Tenants should know: this information requested by landlords is illegal, and should not be given out.

Not all personal information may be requested by a landlord or real estate agency for the purpose of renting.

"But why are they asking me that?" Mélanie (not her real name) found it hard to believe. For several days, this thirty-something woman had been looking for a place to live in the south of France. Exit the capital: it was time to return to her home region, the Gard. After having difficulty finding an apartment in Paris, she thought she'd easily find her new home, presenting a certain financial solidity with her 3,000 euros monthly income.

With their file well prepared (identity papers, pay slips, tax notices, etc.) and several apartments selected, calls to agencies multiplied to schedule viewings. While with some agencies, this was quickly organized, others had requirements that exceeded the legal framework.

"To view a 59m² two-bedroom apartment, an agency asked me to send my application in advance and fill out an information sheet," explains Mélanie. So far, it's been the usual procedure. But when she fills out the form provided by the professional, the future resident of Gard is taken aback. "There was a line asking me to fill out my social security number, as well as that of my guarantor," she says. She considers this a request inappropriate for a rental property and decides not to complete it.

He was right to do so. Indeed, it is illegal for real estate agencies or landlords to ask prospective tenants for their social security number. A copy of a Vitale card is also not permitted. Since November 5, 2015, a list has expressly detailed all the documents that may be requested from a tenant and their guarantor. The social security number is not listed, making it completely illegal to ask for it.

This is all the more dangerous because in the event of a data leak or malicious use of information, the social security number can easily be used for fraud and lead the person into a scam that they would only suffer.

Mélanie isn't alone in this. Other accounts on forums and social media report similar requests from landlords. In this situation, it's necessary to issue a legal warning, or even initiate legal proceedings. A penalty of €3,000 is provided for an individual and €15,000 for a professional, with a ban on rental management, for requests for unauthorized supporting documents. As for our thirty-year-old, she was still able to view the property, despite her refusal to fully complete the information sheet.