What is the best way to find student accommodation, such as housing or shared flats, before moving to a smaller German city like Rosenheim?

Your best shot at housing in a smaller city like Rosenheim is to apply everywhere at once rather than wait for one option to come through. Submit your Studierendenwerk application the moment you decide on the city, since you do not need your final admission letter to apply. Pair this with active searching on flatshare and property portals from day one.

Where To Search First

Rules To Avoid Rental Scams

• Never transfer a deposit or rent before physically inspecting the flat and signing a lease.
• Be wary of landlords claiming to be abroad who offer to courier keys.
• Insist on a Wohnungsgeberbestatigung, since you need it to register your address locally.
• Join local groups like "Neu in Rosenheim" where current students post vacating rooms first.

My Advice

Apply to the Studierendenwerk on the same day you accept your offer, and build a bilingual WG-Gesucht profile with a short friendly introduction, since landlords respond faster to detailed profiles. Budget for a few weeks in short term accommodation as backup, and always insist on a written lease before any payment leaves your account.