Do you need public housing?
Then you’ll need a housing eligibility certificate.
The short form is: WBS.
With a WBS, you can get public housing.
Social housing is affordable housing.

You must apply for the WBS at a government office.
The housing offices and social services offices will help you.
The WBS contains information about:

• How much money are you allowed to earn?
• How large can the apartment be?

The WBS is valid for one year.
Some public housing units are reserved for specific groups of people.

Are you a minor?
Then you need your parents’ permission.
Or you need permission from your legal guardian.
In addition, your household income must not be too high.
Are you of legal age?
Then you don’t need permission.

Are you not an EU citizen?
Do you want to stay in Germany?
Then you need a residence permit.
The residence permit must be valid for at least one year.

You can apply for a housing eligibility certificate (WBS) at your local authority. In Lower Saxony, the districts, independent cities, large independent municipalities, and independent towns are responsible for this. You can also obtain the necessary forms there.

The housing eligibility certificate contains information on the eligible persons, compliance with the relevant income limits, and the maximum permitted living space.

The housing eligibility certificate entitles you to move into a subsidized apartment (social housing). There is no legal entitlement to being assigned such an apartment.

The apartment you wish to move into must not exceed the maximum size specified in the WBS.

Some social housing units are reserved for specific groups of people. These may include, for example, students, seniors (minimum age 60), people with disabilities, or large families (at least three children). If you belong to a specific group, this will also be indicated on the housing eligibility certificate.

The housing eligibility certificate is generally valid for one year, meaning you can move into social housing within this time frame. Once the certificate expires, you can apply for a new one. When signing the lease, the housing eligibility certificate must be presented to the landlord.