You have just signed a lease and your tenant is asking you for a document to receive their housing assistance. This document is the CAF rent certificate. Without it, the Caisse d’allocations familiales cannot calculate or pay the APL, ALS, or ALF. The form exists in paper version (Cerfa 10840*07) and in digital format on the CAF website. Let’s see how to fill it out correctly and avoid back-and-forth with the administration.
Housing tax identification number: the field that many forget
As of January 1, 2024, every new residential lease must include a 12-digit housing tax identification number. This number comes from the land registry database of the DGFiP and appears on the property owner’s property tax notice.
What does this have to do with the rent certificate? Recent landlord guides recommend including this identifier directly in the form submitted to the CAF. The goal: to speed up the processing of the file and reduce requests for additional documents.
In practice, if you are a landlord, locate this number on your latest property tax notice before filling anything out. If you are a tenant, ask your landlord for it at the same time as the certificate. This will save you a second exchange a few weeks later when the CAF requests the missing information.
To better understand the complete procedure and obtain a CAF rent certificate without wasting time, you first need to know who fills out what.
CAF rent certificate: who fills out the form and how
The tenant does not fill out the rent certificate. It is the landlord (or their representative) who must complete it, and then send it to the tenant or directly to the CAF. This division of roles often creates confusion, especially when a property manager is involved.
The information to provide
The form requires specific data. Here are the main sections:
- The complete contact details of the landlord (name, address, status as a natural or legal person) and those of the tenant(s) listed on the lease.
- The characteristics of the housing: address, type (furnished or unfurnished), living area, and whether the housing is regulated or not. This last mention determines the type of assistance granted.
- The amount of rent excluding charges, the amount of charges, the effective date of the lease, and the date of entry into the premises. If these dates differ, both must be indicated.
A common mistake: indicating the rent including charges instead of the bare rent. The CAF systematically separates these two amounts for its calculation. A poorly allocated rent delays the payment of assistance.
Regulated housing: why it is crucial
You may have noticed the “regulated housing” box on the form. It does not concern all landlords, but it affects the amount of assistance. A regulated housing qualifies for APL. An unregulated housing directs towards ALS or ALF depending on the tenant’s family situation.
If you are unsure whether your property is regulated, check with your departmental CAF or consult your signed agreement with the State. Checking the wrong box can lead to a recalculation several months later, with unpleasant adjustments for the tenant.
Online landlord space: the online declaration that replaces the paper Cerfa
The CAF provides an online landlord space that allows for the digital completion of the rent certificate. This service avoids the paper form and its postal uncertainties.
From this space, the owner or their representative can declare the amount of rent, report a tenant’s departure, an unpaid rent, an end of management, or a change in the number of roommates. All these operations are done without mail.
A point often overlooked: the annual online rent declaration in July is now generalized. Every year, the CAF asks landlords to confirm or update the rent amount as of July 1. This declaration is a condition for maintaining the payment of assistance for the following year. A landlord who does not do this risks blocking their tenant’s file.
To access this space, go to the caf.fr website, under the “Professionals” section, then “Landlord Space.” Creating the account requires a landlord beneficiary number, assigned during the first rental declaration to the CAF.
Rent certificate refused or incomplete: concrete blockages
The most common case: the landlord refuses to fill out the certificate. Legally, there is no legal obligation requiring the landlord to provide this document. The rent receipt, however, is mandatory as soon as the tenant requests it (Article 21 of the law of July 6, 1989).
In case of persistent refusal, the tenant can contact their CAF to report the situation. The CAF has means to prompt the landlord, including sending a letter reminding them that the direct payment of assistance to the owner is conditional on the proper transmission of the certificate.
Another frequent blockage: a certificate filled out incompletely. It often lacks the landlord’s signature, the effective date of the lease, or the rent/charges allocation. Each empty field generates a rejection or a request for additional information that prolongs processing by several weeks.
Rent receipt and rent certificate: two distinct documents
The receipt proves that the rent has been paid for a given month. The rent certificate describes the conditions of the lease to allow for the calculation of assistance. The CAF does not accept a receipt in place of a certificate. If your landlord sends you a receipt thinking it is sufficient, forward them the Cerfa form or direct them to the online landlord space.
The distinction may seem administrative, but it conditions the triggering of the payment. Without a valid rent certificate, no housing assistance is calculated.
The most reliable way to simplify the process remains the online declaration via the CAF landlord space. The paper form still works, but each postal sending adds a delay. A landlord who takes ten minutes in their online space saves their tenant several weeks and ensures that the direct payment of assistance (when it is in place) will not be interrupted.
