1. Confirm who you are paying
Only pay a lister SafeNest has verified, and only after a viewing — in person, on video, or through a trusted representative. The bank details appear inside your SafeNest payment record, never by email.
Paying your Hamburg landlord from India
You pay your deposit and rent directly to your landlord. SafeNest never collects, holds or forwards that money — we verify the lister, keep a shared record of every step, and show you exactly how to send the money safely from an ICICI, SBI, HDFC or any other home bank account.
2. Choose how to send it
A bank SWIFT transfer, a transfer service such as Wise or Remitly, or euros you already hold in a blocked account or forex card. The calculator below compares them.
3. Record it
Upload the transfer receipt to your SafeNest payment record. Your landlord confirms receipt, and both of you keep the same timestamped timeline through to the deposit coming back.
What will it really cost you?
Enter the euro amount you owe — usually the deposit plus your first month's rent — and see roughly how much leaves your home account on each route.
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What your bank will ask for
- Purpose of remittance: maintenance / rent for a student studying abroad (LRS)
- PAN card and passport copy
- University admission or enrolment letter
- Your tenancy agreement or SafeNest booking confirmation as proof of purpose
- The landlord's full name, IBAN, BIC/SWIFT and bank name
Send the money 10–14 working days before your move-in date. Always add the payment reference your lister gives you — a missing reference is the usual reason money sits unmatched or bounces back.
Deposit safety rules
- Never pay before a viewing — in person, on video, or through a SafeNest trusted representative.
- Never send money to an account in a different name from the verified lister.
- Never pay by gift card, crypto, or a money-transfer pickup code.
- Never pay someone who refuses to sign a written contract.
- Never re-send money because of an urgent last-minute change of bank details — call your lister first.
Ask about the deposit account
In Germany the deposit is capped at three months' cold rent and must be kept separate from the landlord's own money, normally in a Mietkautionskonto. Listers can confirm this in SafeNest, and you will see it in your payment record. The deposit is returned after the tenancy ends, once any claims are settled.
Money, compliance and settlement policy
In plain words, so there are no surprises about who holds what.
SafeNest never holds your rent or deposit
Rent, deposit and key money move directly from your bank to the landlord's bank. SafeNest has no client account, no escrow and no ability to move, freeze or refund that money. We record the steps; we do not touch the funds.
The only fee we charge is paid by the lister
A one-time verification fee of €10 (landlord) or €1 (subletter) per property. It is charged, taxed, invoiced and settled by our regulated payment processor, which also handles VAT, refunds and chargebacks. Card and bank numbers are entered on the processor's page and never reach SafeNest.
Bank details are released, never published
A lister's account name, IBAN and payment reference are only shown to a student inside a payment record the lister has accepted. They are never public, never sent by us over email, and any change to them is written into the shared timeline so both sides see it.
Your data and your paperwork
Verification documents and payment receipts are stored privately and are visible only to you, the other party in your record, and the SafeNest review team. Under GDPR you can ask us for a copy or for deletion of your account data at any time.
Cross-border rules stay with you and your bank
Transfers from India run under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme and your bank's checks. SafeNest is not a money-services business, does not advise on tax or exchange control, and cannot act as remitter or beneficiary on your behalf.
Questions from international students
Does SafeNest hold my rent or deposit?
No. SafeNest never collects, holds or forwards rent or deposit money. You pay your landlord directly from your own bank. SafeNest only records the steps so both of you have the same timeline.
How much do I pay before I arrive?
Usually the deposit plus the first month's rent. In Germany the deposit is capped at three months' cold rent by law. On SafeNest the total monthly rent for a student room is capped at €700.
What does my Indian bank need?
An A2 form and an LRS declaration, your PAN and passport, and proof of purpose such as your admission letter and tenancy agreement. The purpose is maintenance or rent for a student studying abroad.
How early should I send the money?
Start 10 to 14 working days before your move-in date. A SWIFT bank transfer is not instant and can take 3 to 5 working days after your bank approves the paperwork.
Can I pay with UPI, Paytm or Google Pay India?
UPI only moves money inside India, so it cannot land in a German account by itself. What you can do is fund a licensed transfer service such as Wise or Remitly from your Indian account by UPI, IMPS or NEFT, and that service pays the euros into your landlord's account. The money still goes to the landlord, not to SafeNest.
Do students pay SafeNest anything?
No. Students never pay SafeNest a fee. The only money SafeNest charges is a one-time verification fee to the person listing the room — €10 for a landlord, €1 for a subletter — and that is collected by our payment processor, not held by us.
What if the landlord says the payment never arrived?
Upload your bank receipt to the payment record. It is timestamped and neither side can delete it, so you both look at the same history. If something still looks wrong, report the listing from the room page and the SafeNest team will review it.
Can I get the deposit back if I never move in?
That depends on the tenancy agreement you signed, which is between you and the landlord. SafeNest is not a party to it and cannot reverse a transfer, which is exactly why you should only ever pay a verified lister after a viewing.