Editing Germany/Housing/Schufa

{{Head
|Schufa Report for Renting an Apartment
|free or paid
|'''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 a such a ''Schufa Bonitätsauskunft''.
}}

{{FAQ|
{{FAQ/Item|q= Do I need a Schufa report? |a=

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 [[Germany/Housing/Rent|renting and apartment or room]].

}}{{FAQ/Item|q= Why do landlords want a Schufa? |a=

* 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 ==

=== Free ===
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]). 

It also contains the information that landlords want to see. 

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

* Go to [https://www.meineschufa.de/de/datenkopie MeineSchufa.de: Datenkopie (nach Art. 15 DS-GVO)]
* Pick the option on the left: ''SCHUFA-Datenkopie''.

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'').

=== Paid online ===

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

# Go to the {{AffLink|Schufa website|schufa}}.
# 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.
# Fill out your data and submit. You might use the dictionary from above.

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

[https://www.meineschufa.de/index.php?site=14_3 Find a branch] of

* Postbank or
* Volksbank

walk in with your

* ID or passport
* and a ''Meldebescheinigung'' (certificate of registration)

== See also ==

* [https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/free-schufa-berlin How to get a free Schufa] by ''All About Berlin''

[[Category:Housing]]

{{Notes}}