💡 In German buildings it is usual to greet neighbours on the stairs: Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, Guten Abend, even if you do not know each other.
💡 New neighbours often introduce themselves at the first meeting; you can mention the floor or flat: Ich wohne im dritten Stock.
💡 Kann ich helfen? and Soll ich Ihnen helfen? are the standard offers of help; Danke, das geht schon means you can manage.
💡 Germans like to chat to neighbours about the weather: Schönes Wetter heute is a polite greeting; in the north people say Moin, in the south Grüß Gott or Servus.
💡 Neighbours in Germany often help: they take in post and water plants while someone is away; a key is entrusted only to people you know well; after returning they thank you with a small gift.
💡 In Germany there are quiet hours (Ruhezeiten): at night, on Sundays and often at midday; they are described in the Hausordnung (house rules) in your lease.
💡 In Germany it is usual to warn neighbours about a party: a note on the door or a word on the stairs. It is polite and reduces complaints.
💡 The Hausordnung usually says where prams and bikes may stand: often in the cellar or a special room, not on the stairs.
💡 In many buildings the residents take turns cleaning the stairs (Treppenhausreinigung, in the south Kehrwoche); the rota hangs in the stairwell, and if you cannot do it, arrange something with a neighbour.
💡 The Hausordnung (house rules) often say that charcoal grills on the balcony are forbidden while electric ones are allowed; a polite reply to a remark is Das tut mir leid, ich wusste das nicht.
💡 Nothing is left in the stairwell or hall (it is a Fluchtweg, an escape route); bikes are kept in the cellar or in the yard, and the cellar door is kept locked.
💡 In Germany rubbish is sorted: Papier (paper), Bio (organic), Gelber Sack or Gelbe Tonne (plastic and packaging), Restmüll (the rest); glass goes separately into containers. Bin colours depend on the city.
💡 Bulky items (Sperrmüll) are not simply put in the yard: you arrange it with the local service, often online or by phone.
💡 Glass containers (Altglascontainer) must not be used at weekends and after a certain evening hour: the noise breaks the quiet.
💡 In Germany packaging (plastic, metal) goes into the gelber Sack or gelbe Tonne (yellow bag or bin), paper into the blue bin, organic waste into the brown and the rest into the black or grey one; check the collection schedule of your city.
💡 At a Wertstoffhof (recycling centre) you hand in bulky items, old furniture and electronics; small amounts are usually free, and sometimes they ask for an ID or proof of residence.
💡 In apartment buildings the laundry room is often shared: a board has a schedule (Waschplan) where each flat has its day.
💡 If your laundry stays in the machine too long neighbours may ask you to take it out; better remove it on time.
💡 There is often a shared laundry in the cellar with a rota (Waschplan) and payment by coins or card; clean up after yourself and do not leave wet washing in the machine.
💡 An invitation to coffee and cake (Kaffee und Kuchen) is a common way to get to know people; you can bring a small gift, for example flowers or chocolate.
💡 Visiting, they often ask Möchten Sie noch etwas trinken? and Nehmen Sie doch noch ein Stück Kuchen; you can decline politely: Nein danke, ich bin satt.
💡 Frohe Weihnachten and Ein gutes neues Jahr are said to neighbours, colleagues and in shops; the answer is Danke, gleichfalls!
💡 At a Hoffest or Grillfest everybody brings something: salad, cake or drinks; ask Was soll ich mitbringen?, which is how you get to know your neighbours.
💡 At a children's birthday party (Kindergeburtstag) the children come for a couple of hours and the adults need not stay; a small present is a nice gesture; do let them know whether your child is coming.
💡 Germans thank neighbours politely for help: an invitation to coffee or a small gift (eine Kleinigkeit) is the usual way to say thank you.