The present invention relates to a method for preparing polyether carbonate polyols by the addition of alkylene oxides and carbon dioxide onto H-functional starter compounds. The method is characterized in that at least one urethane alcohol according to formula (II) is used as an H-functional starter compound, wherein R 1 represents a linear or branched C2 to C24-alkylene which can be optionally interrupted by heteroatoms such as O, S or N and can be substituted; R2 represents a linear or branched C2 to C24-alkylene which can be optionally interrupted by heteroatoms such as O, S or N and can be substituted; R3 represents H, linear or branched C1 to C24-alkyl, C3 to C24-cycloalkyl, C4 to C24-aryl, C5 to C24-arylalkyl, C2 to C24-alkenyl, C2 to 24-alkinyl, that can each be optionally interrupted by heteroatoms such as O, S, or N and/or may each be substituted with alkyl, aryl, and/or hydroxyl.