Four good reasons: Why ohne-makler uses rentcard
Lukas Draheim · Real estate expert at rentcard
Published June 12, 2026 · Updated June 12, 2026
4 min read
Chapter overview
Commission-free rental sounds attractive. No agent, no fee, direct contact between landlord and tenant. But precisely because no agent stands between them, the usual pre-screening of applicants falls away. That creates a specific problem: how does a tenant signal that their application is credible? And how does a landlord protect against forged documents?
Key takeaways
- ohne-makler.de is the largest commission-free rental platform in Germany for private landlords.
- Without an agent, there is no intermediate screening of applications, which increases fraud risk on both sides.
- The rentcard integration solves four specific problems: simplicity, verified creditworthiness via CRIF, identity verification, and secure document sharing.
- Tenants create their rentcard profile once and share it for any ohne-makler application via a link.
- Landlords see a verified profile with a CRIF credit report without requesting documents by email.
What is ohne-makler.de?
ohne-makler.de is Germany's largest platform for direct rental and sale of properties without agent commission. Private landlords can list their apartment there without engaging an agency. That means no agent fee for landlords and no commission for tenants, which since the 2015 tenancy law reform would be payable by the landlord anyway.
The platform offers property owners services from floor plan preparation to valuation and posts listings on several major portals simultaneously. The business model deliberately relies on both sides taking responsibility. But that is also where the weak point lies: without an agent pre-screening applications, the credit check and identity verification fall entirely on the landlord.
Why commission-free rental creates a verification problem
Traditionally an agent handles several functions simultaneously: coordinating viewings, screening applicants, checking documents for authenticity, and presenting the landlord with a shortlist. When the agent is removed, those steps disappear. Landlords on ohne-makler often receive dozens of applications by email, sometimes with payslips as JPEGs or PDFs whose authenticity is almost impossible to verify.
For tenants the reverse problem arises: how do I signal that my application is trustworthy when competing against 40 other applicants and there is no shared institution acting as a trust anchor? This is precisely the double problem the rentcard integration into ohne-makler resolves.
No agent, no buffer
The four integration points in detail
1. Simplicity: one application, one click
The rentcard profile appears directly in the application flow on ohne-makler. Apartment-seekers who already have a rentcard account do not need to re-enter their data. The profile is pre-filled with verified details and can be sent to the landlord as a secure link in a few clicks. Creating the profile for the first time typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Creditworthiness: CRIF report without anxiety
The credit check in the rentcard folder is based on a CRIF query that is requested and verified directly within the rentcard system. The tenant sees their result first and then decides whether to share it. No PDF is sent by email that could be forwarded on. The landlord sees only what the tenant releases.
This solves a real problem on both sides: many tenants avoid traditional credit checks because each query can leave an entry. The CRIF report through rentcard is a self-inquiry that does not negatively affect the score. Landlords in turn receive a verified report instead of a self-made screenshot.
3. Identity: verified without PostIdent
Identity verification with rentcard works without a PostIdent procedure and without a video call. Tenants upload a photo ID that is automatically checked for authenticity. The result appears as a verified badge in the profile. Fake applicants using someone else's identity are filtered out before the first viewing appointment.
4. Data security: one link instead of email attachments
Applying for an apartment means sharing sensitive data: ID card numbers, bank statements, payslips. Sent by email, these files end up on servers over which neither tenant nor landlord has any control. rentcard instead transmits a single secure link. The actual data stays on servers in Germany. The landlord can view the profile but cannot download copies of the raw documents.
How it works in practice
From the tenant side
You create your rentcard profile once at my.rentcard.app. There you upload your ID, connect your bank account for income verification via Open Banking, and request the CRIF credit report. When you find a listing on ohne-makler and apply, a prompt appears to add your rentcard profile. You release the link. From that moment the landlord sees a complete, verified profile.
The profile can be reused for any number of applications. The Ratgeber article on creating a rental application folder covers assembling a complete profile with cover letter and all supporting documents in detail. That article also includes tips for viewing appointments.
From the landlord side
Landlords on ohne-makler see a verified badge directly on applications that include a rentcard profile. One click opens the profile with all relevant information: confirmed identity, CRIF credit report, proof of income, and any rent-free certificate. No follow-up emails, no return of documents, no comparing self-created PDFs.
This significantly reduces decision time. Landlords who would normally spend several days reviewing applications and chasing missing documents can make a selection within hours. For tenants that means less waiting time and faster responses.
Create once, use everywhere
rentcard tip
Get your apartment faster with a verified profile
- Tenant self-disclosure
- Personal data
- Reusable for multiple applications
- Access to partner listings
Deckblatt
Deckblatt
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions about apartment hunting in Germany.
How do I apply on ohne-makler using rentcard?
You create your profile once at my.rentcard.app and release the verified link in the ohne-makler application flow. The landlord sees your creditworthiness, identity, and proof of income without email attachments.
What documents does a rentcard folder on ohne-makler contain?
The folder contains a CRIF credit report, verified proof of income via Open Banking, confirmed identity, and optionally a rent-free certificate from a previous landlord.
Is the CRIF query through rentcard free?
The self-inquiry through rentcard has a fee, but is significantly cheaper than traditional credit reports from third-party providers. Unlike external queries, it does not negatively affect your credit score.
Can I use my rentcard profile on other platforms too?
Yes, the rentcard profile is not tied to ohne-makler. You can share the same verified link when applying on other portals or send it directly to private landlords.
