The housing eligibility certificate is an official document that allows tenants to prove that they are eligible to move into a publicly subsidized apartment (social housing) in Rhineland-Palatinate. 

The housing eligibility certificate is valid for a maximum of one year.

You can apply for the housing eligibility certificate in two ways at the relevant office:

• General housing eligibility certificate
  The applicant is entitled to move into any social housing apartment.
• Special housing eligibility certificate
  Prospective tenants apply for a specific social housing apartment, subject to the special eligibility requirements. With this housing eligibility certificate, the applicant is entitled to move into (only) this specific social housing apartment.

Households whose eligible income does not exceed the relevant income limit are issued with a housing eligibility certificate. The income limit depends on the number of people in the household and the relevant subsidy programs. A housing eligibility certificate is issued provided that the total income of the household does not exceed the income limit specified in Section 13 of the State Housing Promotion Act (LWoFG).

The total annual income is made up of the gross annual income of all persons belonging to the household. It is determined in accordance with the State Housing Promotion Act.

In exceptional cases, a housing eligibility certificate may also be issued without compliance with the relevant income limits in order to take into account the special needs of a person belonging to the household or to avoid particular hardship. This must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

The Social Services Office of the state capital Mainz does not arrange housing.

The final decision on whether to enter into a tenancy agreement is made solely by the respective landlord (usually Wohnbau Mainz GmbH or other housing associations).

• Section 13 State Housing Promotion Act (opens in a new tab)

We will endeavor to process your application as quickly as possible, but in some cases there may be delays. If any required documents are missing, we will contact you.

Due to the large number of applications, we are unable to provide any information on the receipt or status of an application. 

For the issuance of general housing eligibility certificates: The administration of the independent municipality/association of municipalities/city administration of the place of residence or future place of residence.

For the issuance of special housing eligibility certificates: The administration of the independent municipality/association of municipalities/city administration of the future place of residence.

• Identity card or passport (passport only in conjunction with a registration certificate)
• Marriage certificate
• Care allowance notice (copy)
• For severely disabled persons: severely disabled person's ID card (copy of both sides)
• Proof of need for home care
• Maternity log
• Proof from the tax office of increased income-related expenses
• Proof of custody
• Proof of right to determine place of residence
• Birth certificate
• Interest certificate
• Medical certificate
• Declaration of partnership

Depending on your life situation:

• For employed persons: earnings certificate (if applicable, proof of training allowance)
• For pensioners: pension statements with the latest change notifications
• For income tax payers (if proof is not provided by earnings certificates):
  income tax assessment, latest income surplus calculation/business evaluation
  
  
• other income
  (e.g., proof of marginal employment, unemployment benefits, sick pay)
  
  
• For persons receiving maintenance payments: proof of type, amount, and person liable for payment
  
  
• For expenses due to statutory maintenance obligations
  (possibly court order and details of the type, amount, and recipient of the benefit, proof of benefits through bank statements)
  
  
• For students: proof of educational assistance (e.g., BAföG)
  
  
• For students aged 16 and over: current school certificate
  
  
• For recipients of social benefits:
  • Notice of housing allowance
  • Notification of citizen's income
  • Notification of social security benefits
  • Notice of basic income support in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity
  • Notification of social assistance
  • Decision on asylum seeker benefits
  • Decision on child and youth welfare benefits
  • Decision on supplementary assistance for living expenses (BVG)
    
    
• Depending on the individual case, employees may request additional documents.