Proof of address
Proof of address is an official document confirming a borrower's primary residence at a recent date. Required in every mortgage file, it allows the lender to verify the applicant's residential identity, fulfill regulatory know-your-customer (KYC) obligations, and confirm that the declared address matches the borrower's actual living situation.
Key points
- The document must be dated within the last three months (six months for certain items such as a rent receipt).
- Accepted documents include: water, gas, electricity, or fixed-line phone bills, rent receipts, property tax notices, or tax assessment notices showing the address.
- A borrower living rent-free must provide a signed accommodation certificate from the host along with the host's own proof of address.
- The address must exactly match the one shown on all other documents in the file.
- A mobile phone bill alone is generally not accepted.
Frequently asked questions
How can a borrower provide proof of address when all utility bills are in their partner's name?
A combination of a utility bill in the partner's name and an official document (joint tax notice or passport) showing the same address is generally accepted. Some lenders also accept a signed declaration from the co-resident confirming that both parties share the address.
Why does the bank require a recent proof of address if the borrower has lived at the same place for years?
The recency requirement is a regulatory obligation under anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules (AML/CFT). Even for a long-standing client, the lender must demonstrate it verified residency status at a date close to credit approval. An older document does not meet this requirement regardless of how long the borrower has actually lived there.
What is the difference between a rent receipt and an accommodation certificate, and which carries more weight?
A rent receipt is issued by a landlord and evidences actual payment, making it generally more convincing. An accommodation certificate is a declaration written by the host (no financial consideration); it is accepted but scrutinized more carefully because it involves no verifiable financial flow. The lender may request the host's identity document alongside it.
In practice
A 27-year-old first-time buyer has lived with his parents his entire life and has never had a utility bill in his name. His broker advises him to ask his father for a handwritten accommodation certificate, a copy of the father's national ID, and a recent electricity bill. These three documents together form a valid proof of address for the lender.
Put it into practice with CourtImmo
See how CourtImmo software helps brokers on this topic:
Official sources
- Obtaining a mortgage loan · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Mortgage credit (official guide) · Service-Public.gouv.fr