In most states in this country a real estate license is required to assist one in obtaining a loan or buying/selling a home. However, one assisting an owner of real property to lease it out generally does not need a license to do so.In your instance, the person leasing you the unit directly needed no real estate license to do so. Many times landlord's lease their rentals out directly in the open market without the use of a real estate agent or use a property management company to do so.If you have issues with the rental that you had, you need to contact the leasing agent or the landlord about the situation. Perhaps you might be able to obtain some rebate for what you paid.Good luck.