Guides
Guides & insights
Practical answers for expats, landlords, employers and freelancers — in plain language.
- Students & au pairs
Au Pair Contract & Host Family Agreement: A Fair Checklist
A fair au pair year rests on a clear host family agreement. Here's what belongs in the contract — hours, stipend, room and board, study, time off and rematch — grounded in current U.S. J-1 program rules.
12 min read
- Students & au pairs
Parents abroad as your guarantor: how a cross-border Bürgschaft actually works
A German landlord wants your parents abroad as guarantors. Here is how a cross-border Bürgschaft really works: what they are liable for, the three-month security cap, the written-form rule, and what makes landlords say yes.
8 min read
- Students & au pairs
Deposit Return in Germany: What a Correct Kautionsabrechnung Looks Like
Your German landlord kept part of your deposit with no clear breakdown? Here's what a correct Kautionsabrechnung must contain, how long the landlord may take, and what can legally be deducted.
10 min read
- Students & au pairs
Renting a Room in Germany: Deposit, Guarantor, and the Clauses to Check Before You Sign
Why German landlords ask for a guarantor, how high the deposit is legally allowed to be, and which lease clauses are normal — a plain-language guide for international students arriving in Germany.
10 min read