The homesharing program ("Wohnen für Hilfe") - An offer aimed at people who have free living space (e.g. a room) in their apartment or house and would like to make it available to students in return for help (e.g. mowing the lawn, company, childcare).
This is how it works: As a rule, the person taking the living space provides the person giving the living space with 1 hour of help per month for 1 square meter of personal living space provided (care services are excluded). The living conditions, rules of cohabitation and individual modalities are set out in a contract between the living partners. The Studentenwerk Potsdam advises interested parties and arranges the housing partnerships.
Are you interested in the project and do you have a room or apartment available? Then apply to us. We will also be happy to advise you by phone or e-mail on any further questions you may have.
Note: Students who apply for a housing partnership through "Wohnen für Hilfe" please note that only applications via the application form can be considered.
Furthermore, experience shows that a short introduction video (name, interest, possible assistance, etc.) facilitates the placement enormously. However, submitting such a video is optional. If you decide to do so, please note that you may have to provide the video via a cloud service if it exceeds a size of 10 MB. Furthermore, we require a completed declaration of consent for the use of photo and film (see attachment to the application form).
You can contact our clerks responsible for the Homesharing program by e-mail at wohnen-fuer-hilfe[at]stwwb.de or by post at the address of Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg.
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Apartment on the 1st floor in Falkensee for low-threshold help in the house and garden: We are looking for a tenant (f) for an unfurnished single room (17m2) in a shared flat for 2 people (approx. 70m2). The apartment has a total of 3 rooms; one is available for communal use. Washing machine & kitchen are available. The warm rent is 425 EUR. German language skills are not necessary. Assistance approx. 5h/month. Further information on request.
Garden house in Borkheide for household help (available immediately): We are looking for a tenant (m/f/d) for a 27m2 apartment with two rooms (shower, WC, kitchenette). Use of garden possible. Assistance approx. 4-5h/week. Knowledge of German desired (+ English, Chinese, Russian). About 200 EUR additional costs. A 2-week free trial stay is offered, after which the parties involved decide to conclude a contract. Further information on request.
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A prerequisite for participation in the homehsaring program is the enrolment at a university in Brandenburg, Wildau or Potsdam or affiliation with an institution affiliated with these. Furthermore, as an applicant you should be helpful and socially committed and be able to imagine helping the person providing the accommodation in the sense of social interaction (e.g. with shopping, childcare and homework supervision, gardening, looking after pets or small repairs).
1. Application for the homesharing program
You provide us with important information for the placement process, requirements for the accommodation and possible support services via the application form for housing recipients. Please send the completed and signed document to the Studierendenwerk. You are welcome to refer to any open adverts you are interested in when contacting us. If you need help filling in the form, you can contact us during office hours. You can also contact us by telephone on 0331 3706506 or by e-mail at wohnen-fuer-hilfe[at]stwwb.de.
2. Checking the application documents
Our processing department will confirm receipt of your documents and check that they are complete. If you have not already referred to an advert that appeals to you, we will forward you offers that could match your search profile.
3. Forwarding relevant application data
The data you release in the application document will be forwarded to the person providing the accommodation. If the accommodation provider is interested in your profile, you will be informed of this - usually by the accommodation provider themselves.
Please note that the Studierendenwerk has no direct influence on how quickly you are contacted by the person providing the accommodation!
4. Getting to know each other
Once you have received positive feedback, we recommend that you meet the person providing the accommodation in person to discuss your expectations and wishes as well as the next steps. If desired, the programme coordinator, Mr Schwinge, can also attend such an initial meeting.
5. Conclusion of contract & start of the housing partnership
If you have reached an agreement as future housing partners and can imagine living together, we recommend drawing up a tenancy agreement in which all the modalities discussed are set out. The Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg can provide a sample contract on request. There are a few points to bear in mind when regulating the assistance services.
6.Support from Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg
We are also available after the start of the housing partnership in the event of a conflict, if this cannot be resolved by the housing partners themselves.
The "Wohnen für Hilfe" concept provides for the basic rent to be reduced or even completely cancelled by the assistance provided by the students. The ancillary costs are covered pro rata by the person taking up the accommodation. The exact composition of the housing costs should be determined together with the person providing the accommodation before the contract is signed. Initial cost estimates can be found in the room offers at the top of this page.
There are no fees for the placement service provided by Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg. Application and participation in "Wohnen für Hilfe" is free of charge for those providing and receiving accommodation.
Important: The following information is for explanatory purposes only and cannot replace a legal examination in individual cases!
The concept of "Wohnen für Hilfe" does not provide for any further costs, such as taxes, to be incurred by students once a housing partnership has been established. The only exception to this is taking out liability insurance, which we recommend if you do not already have such insurance.
With regard to the provision of assistance, we recommend that the housing partners consider the housing partnership relationship in the sense of a social housing community and organise it as such. This means that the students, as tenants, help in the household, in the garden etc. on a voluntary basis in the spirit of social interaction, even if there is no legal entitlement on the part of the landlord to carry out a specific activity. A rough guideline for the quantity of help is the rule of thumb: 1 m² = 1 hour of help/month.
However, since Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg is not a contractual partner, the housing partners are free to make other agreements at their own discretion. For the correct handling of the individual case, we therefore recommend seeking expert advice in case of doubt. Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg cannot provide legal advice.
In any case, please take note of this information on the legal categorisation of "Wohnen für Hilfe"!
The prerequisite for participation in the homesharing programme is the offer of a separate and lockable room (or flat) with a minimum size of 9 m² at a reasonable price or rent-free. In addition, cooking and washing facilities as well as a toilet must be available or made available for use by the student. Furthermore, as an applicant you should be interested in multi-generational living and be able to imagine sharing your home with a student on a long-term basis as part of a social co-operation.
Applicants who live in rented accommodation themselves should note that subletting accommodation is subject to authorisation. Landlords cannot refuse to allow another person to move in if they have a legitimate interest. You should therefore clarify in advance with the landlord whether a flat-sharing partnership is possible.
1. Application for the "Housing for Help" programme
The application form for housing providers provides us or the students with important information for the preparation of the offer, requirements and possible support services. Please send the completed and signed document to the Studierendenwerk. We will also be happy to send you the application form by post. If you need help filling in the form, you can contact us during office hours. A home visit by our programme coordinator is also possible. You can reach us by telephone on 0331 3706506 or by e-mail at wohnen-fuer-hilfe[at]stwwb.de.
2. Review of application documents & home visit
Our programme coordinator will confirm receipt of your documents and check that they are complete. We will then contact you and - if we have not already done so - arrange a home visit to check the suitability of the accommodation on offer and clarify any unanswered questions.
3. Offer preparation & forwarding
We will add your application form to our database and post your offer anonymously on our website - we will not pass on your personal data (name, address, contact details) without your consent! As soon as someone is interested in your offer, we will forward you information about the interested person. You can decide whether the person is suitable for a housing partnership with you.
4. Get to know
If you would like to get to know the interested party, we will forward the contact details on both sides. You can then get to know each other personally. If you wish, the responsible employee of Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg can also be present at this meeting. This offer is voluntary.
5. Conclusion of contract & start of the housing partnership
If you have reached an agreement as future housing partners and can imagine living together, we recommend that you draw up a tenancy agreement in which all the modalities discussed are set out. The Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg can provide a sample contract on request. There are a few points to bear in mind when regulating the assistance services.
Please note: The role of Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg is limited to counselling and mediation - we are not a contractual partner!
6. Support from Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg
We are also available after the start of the housing partnership in the event of a conflict, if this cannot be resolved by the housing partners themselves.
The concept of the homeshraing program provides for the basic rent to be reduced or even completely cancelled. The service charges are borne proportionately by the tenant. The exact composition of the housing costs should be determined together with the tenant before the contract is signed. An initial cost estimate is requested from both applicants in the respective application form.
Please understand that we may have to reject offers that significantly exceed the usual rents in our student residences, as they conflict with our social mission. Details can be found in the guidelines for the placement of accommodation .
There are no fees for the placement service provided by Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg. Application and participation in "Wohnen für Hilfe" is free of charge for those providing and receiving accommodation.
Important: The following information is for explanatory purposes only and cannot replace a legal examination in individual cases!
As the legislator has not yet conclusively classified alternative housing programmes under tax law, it is difficult to make a definitive statement on this matter. As a rule, however, if a flat-rate rent is charged in addition to the expected assistance, this is taxable as rental income for the person providing the accommodation.
With regard to the assistance provided, we recommend that the housing partners consider the housing partnership relationship in the sense of a social housing community and organise it as such. This means that the students, as tenants, help in the household, in the garden etc. on a voluntary basis in the spirit of social interaction, but there is no legal entitlement on the part of the tenant to carry out a specific activity. A rough guideline for the quantity of help is the rule of thumb: 1 m² = 1 hour of help/month.
However, since Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg is not a contractual partner, the housing partners are free to make other agreements at their own discretion. For the correct handling of the individual case, we therefore recommend seeking expert advice in case of doubt. Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg cannot provide legal advice.
In any case, please take note of this information on the legal categorisation of "Wohnen für Hilfe"!
Do you volunteer or work in the social sector & would you like to support our work by publicising "Wohnen für Hilfe"? We look forward to your commitment! Here you will find an overview of our publications (information flyers, postcards, posters). You can request these from us free of charge and then distribute them through your organisation.
Are you interested in the "Living for Help" project and would like to report on it? Write us an e-mail!
Thank you for your interest in our "Wohnen für Hilfe" program, which aims to bring together students looking for accommodation and people providing accommodation who are looking for household support in housing partnerships.
We take the protection of your private data very seriously and treat the data entrusted to us in strict confidence in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations and handle it responsibly. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to inform you how we implement the data protection regulations and which personal data we process as part of the "Housing for Help" project.
1. Name and contact details of the controller and the company data protection officer
Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg, Babelsberger Straße 2, 14473 Potsdam (referred to as "we" in the text), is the controller within the meaning of the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"). Our data protection officer can be contacted at the above address or at datenschutz[at]stwwb.de.
2. Collection and storage of personal data as well as type and purpose and their use
We process your data to the extent necessary for the placement of housing as part of the "Wohnen für Hilfe" program. Data relevant to the placement are in particular name, contact details, address, possibly also nationality, ethnic origin, religious or ideological beliefs or health restrictions. We may also process other information that you provide to us in any other way in connection with your application. The same applies to information made publicly available. Your personal data will only be processed in order to bring together suitable housing providers and recipients in accordance with the basic intention of the "Wohnen für Hilfe" program. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a), c) and e) in conjunction with Art. 4 no. 2 GDPR. Art. 4 No. 2 GDPR and Art. 7 GDPR. Furthermore, we may process personal data about you if this is necessary for the defence of asserted legal claims. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1, lit. f) GDPR.
If a housing placement does not materialise, your personal data will be deleted after 6 months. You will not be notified of this.
3. Transfer of data to third parties
Your personal data will not be transferred to third parties for purposes other than those relevant to the placement. Otherwise, personal data is processed on our behalf on the basis of contracts in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR, in particular by providers of software services. We do not intend to transfer your data to a third country.
4. Your rights
You have the right to
5. Necessity of providing personal data
The provision of personal data is neither required by law nor by contract, nor are you obliged to provide the personal data. The information you provide, in particular regarding citizenship, ethnic origin, religious or ideological beliefs or health restrictions, is voluntary. However, the provision of your personal data is necessary for the placement within the "Wohnen für Hife" program. This means that if you do not provide us with any personal data when applying, we will not be able to provide any placement services.
6. No automated decision-making
There is no automated decision-making in individual cases within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR.
Voluntary nature of consent
The Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg can be permitted to process, store, pass on and publish photo and film recordings by means of a declaration of consent. to process, store, pass on and publish photo and film recordings. Consent is always voluntary; there is no legal or contractual obligation to make oneself available for recordings or to provide data; a lack of consent has no consequences for the person concerned.
Collection of personal data
The photographs and films are taken by the person giving consent.
Purposes and legal bases
The intended purposes of the processing are listed on the first page. The legal basis for the processing is the consent of the data subject (Art. 6 para. 1 letter a GDPR).
After the recordings have been used, they remain stored together with the consent as proof of legality (legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 letter f GDPR).
Recipients of personal data
The data is passed on to the external bodies listed on the first page. Internally, only those persons have access to the data who are involved in the intended processing
Duration of storage of personal data
The recordings are stored indefinitely, unless the data subject withdraws their consent, objects to the processing or requests the deletion of their personal data; in this case, the data will only be stored for as long as is legally required or permitted, for example to prove the legality of publications already made.
It is expressly pointed out that in the case of publications on the Internet - in particular on social media - it may no longer be possible to completely remove this data and that third parties may have made copies.
Rights of data subjects
Consenting parties have the right to withdraw their consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. In this case, the recordings will no longer be used, but print media already produced will be used up.
Consenting parties also have the right to information about their data and to rectification, erasure and restriction of processing; they also have the right to object to processing, the right to data portability and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
Contact details
The name, address and contact details of Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg can be found on the first page. The company data protection officer can be contacted at the above address or at datenschutz@stwwb.de.
