Difference between revisions of "Germany/Housing/Schufa"

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'''Schufa''' is the biggest German credit score system. Basically, it collects data about how well you paid your bills until know. From that, they estimate how well you will pay your bills in the future.
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{{Head
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|Schufa Report for Renting an Apartment
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|free or paid
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|'''Schufa''' is the biggest German credit score system. Mostly, you need their report of you if you want to rent an apartment long-term. Read here how to get such a ''Schufa Bonitätsauskunft''.
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}}
  
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Clearly, landlords want such information. This is why nearly always when you rent an apartment directly from a landlord, you need to show a ''Schufa-Auskunft'' (Schufa report).
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{{FAQ|
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{{FAQ/Item|q= Do I need a Schufa report? |a=
  
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== Where to get a Schufa report? ==
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It depends on the place you want to rent:
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You can get a report immediately at a branch of Postbank or Volksbank – but this costs 29.95 EUR.
 
  
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Or you can get it within 3 weeks by mail.  
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* '''Almost always''', you need one for renting an '''(unfurnished) apartment long-term'''.
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=== Paid ===
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* You '''probably don't''' need one for renting a furnished apartment short-term.
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[https://www.meineschufa.de/index.php?site=14_3 Find a branch] of
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* Also it's '''unlikely''' when subletting an apartment or room from another person.
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Read more about [[Germany/Housing/Rent|renting an apartment or room]].
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}}{{FAQ/Item|q= Why do landlords want a Schufa? |a=
  
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* Postbank or
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* In Germany, renting apartments is highly regulated by law.
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* Volksbank
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* Especially, it is difficult for landlords to kick a tenant out.
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* Therefore, landlords want to be sure that a new tenant will pay their rent before they sign a contract.
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* A way to check this is whether the applicant has paid their bills before. This is why they want to see a credit score report.
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}}
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}}
  
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walk in with your
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== Get a Schufa report ==
  
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* ID or passport
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=== Free ===
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* and a ''Meldebescheinigung'' (certificate of registration)
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Instead of the regular credit score report, you can get a '''free copy of all the personal data''' that Schufa stores about you (based on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation GDPR]).
  
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and get the report immediately.
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It also contains the information that landlords want to see.  
  
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=== For free ===
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It is sent to you by letter, so it takes a few days.  
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You can obtain the report for free by a GDPR request.
 
  
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* Go on [https://www.meineschufa.de/index.php?site=11_3 MeineSchufa.de: Datenkopie (nach Art. 15 DS-GVO)]
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* Go to [https://www.meineschufa.de/de/datenkopie MeineSchufa.de: Datenkopie (nach Art. 15 DS-GVO)]
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* There's a table with two columns. Down on the '''right'' column (titled ''Datenkopie''), click ''Jetzt bestellen''
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* Pick the option on the left: ''SCHUFA-Datenkopie''.
  
 
A page with a form opens, fill it out. Here's a dictionary:
 
A page with a form opens, fill it out. Here's a dictionary:
  
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* ''Vornamen:'' First names
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* ''Anrede'': salutation
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* ''Nachname:'' Last names
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* ''Vornamen:'' first names
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* ''Geburtsdatum:'' Date of birth
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* ''Nachname:'' last names  
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* ''E-Mail-Adresse:'' e-mail address
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* ''Geburtsdatum:'' date of birth
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* ''Geburtsname:'' birth name (maiden name)
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* The next fields are '''optional''':
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* ''Geburtsort:'' place of birth
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** ''E-Mail-Adresse:'' e-mail address
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* ''Frühere Namen:'' previous names
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** ''Geburtsname:'' birth name (maiden name)
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** ''Geburtsort:'' place of birth
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** ''Frühere Namen:'' previous names
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* ''Straße'': street
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* ''Hausnummer'': house number
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* ''Postleitzahl'': postal code
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* ''Ort'': city
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You '''can''' also upload documents (e.g. from you ''Anmeldung'') but this is optional.
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* click on ''Eingaben prüfen'', check your inputs and submit (''Absenden'').
  
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Upload a copy of
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=== Paid online ===
  
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* your ''Personalausweis'' (ID card) or passport
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You can also '''get Schufa report online''' directly from the company. It costs '''~€30''' and arrives '''in 1-3 days by letter'''.
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* your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
 
  
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== More guides ==
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# Go to the {{AffLink|Schufa website|schufa}}.
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* [https://berlincheap.com/schufa/ Free Schufa report online & paperless] by ''BerlinCheap.com''
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# Pick ''Schufa-Bonitätsauskunft''.
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#* Make sure you are ordering it with a one-time payment. Schufa also offers subscriptions per month which look cheaper but have minimum terms.
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# Fill out your data and submit. You might use the dictionary from above.
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=== Paid in a branch ===
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You can also '''get a Schufa report now''' by going into a bank branch. It costs '''~€30'''.
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[https://www.meineschufa.de/index.php?site=14_3 Find a branch] of
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* Postbank or
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* Volksbank
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 +
walk in with your
 +
 
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* ID or passport
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* and a ''Meldebescheinigung'' (certificate of registration)
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== See also ==
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* [https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/free-schufa-berlin How to get a free Schufa] by ''All About Berlin''
  
 
[[Category:Housing]]
 
[[Category:Housing]]
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{{Notes}}

Latest revision as of 21:24, 27 July 2022

Schufa is the biggest German credit score system. Mostly, you need their report of you if you want to rent an apartment long-term. Read here how to get such a Schufa Bonitätsauskunft.

Questions & Answers[edit]

Do I need a Schufa report? [edit]

It depends on the place you want to rent:

  • Almost always, you need one for renting an (unfurnished) apartment long-term.
  • You probably don't need one for renting a furnished apartment short-term.
  • Also it's unlikely when subletting an apartment or room from another person.

Read more about renting an apartment or room.

Why do landlords want a Schufa? [edit]

  • In Germany, renting apartments is highly regulated by law.
  • Especially, it is difficult for landlords to kick a tenant out.
  • Therefore, landlords want to be sure that a new tenant will pay their rent before they sign a contract.
  • A way to check this is whether the applicant has paid their bills before. This is why they want to see a credit score report.

Get a Schufa report[edit]

Free[edit]

Instead of the regular credit score report, you can get a free copy of all the personal data that Schufa stores about you (based on the GDPR).

It also contains the information that landlords want to see.

It is sent to you by letter, so it takes a few days.

A page with a form opens, fill it out. Here's a dictionary:

  • Anrede: salutation
  • Vornamen: first names
  • Nachname: last names
  • Geburtsdatum: date of birth
  • The next fields are optional:
    • E-Mail-Adresse: e-mail address
    • Geburtsname: birth name (maiden name)
    • Geburtsort: place of birth
    • Frühere Namen: previous names
  • Straße: street
  • Hausnummer: house number
  • Postleitzahl: postal code
  • Ort: city

You can also upload documents (e.g. from you Anmeldung) but this is optional.

  • click on Eingaben prüfen, check your inputs and submit (Absenden).

[edit]

You can also get Schufa report online directly from the company. It costs ~€30 and arrives in 1-3 days by letter.

  1. Go to the Schufa website[1].
  2. Pick Schufa-Bonitätsauskunft.
    • Make sure you are ordering it with a one-time payment. Schufa also offers subscriptions per month which look cheaper but have minimum terms.
  3. Fill out your data and submit. You might use the dictionary from above.

[edit]

You can also get a Schufa report now by going into a bank branch. It costs ~€30.

Find a branch of

  • Postbank or
  • Volksbank

walk in with your

  • ID or passport
  • and a Meldebescheinigung (certificate of registration)

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ This is an affiliate link. If you click on it and then buy something or sign up for a service, we may earn a commission which covers our expenses. This does not change the price for you.

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