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Social housing key campaign issue in France

March 23, 2012

With the French presidential election just around the corner (April and May), housing policy has taken a front and center role. An estimated 10 million French citizens have been affected by the housing crisis and the acute lack of social housing.  According to national media reports, approximately 3.5 million people live in poor or unfit housing, or precarious situations.

Housing advocates are fighting to make social housing an election issue. This is good news, says FNAIM, the country’s leading real estate professional group, although noted in press release issued earlier this month that none of the proposals put forward by candidates is likely to remedy the crisis.

Among the proposals is a rent freeze which FNAIM says will cause of shift of investment which will, in turn, lead to a lack of supply.  Also proposed is an increase in building permits. Although FNAIM supports new construction, it believes the action, as proposed, will cause a further drop in housing prices.  

Since 2007 FNAIM has been calling candidates to develop a new rental supply with controlled rents while guaranteeing the lessor a proportionate compensation. FNAIM advocates lightening the tax burden on the landlords to encourage affordable rents, ensuring access to housing for low income families.

ICREA