Housing entitlement certificate

With a Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS), you can move into a flat that is subsidised (social housing). The residence entitlement certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue.
A residence entitlement certificate can:

• for a specific flat. The prerequisite for this is a written declaration of consent from the landlord or the person authorised to dispose of the new flat.

• can be issued as a general residence entitlement certificate for a flat in North Rhine-Westphalia.

It then entitles the holder to move into a flat whose size corresponds to the details of the residential authorisation. In exceptional cases, authorisation to move into an apartment that deviates from the above requirements may be granted.
If you are currently looking for a flat , you have the option of registering in the local register of people looking for accommodation.

A residence entitlement certificate can only be issued if the requirements are met.
The net income limit for a one-person household is 23,540 euros and 28,350 euros for a two-person household. This amount increases by €6,530 for each additional person in the household. For children belonging to the household within the meaning of Section 32 (1) to (5) of the Income Tax Act, the income limit is increased by a further EUR 860.

The relevant income limit must be complied with by all members of the household who wish to move into the flat. Only if the income limit is slightly exceeded by up to 5 per cent can an exceptional residence entitlement certificate be issued.

Flat size
The appropriate flat size is graded as follows:
- For a 1-person household: 50 square metres of living space
- For a 2-person household: 2 living rooms or 65 square metres of living space
- For a 3-person household: 3 living rooms or 80 square metres of living space
- For a 4-person household: 4 living rooms or 95 square metres of living space
- For each additional person living in the household, the living space is increased by one room or 15 square metres of living space.

The specified number of living rooms does not include the kitchen and ancillary rooms.
An additional room or an additional living space of 15 square metres is to be granted due to the special personal or professional needs of a member of the household, for example: young couples who have been married for no longer than 5 years and both spouses are under 40 years of age, blind people, wheelchair users, single parents with a child aged 6 or over. (However, there is no direct legal entitlement to the granting of additional living space).