Look carefully before signing. It is important to read the entire contract and clarify any open questions beforehand, such as: Who is named as the tenant in the contract, what are the basic rent and additional costs – and is a graduated or indexed rent agreed upon?
Further information: Setting up a shared apartment | Bremen Chamber of Employees
Good to know: Trainees working in Bremen or Bremerhaven can get legal advice on employment law from the Bremen Chamber of Employees. This also applies to students if they have a part-time job. We answer questions about housing/rent as part of our public legal advice service. Just give us a call: Telephone advice in the city of Bremen at 0421 36301-11 and in Bremerhaven at 0471 92235-1.
Source: WG-Gründung | Bremen Chamber of Employees, 07/2026
