2023-06-04 19:15:04
► 4.1 million poorly housed
This is what emerges from the latest report by the Abbé Pierre Foundation, published on 1is last February. Of these 4.1 million poorly housed people in France, there are more than 1 million people without personal accommodation, including 330,000 homeless people (a figure that has doubled since 2012), and nearly 3 million people living in very difficult housing (overcrowding, lack of comfort, etc.).
To respond to the double shortage of social housing and emergency accommodation, the actors gathered within the CNR-Logement have tabled several concrete proposals, such as the relaunch of the “Housing first” plan, intended to give as a priority, real housing for the homeless rather than creating accommodation places, or even support for the construction and renovation of public housing.
According to the Social Union for Housing (USH), 2.3 million households are now waiting for social housing, ie 100,000 more than a year ago. Last year, only 95,000 new construction approvals were granted to HLM offices, while the annual target set by the executive was 125,000.
► New home sales down 34.3% over one year
For months now, the building sector has been sounding the alarm bells over new construction that is collapsing. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Energy Transition, building permits fell by 14.3% over one year in April. As for sales, they would have collapsed by 34.3% in the first quarter of the year (according to the Federation of Real Estate Developers).
The explanations are not only to be found on the supply side – with the rise in the prices of land, energy and raw materials -, but also on the demand side. With the rise in mortgages, buyers have massively turned away from new homes that have become too expensive. Less than 100,000 new home sales were thus recorded in 2022, leaving developers in sometimes untenable situations.
To support construction, several measures are therefore envisaged by the government, such as the creation of a private lessor status, which would encourage households to invest in real estate rental, or the extension of the Pinel system for investors, even if it is considered very expensive by Bercy. Land prices could also be capped in some cities.
► 3.1 million vacant homes
A considerable figure which should however be qualified: of the 3.1 million vacant dwellings, which today represent 8.3% of the stock in France, only 1.3 million are in a situation of structural vacancy, that is i.e. empty for at least two years.
During the CNR, many architects pleaded for the rehabilitation of these vacant dwellings, some even considering that this would be enough to solve a large part of the housing crisis in France.
Among the ideas circulating, the increase in taxation on these dwellings is often advocated by elected officials. Last February, Housing Minister Olivier Klein also declared in the press that the requisition of vacant dwellings could be leverage, but only as a last resort.
► 5.2 million thermal sieves
The issue of the thermal renovation of buildings is both social (fighting against fuel poverty and increasing purchasing power) and environmental (reducing energy consumption).
According to the latest figures from the National Observatory for Energy Renovation (ONRE), published on July 22, France has 5.2 million “energy sieves” out of 30 million main residences, i.e. 17.3% of the stock which is classified F or G.
To improve the renovation aid systems, the CNR defends the idea of a one-stop shop for renovation aid, and the establishment of a dedicated bank. For her part, Elisabeth Borne announced in April the strengthening of the much criticized MaPrimeRenov ‘, and the creation of a support system for households. Measures are also expected on the vocational training side.
► 57.4% owners
This is a figure which may seem relatively high but which has stagnated since the 1980s and has even decreased slightly in recent years, showing the extent to which access to property has come to a halt in France.
With the rise in interest rates, which in April led to a fall in loans of more than 40% over one year, things may not improve in the future. Especially since at the same time, real estate market prices are struggling to adjust.
To improve access to property, the government could once again extend the zero-interest loan in 2024, as it had already done in 2023. Measures could also be taken in agreement with the Banque de France to ease the credit access rules.
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