How to get a SCHUFA report for renting
Most landlords ask for a SCHUFA report to check that you pay reliably. There are two different versions – a free one for your own eyes and a paid certificate made for landlords – and knowing which is which saves time and money. Here's how to get the right one.
Two reports, two purposes
- SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck (paid): a certificate designed to be handed to landlords. It confirms your creditworthiness without exposing all your internal data – this is usually what a landlord wants.
- Data copy / Datenkopie (free, Art. 15 GDPR): your full personal record, meant for checking your own data. It's the free way to review and correct what's stored – but it's more detailed than a landlord needs.
How to get it
Register first if you're new
You generally need a German address on record (your Anmeldung) before you can request a SCHUFA report. See the Anmeldung guide.
Choose the right product
For applying, order the paid BonitätsCheck – it's built to show landlords. To simply review your own data, request the free Datenkopie.
Request it early
Order before you start applying so it's ready to attach. The paid certificate is often delivered quickly; the free copy can take longer.
Where to request it
You can order the free data copy directly from SCHUFA's official request page (in German): meineschufa.de/dakobs. For a neutral, step-by-step explanation and warnings about paid upsells, the German consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) has a guide.
Framing note: the free data copy is your right under Art. 15 GDPR – there's no fixed "once a year" limit. Watch out for paid subscriptions marketed alongside the free option.
Check it – and fix mistakes
Before you hand a report to a landlord, read it. SCHUFA records can contain outdated or incorrect entries, and you have the right to have wrong data corrected or deleted. Getting the free data copy first lets you spot and fix problems before they cost you an apartment. If your record is simply empty because you just arrived, that's normal – see SCHUFA for foreigners.
Report in hand? Write the letter in seconds
WohnungsBewerber reads the listing, writes your personal German application letter and pre-fills the contact form on all five big portals – so your complete application goes out first. You review and send it yourself. Free, no account, data stays local.
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Frequently asked questions
Which SCHUFA report do landlords want?
Usually the SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck – a paid certificate built to be shown to third parties. It confirms creditworthiness without revealing all your internal data. The free data copy is more detailed and meant for your own review.
Is there a free SCHUFA report?
Yes – a free personal data copy (Datenkopie) under Art. 15 GDPR shows everything stored about you. It's meant for checking and correcting your own data rather than for landlords, but it's the free way to review your record.
How long does it take to get one?
The paid BonitätsCheck is often delivered digitally within a short time; the free data copy can take longer. Request whichever you need before you start applying.
What if I have no SCHUFA record yet?
A just-arrived applicant may have little or no data – that's empty, not negative. Offer other security such as an employment contract, employer letter or guarantor. See SCHUFA for foreigners.