What’s the deal with kitchens not coming with apartments?

I'm an American who has lived in Germany a few times. When I'm back in the U.S., people often ask me to share an interesting difference between the two countries. One thing I tell them is that in Germany, it's common to take your kitchen with you when you move. People here usually think this is crazy, mainly because of how hard it is to move a kitchen and the fact that cabinets in Germany are often custom-made for the room. Does anyone know why moving your kitchen is a thing in Germany? Also, are kitchens designed in a way to make them easier to move?

Kitchens can be taken apart, moved, and reassembled in the same or different order, much like building blocks. The lower cabinets are generally 60cm wide and 60cm deep; electrical appliances, which fit into the frame, are typically 56cm wide. The countertop is custom fitted every time, and decorative items may also need to be adjusted.

This is why my Oma has been in the same apartment since the 1960s. She's just renting, but it's *her house*. The kitchen has gone through several remodels because she wants it to be just the way she likes it.

I wish it was easier to get a kitchen. Waiting for weeks or months is silly and inconvenient. It would be much simpler if you could just move into an apartment with a kitchen already in it.

In Germany, renting an apartment is often seen as a long-term commitment, so it makes sense to invest in a custom kitchen. In English-speaking countries, however, renting an apartment is usually thought of as a short-term solution, so it's not worth buying a custom kitchen.

I don't want someone else to choose my kitchen for me, just like I don't want someone else to choose my beds, shelves, or couches. A kitchen is a personal space, and I want it to be my own, not just a random item.

I need my kitchen to be just right, so I have an oven at a higher level, an induction cooktop and a bigger refrigerator. It's essential that my appliances are of good quality, which is why we never rented apartments with a kitchen when we were renting (we own our home now).

European and North American homes differ in several ways. In America, closets often have built-in doors, while in Europe, you need to buy a wardrobe. In America, living rooms usually don't have light fixtures, while European homes usually do. The voltage is higher in Europe, and bathrooms are usually unfurnished with no mirrors, lights, or cabinets. Another difference is the material used to build the houses. Americans often use wood, while Europeans find this surprising.

Cabinets for kitchens usually come in widths of 30, 50, 60 cm, sometimes 90 or even 100 cm. Appliances are designed to fit into 60 cm width cabinets. Replacing an oven or fridge is as simple as pulling them out, cleaning the cabinet and putting the new one in.

You build a kitchen out of different width cabinets and cover the 2-4 cm gaps on the sides with blending boards. The countertop is custom-made, but can be bought fairly cheaply (35-50 euros per meter) at a hardware store, plus the cost of sawing outcuts for a sink, stovetop, etc.

Moving a kitchen is possible but not convenient for someone who has never done it. It can take almost two days to get it into place. The problem is that if you move a few years later and need two additional cabinets, you don't get a special deal and it can cost around half the price of a complete kitchen.

You win this time, America. Buying a kitchen is ridiculous, but you need one in order to rent a flat. When your contract ends, it's unlikely anyone else will pay the full price for your old kitchen, so you have to take it with you and then buy a new one when you move to a new flat.

If you're not planning on staying in the same home for ten years or more, don't bother custom designing a kitchen. Cabinets are just like any other piece of furniture, and you can use a hand truck to move large appliances like an oven or refrigerator.

Landlords don't like dealing with kitchens because they are responsible for repairs if something goes wrong. Therefore, it's common for renters to keep the same kitchen in the apartment from one tenant to the next.

Why is it so common in Germany for kitchens not to be included in apartments? It's really dumb.

People in my area usually sell their kitchen to whoever rents the home after they move out. This arrangement often works out, and sometimes you need to purchase the kitchen in order to rent the apartment.

Moving with your kitchen is twice as hard as it already is, and it means you have to buy a kitchen now. Plus, it limits your apartment choices.

I prefer having my own kitchen. We have one with blocks that can be rearranged (we've moved it twice). I used to rent places with pre-installed kitchens, but they weren't great. One had a really old fridge that used a lot of energy and rarely kept things cool. I had to defrost it every two months. In another place I had to wait a month for the landlord to replace an old oven/stove when it stopped working. All I got to eat was microwave food for a month - not so fun.

I've never rented an apartment without a kitchen, but they were often so unattractive that I wished I could have brought my own.

In Germany, kitchens often come in standard sizes of 60cm or 30cm width. Whether you buy from Ikea or have one custom-fitted, you will typically spend at least 3k. If you want something more luxurious, it could cost up to 10k. If you're moving into an apartment without a kitchen, you should think carefully before investing in one, as you won't get much money back when you move out.

I'm considering moving to a different city and researching apartments. I really don't like the kitchens that come with most of them. High gloss white is my worst nightmare, and old, randomly put together ones aren't much better. I'd rather spend money on a reasonably priced IKEA kitchen than having to look at and use one of these kitchens for more than a year. Short-term stays wouldn't bother me as much.

It is hard to move them because the cabinets are custom-made to fit the room.

We recently viewed a great flat. However, the requirement to buy the kitchen already installed was a deal-breaker for me.