The French Minister of Housing, Vincent Jeanbrun, has reintroduced a proposal for a "national file of rental debts," designed to allow landlords to check a potential tenant's history of rent payments. This system would function similarly to a judicial record used for certain jobs, enabling landlords to assess a tenant's reliability. The idea was first proposed in 2020 by the National Real Estate Federation (Fnaim), but it faced strong opposition from both tenant and property owner groups. According to Jeanbrun's team, the goal is to "restore confidence in rental relationships" by increasing "transparency." The proposal focuses on targeting individuals who repeatedly fail to pay rent over multiple months before resuming payments, rather than penalizing those who have resolved their financial issues. Critics of the proposal argue that it could unfairly harm tenants. David Rodrigues, a legal officer at the consumer association CLVC, called the plan "scandalous," claiming it treats late rent payments and chronic debtors equally, without considering the underlying reasons for non-payment. Manuel Domergue, director of studies at the Foundation for the Housing of the Disadvantaged, warned that tenants listed in such a file could face a "social death sentence," as they would likely be unable to find housing again. He also questioned the lack of balance, asking when a similar file for "bad landlords"—those who fail to return deposits, neglect repairs, or engage in discriminatory practices—would be created. Sylvain Grataloup, president of the National Union of Property Owners, acknowledged the proposal as a "fine idea" that could help address concerns of property owners. However, he noted that it could be "relatively stigmatizing" and might "collide with a number of problems." Grataloup emphasized the need to clearly define what constitutes a "bad payer," distinguishing between those facing temporary financial hardship and those intentionally avoiding payments. He was tasked by Jeanbrun with working to rebalance the relationship between landlords and tenants. An expert committee has indicated that the issue of property owners' confidence goes beyond just unpaid rent. While the proposal aims to address financial reliability, it also raises broader concerns about fairness, social exclusion, and the need for a more comprehensive approach to tenant-landlord relations. As the debate continues, the government faces the challenge of balancing the need for transparency with the protection of vulnerable tenants.