Unprofessional, questionable practices
We were approved for two different flats in Berlin, and our experience with ZBVV was nothing short of a massive red flag.
Our first contact, Mr. Tuan Anh Phong Vo, was incredibly aggressive—calling multiple times a day and pushing us to sign a contract with an unreasonable 48-hour deadline. The contract itself was full of glaring errors and questionable damage exemption clauses. It stated the flat had no balcony (it had two) and claimed it was "renovated" when the walls weren't even painted. When we pointed this out, he dismissed it, saying it was a "standard contract" and told us to "just sign."
Worst of all, he actively avoided answering our questions in writing, insisting on phone calls only. When we asked for the damage history of the apartment, he dodged the question entirely. He even made condescending remarks about our household employment situation, heavily implying we should just be grateful to get a flat and blindly accept their highly questionable terms. When we politely insisted on getting our questions answered in writing before signing, ZBVV immediately voided the contract. (We were also warned by a neighbor that ZBVV previously ignored severe water damage in the building's basement for two months).
Later, we applied for another flat in the same area through an external agency. We were approved, but upon receiving the paperwork, we realized ZBVV was the owner. Exactly 67 minutes after sending us the contract, ZBVV voided it without explanation. The responsible employee, Kira Mertinat, has ghosted us ever since and refuses to answer a single email.
We remained entirely professional throughout, but this company relies on pressure tactics, avoids accountability, and operates in an extremely sketchy manner. Take the negative Trustpilot reviews seriously. Save your money, your time, and your sanity—keep looking elsewhere.