Too-rich tenants evicted from public housing ? How the government intends to end “for life” social housing

Guillaume Kasbarian a affirmé que plus de 8 % des locataires de HLM ne seraient plus éligibles à un logement social s’ils en demandaient un aujourd’hui. MAXPPP – Vincent Isore

The government intends to promote the end of "lifetime" social housing. tenants who have "largely exceeded the income ceilings", announced this Thursday, April 11, 2024 Guillaume Kasbarian, the Minister for Housing, in an interview with the newspaper Les Echos.

"When we have 5.2 million social housing units in France and 1.8 million households legitimately applying to enter it, is it normal that they are prevented from doing so when there are people within the social housing system whose situation has largely changed since they were allocated their housing? ?", asks the minister in the columns of the economic daily.

According to Les Echos, Guillaume Kasbarian affirmed that more than 8% of HLM tenants would no longer be eligible for social housing if they applied for one today.

A regular and obligatory evaluation of social landlords

"We must re-examine the relevance of continuing to occupy social housing for those who have largely exceeded the income ceilings, have been able to inherit, and sometimes have a second home in their possession, and whose heritage – and this is the meaning of life – has evolved", continues the minister.

It intends to require from social landlords a regular and obligatory assessment of "the personal, financial and property situation" tenants of social housing. "This will first allow you to question the renewal of the lease. And then to question the level of rents", adds Mr. Kasbarian, without giving further details.

Currently, HLM tenants must respond annually to a "resources survey" to attest to their economic situation.

If they exceed a certain resource ceiling, their lessor can increase their rent, and if they report even higher income, their lessor can in certain cases refuse to renew their lease.

The text presented in May to the Council of Ministers

These provisions should be integrated into a bill intended as a broader text to promote housing for the middle classes and presented to the Council of Ministers in May, for examination in the Senate in June.< /p>

The text must also give more power to mayors in the allocation of social housing or in the decision to sell it, detailed Guillaume Kasbarian.

The Minister is also committed to maintaining "the target objectives of 20 to 25% of social housing" in the municipalities affected by the SRU law (Solidarity and urban renewal), the upcoming reform of which has given rise to many concerns.