Permit for real estate agents, loan brokers, property developers, building supervisors and residential property managers Apply for a permit

You can apply for a permit in writing or online.

Online application

• If you want to submit the application online, use the link to the online service.
• As a citizen, you must register via BundID. As a sole trader or organization, you can log in to the WSP account using "My company account". Use your personal ELSTER certificate or the organization certificate for this.
• The online service guides you step by step through the application process.

Written application:

• Use the forms under "Forms".
• Send the completed and signed form together with the required documents to the relevant office.
• Once you have submitted your written application, your commercial reliability will be checked on the basis of the information you have provided, the documents you have submitted and other official inquiries.

Once you have submitted the application and all documents are complete, the competent authority will check whether you meet all the requirements.
If you meet all the requirements, you will receive the permit.
You may only start working once you have received the permit.
At the same time as you start your activity, you must register the business with the authority responsible for business registration.

More information

The above-mentioned activities requiring a permit may not be commenced before the permit has been issued. Operating without the required permit constitutes an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine of up to €5,000.00.

Real estate agents and residential property managers are required by law to undergo further training: they and their directly involved employees must complete a total of 20 hours of further training within three calendar years. If a person has a qualification as a real estate agent or as a certified real estate specialist, this obligation only begins three years after obtaining the qualification. The corresponding certificates must be kept for five years and presented to the competent authority upon request.

Property developers and construction supervisors are also subject to an annual audit requirement in accordance with the German Real Estate Agent and Property Developer Ordinance (MaBV). Compliance with the legal requirements must be checked by a suitable auditor. The audit report must be submitted to the competent authority by December 31 of the following year at the latest and kept for the entire duration of the commercial activity. If no activities subject to inspection have been carried out, a so-called negative declaration must be submitted instead.

Irrespective of this, real estate agents, property developers and construction supervisors are subject to special accounting, recording, information and notification obligations. Residential property managers must also maintain professional liability insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 500,000 per insured event and EUR 1,000,000 per year.

In the case of legal entities, the requirements apply both to the company itself and to its authorized representatives (e.g. managing directors or board members). An extract from the commercial register must also be submitted. Furthermore, the legal entity itself must be the policyholder of the professional liability insurance, whereby the name in the licensing procedure must match the name of the policyholder.

• Completed application form
• Copy of identity card or passport with registration certificate, or presentation on site.
• Proof of orderly financial circumstances
  
  • if you are resident in Germany:
    
    • Extract from the debtor register
    • Certificate from the insolvency court
    • Certificate in tax matters (from the tax office)
  • for residence abroad:
    
    • Documents from your home country that prove your orderly financial circumstances
• Extract from the list of debtors of the enforcement court
  

  The debtors' register can only be inspected online at www.vollstreckungsportal.de. Registration is necessary here. You will then receive a PIN by post, which you can use to start your search. The result of your query must be printed out and enclosed with your application.

• Information from the insolvency court as to whether proceedings have been opened
  

  (to be applied for at the district court of the place of residence)

• Certificate in tax matters of the tax office
  

  (to be applied for at the tax office of the place of residence)

• Proof of the legal form of the company:
  
  • with registered office in Germany:
    
    • for companies entered in a register: Extract from the commercial register or the partnership register or the register of cooperatives
  • if the company is based abroad:
    
    • Documents from the country of domicile that prove the legal form
• Extract from the commercial register
  

  if the applicant is a legal person

• Proof of personal reliability:
  
  • If you are resident in Germany:
    
    • Application for a certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
    • Application for an extract from the central trade register for submission to an authority
  • For residence abroad:
    
    • Documents from your country of residence that prove your personal reliability
• Certificate of good conduct in document type OG (for submission to an authority)
  

  (to be applied for at the local registration office responsible for your residence)

• Information from the central trade register in document type 9
  

  This can be applied for via the trade registration office. The Senator for Economics, Ports and Transformation -Commercial Affairs-, Katharinenklosterhof 3, 28195 Bremen should be specified as the recipient when applying.

  If a legal entity is planned as the operator, information for this legal entity and the entire management is required.

• Professional liability insurance confirmation
  

  For the activity in residential property management, a professional liability insurance confirmation is additionally required. Further information on the scope of insurance can be found in § 15 MaBV.

• Online application
  

• Application for a permit according to § 34c Gewerbeordnung (GewO) (legal entity) (pdf, 1.3 MB)
  

• Application for a permit according to § 34c Gewerbeordnung (GewO) (natural person) (pdf, 1.1 MB)
  

294,00 EUR bis 1.001,00 EUR

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

The permit must be granted before the start of operations.
If you have applied for a license to work as a real estate agent, property developer, building supervisor or residential property manager, the license is deemed to have been granted if the authority has not made a decision on your application within three months of receiving the complete documentation
You must notify the authority responsible for business registrations of the start of your activity at the same time.

How long does it take to process

Not specified. Please contact the responsible office.

• § 34c der Gewerbeordnung (GewO)
• Makler- und Bauträgerverordnung
• Kostenverordnung der Wirtschaftsverwaltung (WKostV)
• § 6 a Abs. 1 GewO