Social housing eligibility certificate (WBS)

You can apply for a social housing eligibility certificate in the town, city or local authority in which you are looking for social housing, already live or would like to live. You can find the application forms on the website of your local town, city or local authority. You can apply for a social housing eligibility certificate in person, in writing or online.

The requirements and income limits for a WBS vary depending on the federal state, city and municipality.

Example North Rhine-Westphalia:

• You have a low household income
• You are looking for a subsidized apartment for a longer period of time
• You are at least 16 years old (in some federal states 18 years old applies)
• You are a German citizen
• You are a citizen of a member state of the European Union (EU)
• You are a citizen of a country outside the EU and have a residence permit that is valid for at least 1 year
• You want to set up your own household

Whether you are entitled to a social housing eligibility certificate depends on the sum total of the annual income of all people who are to live in the apartment or house.

The following income thresholds (usually gross income less certain fixed-rate allowances) can be taken as a rough guide:

• EUR 12,000 per year for a single-person household
• EUR 18,000 per year for a two-person household
• an additional EUR 4,100 for each additional member of the household
• an additional EUR 500 for each child

Important: Federal states and local authorities have defined different maximum income thresholds, which is why it is important that you enquire with your local authority about the income thresholds that apply to social housing eligibility certificates in your area.

Example of maximum income thresholds in North Rhine-Westphalia (your gross income less certain fixed-rate allowances):

• EUR 20,420 per year for a single-person household
• EUR 24,600 per year for a two-person household
• an additional EUR 5,660 for each additional member of the household
• an additional EUR 740 for each child

Social housing eligibility certificates for income groups A and B

There are two different income groups for social housing eligibility certificates: group A and group B.

The difference:

Social housing eligibility certificates for income group A – this social housing eligibility certificate is based on defined maximum income thresholds.

Social housing eligibility certificates for income group B – If your income is up to 40% above the maximum income threshold that applies to social housing eligibility certificates for income group A, you may be still entitled to a social housing eligibility certificate for income group B.

Social housing eligibility certificates for income group B are only issued for certain eligible social housing. You can find out which housing is eligible from the landlord.

Social housing eligible for income group B social housing eligibility certificates is not administered by the housing office, which means that you will have to contact landlords directly. Housing authorities can also submit proposals for a certain social housing eligibility certificate household to landlords, exercising their right to select and nominate tenants.

The maximum income thresholds are based on the annual income in your household.

This includes:

• salaries
• unemployment benefit
• maintenance payments / maintenance advances
• pensions
• Minijob income

This does not include:

• child benefit
• housing benefit
• health insurance, care insurance or statutory accident insurance benefit

The social housing eligibility certificate is based on both household size as well as income. The more people that would like to live in an eligible apartment or house and the more rooms that are required, the larger the apartment or house can be.

The following rule of thumb applies (number of bedrooms or size in square metres):

One-room apartment: 47 m² – 55 m²

One bedroom: 62 m² – 70 m²

Two bedrooms: 77 m² – 87 m²

Three bedrooms: 92 m² – 102 m²

Four bedrooms: 107 m² – 117 m²

Each additional bedroom +15 m²

• Your social housing eligibility certificate is valid for a period of one year from the date on which it is issued. If you rent an eligible apartment or house in this period, the period of validity is the same as the duration of the rental agreement.
• If you do not find an eligible apartment or house within a period of one year, you can apply for a new social housing eligibility certificate. The old social housing eligibility certificate will no longer be valid and can no longer be used for an eligible apartment or house.
• If you would like to move into a new eligible apartment or house, you will need to apply for a new social housing eligibility certificate.

Yes, you can. The social housing eligibility certificate and housing benefit are two separate services. In fact, if you already receive housing benefit, it is actually extremely likely that your income is low enough to grant you an entitlement to a social housing eligibility certificate. Find out more on the subject of housing benefit here.

You do not need to move out if your household income improves. However, in other federal statements, other regulations apply to a possible compensation payment.

No. Searching for a suitable apartment or house and applying as a tenant is your responsibility.  The landlord can conclude a rental agreement with you.

Apartments and houses for which a social housing eligibility certificate is required can be found on local or regional websites or in classified advertisements in local newspapers. In most cases they will include “WBS erforderlich” (social housing eligibility certificate required) or simply “WBS”.