A “new arsenal” to drive out unworthy housing from the city center of Millau

Les logements insalubres seront chassés du centre-ville de Millau Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

The community of communes now has a "rental permit" to fight against slumlords in the city center.

The decision delighted President Emmanuelle Gazel, "happy and proud" during her presentation to the community council of January 29. The fight against substandard housing was one of the spearheads of his campaign and deliberation 29 supports this turn taken against slumlords in the city center of Millau, initially. 

Elected officials voted for a "rental permit", which now requires landlords to have the housing they offer for rental validated by community services, when it has more than 15 years old. If the rental conditions are not good "prosecution may be initiated by the State services", presents Didier Carrière.

"Strengthening the policy we pursue"

"This reinforces the policy we are leading against unworthy and unsanitary housing, supports Emmanuelle Gazel. It strengthens our legal arsenal and it's an additional solution to make these homes healthier."

Initially, the "rental permit", as it is commonly called, is applied to half of the fish in downtown Millavois. Its northern part, (rue Droite, Capelle, Bonald and rue du Mandarous). "It's a colossal job, supports the mayor of Millau. The perimeter will be extended little by little." Indeed, 800 housing units would be affected by this rental permit initially.& nbsp;"This is an area where housing is particularly degraded, a sector also part of the Priority District of the City (QPV), retained by the services of the State on December 28, 2023, testifying to a real issue, also social in this district, justifies Didier Carrière when reading the report.

This new system will be adopted within at least six months. "The date of entry into force of the system cannot be set less than six months from the publication of the adoption of this decision", mentions the community text approved this Monday.

Effective within six months

If the deliberation was carried out voted in community council à unanimously this Monday, January 29, it does not come into force immediately. As it is stipulated; in the deliberation voted by all those elected present, "the date of entry into force of the system cannot be fixed at the end of the year. a delay less than six months à effective from the publication of this decision". Once it is in force, owners, individuals or professionals, of housing more than fifteen years old, will have to establish steps to make assess their property by agents dedicated to this task. "The Communityé of communes Millau Grands Causses will proceed to the reception of requests, their registration, their instruction and control. It will implement all means aimed at achieving this goal. ensure perfect communication of the system with landlords and real estate professionals."

Provision in force in Hérault

This system has already proven itself elsewhere and in particular in Montpellier where it has been in force since 2021, notably in the Celleneuve district. "There are additional administrative procedures but it’s efficient. City services must visit between each relocation. And they are responsive to come and submit their report in less than a month", testifies Arnaud Bokobza, real estate agent in Montpellier, in contact with unworthy housing.

The experiment was rather positive in the Hérault prefecture since the Métropole de Montpellier, guarantor of the system, decided to extend it to the suburb sector of Figuerolles since October 1st. The "rental license" is also in place in Sète and was validated by the community of municipalities at the beginning of October and will be active on April 1st. If Millau does not have the same proportion of housing classified as unworthy, they still remain a reality in fish. "We also have a whole arsenal that can support home renovation, recalled Emmanuelle in particular Gazel. When they don't want to, from now on we have all the means to constrain these slumlords who collect CAF without scruple." The hunt to unworthy rentals is therefore launched.