... of candidate tenants in France
According to the provisions of Article 1 of Law 89-462 of 6 July 1989 aimed at improving rental relationships, "no person shall be denied rental of a dwelling on the grounds of origin, surname, physical appearance, gender, family/marital status, health, disability, lifestyle, sexual orientation, political opinions, union activities, membership or non-membership, actual or assumed, to a specific ethnic group, national, race or religion”.
These provisions shall apply to both private and social sector housing.
For that reason, the landlord (or real estate agency) cannot require the following documents from the candidate:
- identity photograph, apart from the one on the identity card;
- social insurance card;
- personal medical record;
- extract from the criminal record;
- copy of bank or postal account statement;
- certificate of “ healthy balance“ of the bank or postal account;
- certificate of no ongoing credit;
- authorization for a direct debit on the bank or postal account;
- copy of the marriage contract
- certification of cohabitation (“concubinage”);
- copy of the entire and detailed divorce ruling; only the paragraph stating that you are divorced can be requested;
- certificate of the previous landlord indicating that the lessee is up to date with his rent and charges, provided that the tenant can present other supporting documents;
- work certificate of the employer, provided that a work contract and latest payslips can be provided;
- balance of more than two years for the self-employed persons;
- a down payment/reservation check for the accommodation;
- the landlord cannot ask you to block in an account any property, effects, values, or a sum of money corresponding to more than one months’ rent, and even though you did not give a security deposit or the guarantee foreseen in article 2321 of the French civil code.
If you think that you are subject to discrimination in access to housing, you can contact the French HALDE (Haute Autorité de Lutte contre les Discriminations et pour l’Egalité) .
Legislation: article 22-2, 9 July 1989 Act, n° 89-462, aiming at rental relationships improvement, modified by the Law of 13 July 2006.
