Income tax assessment as reference???????????

[Guest CFrost]

We are negotiating a long term house rental and as well as copies of passports etc. the house owner has asked for a copy of our latest income tax assessment.  This despite the fact that we can easily prove that we have paid our rent at our present house for the last plus 3 years and have references etc.. Is this 'normale' in France.  It seems a bit over the top.

Help soon please, we have to see her tomorrow a.m.

Regards

Anne

[Richard-R]

He wants proof of income, so just show him your last year of so's bank statements.

[Teamedup]

I don't think I would be very keen on giving this either. There again I don't think I would want them looking at my bank statements.

I'm pretty sure that there are limits as to what can be asked. Why don't you contact one of associations for locataires and ask what they can legally ask for.

The trouble ofcourse is that if you don't give them what they want, then they'll find someone else, well around here they will.

[Deby]

Yes, I have heard people ask for this too. 

Sometimes it is used to verify your salary and the fact that you are considered an honest, law abiding citizen i.e. you pay your taxes etc.  That is why they ask for it.  There are horror stories and the would-be landlord (proprietor) will try and seek as much re-assurance from a potential locateur as possible.  The reason is that locateurs have incredible rights in France.  You could stay a tenant for years without paying an absolute sous (penny) and it would entail a lengthy legal battle for the proprietor - I guess this is why they ask for so much information - they want to check that you are credible. 

Or

they are just damn nosey.  However, I think the former is more likely.

Hope this helps.

Deby

[Guest CFrost]

Thanks all.  Looks as I will have to offer something besides 40 odd months proof of payment on time.  Still it is a bit annoying and we only want the wretched place because the garden is perfect for the darn dog!  Perhaps we should think again as the landlady lives just across the road and may end up being a bit of a nightmare.

[Teamedup]

http://www.anil.org/adils/carte.htm

If you check on this website you'll be able to see where the nearest association for locataires is near to you. They'll tell you all the rules and regs.

[Ron Avery]

Sight of and in some cases a copy of your last statement of impots for proof of income is quite a normal request in France, try getting  a finance agreement for extended credit in France without producing one

Being quite blunt, it does not matter what a website says, if the letter wants a statement of impots as proof of income for a long term let, then that is what you wil have to show him.  If you were in his shoes you would want to know that your tenants had the means to pay and your last tax return is as good a proof as anything.

[Teamedup]

The trouble ofcourse is that if you don't give them what they want, then they'll find someone else, well around here they will.

 

I said the above, but I would still check up.  

One can easily get walked over and messed around and generally asked for things that are not the person who is doing the asking's bloody business. I agree our bank has asked for a copy of this when we have wanted loans, they get the salary and they see the DD for the impots, so nothing they haven't seen before. However, the Mairie haven't seen a copy of it, and they have asked.

If it feels wrong and intrusive, my reckoning is that it usually is. And as a general rule I initially give the minimum out and NEVER automatically what is asked for without some reflection and often checking up on my part.

[Deby]

Meant to say as well, but you have probably seen her by now.  Some people will ask for a guarantor. If you fail on paying your rent they can claim against your guarantor.

Deby.

[Will]

Somebody at another forum (vienormande) has just posted to say that he knows somebody who has been asked by their bank for copies of French tax documents to prove he is resident in France - can't say I've heard of that before.

[Teamedup]

I seem to remember always being asked for a copy of our impot forms when we have asked for loans. As I said, our bank already sees these figures, so in this case I'm not bothered.

I just thought that it was part of their process of working out our ability to pay our loans back.

[Mpprh]

Hi

in view of the enormous costs of signing a long term lease with a bad tenant, agents take every possible precaution on behalf of owners.

The agent I used was clued up on what she was entitled to ask for, and what was interdit.

The pack she presented me for tenants included pay slips, bank statements, tax returns, a statement from the employer that the pay slip was genuine and the employee still employed, a list of tenants outgoings, references from previous landlords etc.

Peter

 

 

 

[Guest CFrost]

Thanks for all the replies and on balance it does not sound so unreasonable now as it did when I was first asked for the assessment.  Also, I see now that perhaps we got off lightly - no requests for guarantors, lists of outgoings etc.  I have to confess that I did not see it quite in the same light as an application for a loan for instance but there are obviously hazards for the letter that I had not considered.

Anyway, now the deed is done and when I met her, prepared for her to be a real battle-axe, I found her to be charming, helpful and very reasonable about meeting us half way on the commencement date.  So, from 1 Sept. we will have a significantly smaller house but the dog will have the best part of an acre in which to cause havoc.

Anne

[Teamedup]

I did say to check up and that is exactly what I would do. They may be within their rights to ask for this. My point was that if I don't like the sound of something I always check to see if they are within their rights, because sometimes people aren't.