Housing

The Studierendenwerk Paderborn provides housing for 1,602 students on and near the campus of the University of Paderborn.

The residence hall Unionstraße in Lippstadt offers 98 students housing close to the campus of the HSHL and downtown. The train station is in walking distance. Because of the ideal location of the residence hall, students can spend less time commuting and more time studying.

The residence hall Lofts im Zentrum in Hamm offers 99 spacious accommodations ideally located downtown.

Those interested can fill out our online housing application.

Students can live up to six semesters in our residential communities. During this time, students can become more involved in university life, develop friendships, participate in cultural activities and improve their language skills, if needed.

One of the key concepts of the residential communities is the development of social skills. Our competent staff, at the housing office, carefully selects roommates to promote a better mix of undergraduate and graduate students and also to encourage cultural integration, which leads to the internationalization of the university.

The rent includes all utilities.

Students should only have to focus on their studies so let the Studierendenwerk take care of the rest.

We try to meet individual needs by offering various types of accommodations. Students can directly apply for a desired room type.

Exchange students

Each semester, the Studierendenwerk allots around 100 rooms for exchange students to the International. In this way, additional accommodation is available for the exchange students.

Studierendenwerk Paderborn FAQ

1. You are looking for a place to live / you have already applied / you have received an offer and want to move in

Who can live in the student residences of the Studierendenwerk Paderborn?

All students enrolled at Paderborn University, Katholische Hochschule Paderborn and Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt are eligible to live there. Proof of eligibility must be provided (after your enrolment) with a certificate of enrolment.

How can I apply for a place in the student residences?

To apply for a place in student residences, you must fill out the online application. You will then receive an email with a confirmation link.

https://www.studierendenwerk-pb.de/wohnen/weiteres/wohnplatzantrag/

You will receive an email from us every 60 days or so in which you must confirm your interest in a place in a student dorm. If this does not happen, your application will be automatically deactivated.

As soon as we are able to offer you a place in student residences that meets your requirements, we will inform you by email. Then at latest you must also submit your letter of admission or a certificate of enrolment to us. First-semester students who do not yet have a certificate of enrolment to conclude a contract can submit it later.

How long do I have to wait for a place in student residences?

Unfortunately, we cannot provide all applicants with a place. Long waiting times are therefore not uncommon. You should expect a waiting time of approx. 1 - 2 semesters.

Especially in the winter semester, it is advisable to apply as early as possible. At this time, the demand for our halls of residence is usually higher than the number of free places due to the high number of first-year students.

What criteria are used to allocate places in residential communities?

We allocate our rooms and flats that become available at the beginning of a semester according to the applicant list (i.e. receipt of the application). If places are still available or become available at the start of the semester, they will be allocated outside the waiting list according to need. Applicants with proven physical disabilities will be prioritised, please contact our staff directly.

2. Offer, contract etc.

I have received an offer, what happens next?

If you have received an offer, you can accept it. Fill in the acceptance form and send it to us as a scan. If you have a German address, we will send you the contract documents for signature. Please note the return deadlines. If you are staying abroad, we will request the first rent and deposit from you. If you pay within the set deadline, you will receive the contract documents as a PDF file. Fill in all the documents and sign them. Then send the documents back to us as a scan. Your accommodation is then safe for you. As soon as you have arrived in Germany, you will have to come to the housing administration and sign the original contract again.

All first-time tenants receive a contract for 6 semesters. The contract can be extended by up to 2 semesters. You will be informed in good time about the possibility of an extension.

If you do not respond to an offer, your application will be cancelled. You can also decline an offer and ask to remain on the waiting list or contact the administration department if you have any questions.

After you have rejected two offers, your application will be deactivated. You will then not receive any further offers.

I have signed the contract and have already paid, but I am not starting my studies in Paderborn, Hamm or Lippstadt or cannot enter the country. What can I do?

We need proof that you cannot study at the locations or enter Germany (cancellation by the university or college, rejection of your visa). You must then give written notice of cancellation to the end of the following month and give reasons for the cancellation as above. We will then try to re-let your accommodation quickly. However, you will have to pay the rent for any vacancy.

Where and when do I get my room keys / How does the handover take place?

The keys are handed over by the caretaker (Hausmeister) of your student residence. You will receive a flyer with the caretaker's contact details with your signed tenancy agreement. Please arrange a move-in date directly with the caretaker 1-2 weeks before the start of the tenancy agreement. Move-ins are only possible on the first working day of the month. If the first day of the tenancy agreement falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, you can only move in on the next following working day.

A protocol will be drawn up at the handover. Take a close look at the room or flat and have any defects noted in the report. This is important for when you move out later. We assume that any defects that are noted when you move out and were not noted when you moved in were caused by you. The costs of remove the defects will then be deducted from your deposit or charged to you.

Pets are generally not permitted in our residential complexes.

3. You already live in one of our residential complexes / you have questions about your tenancy, your flat or residential complex

Something is broken or not working in my flat, what do I do?

If you notice a defect or fault in your flat (e.g. cooker not working, a drain is blocked, etc.), please inform the caretaker of the student residences immediately. The caretaker's contact details and office hours can be found on our homepage. Please do not attempt to carry out repairs yourself, e.g. unscrewing drains. If you do carry out a repair yourself, e.g. at the weekend, please make sure you have the caretaker check your work. This will not cost you anything, but subsequent damage may result in costs that we may have to charge you for. Please always have repairs carried out by the caretaker.

I have problems with my flatmates in my shared flat / I feel disturbed by the neighbours. Who do I speak to?

If there are problems in your shared flat or with neighbours (cleaning schedule is not being adhered to, neighbours are noisy at night, etc.), then we recommend that you speak directly to your flatmates or neighbours first. The other person is often unaware of their disruptive behaviour. If the problems cannot be solved together, then speak to the person responsible for your residential complex in the housing administration. Write an email explaining the situation. We will then try to mediate.

I have received a payment reminder or invoice / I have financial problems and cannot pay my rent. What can I do? What are the consequences?

We usually collect the monthly rent from your German or European bank account (if the bank participates in the SEPA scheme). If your bank account is not covered, the amount will be reversed by the bank. The rent is then unpaid and we will send you a payment reminder. If you are two rents in debts, we are entitled to terminate the tenancy without notice.

So if you have financial problems and are unable to pay, please contact us. Our social services department can try to help you. Talking about financial problems helps more than letting things slide.

Please remember, non-payment of rent can lead to the loss of your accommodation.

If you have caused costs during the tenancy (e.g. locking service, replacement keys, repair of damage caused by you), you will receive an invoice. Please pay this on time. If you wish to pay in instalments, please contact the relevant clerk in our department.

I have to submit my certificate of enrolment regularly in the winter semester. What happens if I don't do this?

Please scan your current certificate of enrolment at the beginning of each winter semester and send it to the housing administration department responsible for your student residence.

If you do not do this by the end of October each year, we will send you a reminder and later terminate your tenancy, as we will then assume that you are no longer enrolled and therefore no longer eligible to live in our student residences.

I am leaving Paderborn for a semester abroad or an internship. I would like to sublet my flat. How can I do that?

Subletting is only possible in connection with a semester abroad and a study-related internship outside Paderborn. Subletting is subject to authorisation. If you are planning to sublet, please contact the residence administration team in time.

I would like to terminate the tenancy and give notice. What do I have to bear in mind?

The tenancy must always be terminated in writing with a handwritten signature. You can always cancel to the end of a semester with three months' notice. If you submit a certificate of exmatriculation, you can cancel to the end of the following month.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Housing Administration team.

4. Your move-out date is coming up soon or you have already moved out of your flat

My tenancy agreement ends and I have to move out. What do I have to do?

The flat must be returned on the last day of the tenancy at the latest. If the last day of the tenancy falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday, the flat must be returned on the last working day. The handover date must be appointed with the caretaker of the student residences two weeks in advance. The tenant must leave the flat swept clean. Defects are recorded in a move-out protocol (damage to the walls requiring painting work, damage to the furniture, soiled mattress, etc.). All documented damage will be repaired by the Studierendenwerk at the tenant's expense.

The caretaker cannot quantify the costs in the handover, we ask for your understanding.

When will I get my deposit back? What costs will be retained?

The costs of the contractually agreed final cleaning will be deducted from the deposit in any case. The costs for any painting work and repairs will also be deducted from the deposit. If the costs are higher than the deposit, you will receive an invoice and must pay the difference between the billed amount and the deposit. It can take up to 2 months after your moving out to process the move-out report. You will receive a deposit statement or invoice by email.

Do you have any questions on other topics or further questions on the topics mentioned here?

If so, please contact the student residence administration.