With a housing entitlement certificate (WBS), you can apply for many subsidized apartments. A housing entitlement certificate is not only for people with very low incomes. Even those with middle incomes may be eligible – depending on their household. Here you can see examples to help you determine eligibility and then check the guidelines for your own household.
WBS
Take the WBS check!
Find out if you are eligible for a WBS (Welfare Benefits Certificate).
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What is a WBS?
A WBS (Wohnberechtigungsschein - housing entitlement certificate) is a certificate issued by the district office. It proves that your household is eligible to rent certain subsidized apartments. If the apartment listing states "WBS required," you will need a valid WBS to rent the apartment.
Please note: The WBS is not only for low-income households, but also for middle-income households, which can benefit and, for example, increase their chances of finding a new apartment with a WBS 220 .
Which WBS (housing entitlement certificate) is suitable for which income level?
“We earn €3,250 net and have found the perfect 2-room apartment with the WBS 220. ”
“I earn €1,500 net and my partner €2,000 net . With WBS 220 we found a suitable 3-room apartment .”
"I earn €1,200 net and my partner €2,300 net . With the WBS 220 we rented a great 4-room apartment ."
"I earn €1,550 net . With the WBS 160 I found a suitable apartment in Berlin."
"With a net income of €1,750, I quickly found a suitable apartment thanks to WBS 180. "
"There are three of us and together we earn €2,450 net . With the WBS 160 we found a suitable apartment."
Machen Sie den Check! Welcher WBS passt zu Ihnen?
Select how many people live in your household. You will then see guidelines indicating which WBS code (100, 140, 160, 180, 220) might be suitable.
Ein-Personen-Haushalt
Zwei-Personen-Haushalt
plus jede weitere Person
Ein-Personen-Haushalt
WBS 100
max. 1.000 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 140
max. 1.400 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 160
max. 1.600 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 180
max. 1.800 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 220
max. 2.200 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
Zwei-Personen-Haushalt
Mit jedem Kind steigt die Obergrenze:
WBS 100
max. 1.500 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 40 Euro
WBS 140
max. 2.100 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 60 Euro
WBS 160
max. 2.400 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 70 Euro
WBS 180
max. 2.700 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 75 Euro
WBS 220
max. 3.300 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 90 Euro
plus jede weitere Person
Mit jedem Kind steigt die Obergrenze:
WBS 100
+ ca. 340 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 40 Euro
WBS 140
+ ca. 480 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 60 Euro
WBS 160
+ ca. 545 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 70 Euro
WBS 180
+ ca. 615 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 75 Euro
WBS 220
+ ca. 750 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
+ ca. 90 Euro
Ein-Personen-Haushalt
WBS 100
max. 1.000 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 140
max. 1.400 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 160
max. 1.600 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 180
max. 1.800 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 220
max. 2.200 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
Zwei-Personen-Haushalt
WBS 100
max. 1.500 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 140
max. 2.100 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 160
max. 2.400 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 180
max. 2.700 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 220
max. 3.300 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
Mit jedem Kind steigt die Obergrenze:
WBS 100
+ ca. 40 Euro
WBS 140
+ ca. 60 Euro
WBS 160
+ ca. 70 Euro
WBS 180
+ ca. 75 Euro
WBS 220
+ ca. 90 Euro
plus jede weitere Person
WBS 100
+ ca. 340 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 140
+ ca. 480 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 160
+ ca. 545 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 180
+ ca. 615 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
WBS 220
+ ca. 750 Euro monatliches Netto-Einkommen
Mit jedem Kind steigt die Obergrenze:
WBS 100
+ ca. 40 Euro
WBS 140
+ ca. 60 Euro
WBS 160
+ ca. 70 Euro
WBS 180
+ ca. 75 Euro
WBS 220
+ ca. 90 Euro
Questions & Answers
A housing eligibility certificate (WBS) allows you to move into an apartment with affordable rent. These apartments are subsidized and can be used by people with low to moderate incomes. Here you can check whether you meet the requirements for social housing.
You can find out whether you are entitled to a WBS using the WBS calculator provided by the State of Berlin .
Typically, a WBS is valid for one year from the date of issue. If you rent a subsidized apartment during this period, it is valid for the duration of the tenancy.
You can apply for your WBS at your local housing office. More information about the WBS and how to apply can be found at: Berlin Rental Guide / State of Berlin .
Guidance for our apartment listings
It's impossible without a WBS (Wohnberechtigungsschein - housing entitlement certificate).
- Apartments requiring mandatory official WBS (housing entitlement certificate)
- They are suitable for low to middle-income households.
- In our apartment listings you will find the description "WBS required" with the addition "official WBS".
Where can I apply for a housing entitlement certificate?
You either need a WBS (Wohn-in-possession) or your income will be checked.
- An official WBS (housing entitlement certificate) is not always mandatory. Instead, an income verification may suffice (you provide proof of your income).
- They are also suitable for households with low to middle incomes - In the housing advertisements you will find the description “WBS required” with the addition “official WBS” or “income check 100 to 140” or “income check 141 to 220”.
Where can I have my income verified?
No WBS or income verification required
- No housing entitlement certificate (WBS) is required to rent these apartments. There is no income check.
- They are suitable for households with middle to high incomes.
- You can recognize them in our apartment advertisements by the description "without WBS".
Only apply for apartments that are suitable for you.