Key takeaways
- Renting a part-time weekday home with Kowo differs from a full-time primary residence lease not in the number of documents but in the absence of a guarantor.
- The mandatory core checklist comprises two fundamental documents: a valid proof of identity and a proof of primary residential address.
- Proof of primary address shows that you already have a primary residence elsewhere: the rented home remains a secondary residence.
- The property host may, if needed according to their criteria, request additional documents from the list Kowo takes from Decree n° 2015-1437 (latest tax assessment, recent pay slips).
- No guarantors are required: the Kowo lease comes with no guarantee (cautionnement).
- Submitting your documents directly through the Kowo platform guarantees maximum data security and prevents identity theft.
You have found your ideal weekday home: two or three fixed nights per week near your workplace, with rent strictly proportioned to the nights you actually occupy. Once your request is accepted, the host asks for your application file: always two documents, others if they wish. What are the mandatory documents for a furnished secondary residence rental, what additional documents can a host request, and how does Kowo simplify and secure this process? This guide details the applicable rules.
The good news is that the tenant application for a defined-days lease involves no guarantor requirement, unlike the formalities of year-round primary residential leases. There is also no obligation to accumulate dozens of documents upfront.
What governs a part-time furnished rental application
The contract governing part-time rentals at Kowo is a Civil Code secondary residence lease (Articles 1714 and following of the French Civil Code), not a primary residence lease governed by the Law of July 6, 1989.
The host simply needs to verify your identity and confirm that the property serves as a secondary weekday residence.
For a primary residence lease, the list of supporting documents a landlord can request from a tenant is set by Decree n° 2015-1437 of November 5, 2015 (accessible on Légifrance), issued under Article 22-2 of the Law of July 6, 1989: this list is limitative. The Kowo lease falls under the Civil Code, but Kowo applies the same list: a host cannot request any document outside it through the platform.
Mandatory core documents and optional additional proofs
To submit your rental request on Kowo, the process distinguishes between the mandatory core documents and additional documents a host may request based on their criteria.
1. Mandatory core checklist (2 documents)
Two documents are strictly required to validate any application:
- A valid government-issued ID: valid national identity card, passport, driving licence, or residence permit. This allows the host to verify the civil identity of the tenant signing the lease.
- A proof of primary residence address: a single document among your last 3 rent receipts (or a certificate from your previous landlord), a sworn statement from the person hosting you, a certificate of domicile election (attestation d’élection de domicile), your latest property tax notice (or the title deed of your primary residence).
Why is proof of primary address essential?
This document shows that you already have a primary residence elsewhere: the rented home remains a secondary residence, which places the contract outside the Law of July 6, 1989 (Article 2).
2. Additional income proofs (upon host request)
Depending on property requirements and management criteria, the host retains full right to request additional proof of professional situation and income, taken from the list of Decree n° 2015-1437:
- Your latest tax assessment notice (avis d’imposition) or non-taxation notice.
- Your three most recent pay slips.
- For your professional situation, any recent document proving your professional activity.
No guarantor required
Unlike traditional residential renting where a third-party guarantor (caution solidaire) is almost systematically required, no guarantor is required with Kowo. Monthly rent is pro-rated for part-time use (e.g., €476 per month for 2 nights per week), and the Kowo lease comes with no guarantee (cautionnement).
Document security guaranteed by Kowo
Submitting identity documents and personal records requires total privacy. By submitting your supporting documents directly through the Kowo platform:
- Your data is encrypted and secured: you never need to email confidential files via unencrypted channels.
- Protection against identity theft: the host checks that the documents conform and the platform applies a security watermark to prevent fraudulent reuse by third parties.
- Privacy preserved: only the information strictly necessary to draft and validate the lease is shared with the host.
The general list of Decree n° 2015-1437
For a primary residence lease under the Law of July 6, 1989, unfurnished or furnished, Decree n° 2015-1437 sets the list of documents a landlord may require from a rental applicant. Here are extracts (non-exhaustive list):
- Identity: a valid identity document bearing the holder’s photograph, for example a French or foreign national identity card, a French or foreign passport, or a French or foreign driving licence.
- Address: a single proof of address, for example your last three rent receipts (or, failing that, a certificate from your previous landlord), a sworn statement from the person hosting you stating that you live at their home, a certificate of domicile election (attestation d’élection de domicile), or your latest property tax notice (or, failing that, the title deed of your primary residence).
- Professional activity: for other professionals, any recent document proving professional activity.
- Income: the latest or penultimate tax assessment or non-taxation notice, the last three pay slips.
This list applies to rentals that constitute the tenant’s primary residence. On Kowo, the host chooses which documents to request from the platform’s catalogue, once your request is accepted.
What a landlord can NEVER legally demand from you
For a primary residence lease, the list in Decree n° 2015-1437 is exhaustive. Any document not explicitly listed in this decree is strictly forbidden.
Landlords are notably forbidden from demanding bank account details (RIB, Relevé d’Identité Bancaire) during application review, as well as:
- Holding deposits or money transfers prior to lease signing.
- Bank account standing certificates.
- Criminal record excerpts.
- Extra passport photos.
- Home insurance certificates at the application stage (insurance certificates are submitted upon contract key handover).
What this means for property hosts
For a property host, requiring an overly complex rental application on a part-time property turns away qualified tenants (executives, consultants, mobile employees).
The mandatory core checklist (ID + proof of primary address), combined if necessary with supplementary income proof, enables rapid booking validation while maintaining legal security for both parties.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are mandatory in the application file?
The mandatory core checklist includes only a valid government-issued ID and a proof of primary residence address, requested once your request is accepted.
Can a property host ask for additional documents?
Yes. Property hosts may request additional income proofs (tax assessment, recent pay slips) within the strict limits of Decree n° 2015-1437.
Why is proof of primary address requested for a rental?
It is the document showing that you already have a primary residence elsewhere: the rented home remains a secondary residence, which places the contract outside the Law of July 6, 1989 (Article 2).
Is a guarantor mandatory to rent on Kowo?
No. No guarantor is required to sign a defined-days lease on Kowo.
Are my personal documents protected on Kowo?
Yes. Submitting your documents on the Kowo platform guarantees encrypted handling, automatic security watermarking, and complete protection against identity theft.
Once your documents are ready, review your future lease framework in our guide to the defined-days lease explained. To organize your work rhythm across two cities, read our guide on dual residence and living apart for work. All practical advice is gathered in the Commuters dossier.