France's Social Housing Reform Proposal Withdrawn Before Assembly Review
Controversial legislation to limit lifetime tenancies in social housing shelved amid criticism and potential opposition
A proposed bill aimed at ending lifetime tenancies in social housing in France has been withdrawn just prior to its scheduled examination in the National Assembly.
The bill, put forth by former Housing Minister Guillaume Kasbarian, faced significant backlash from left-wing parties and industry professionals.
The decision to withdraw came as the bill was likely to encounter a motion to reject from La France Insoumise, a prominent leftist party, which would have impeded its progress.
Stéphane Vojetta, a Macronist deputy and the bill's rapporteur, explained the decision was a move towards "responsibility." He announced via social media that the bill would be reintroduced in a modified form in the coming days with clarifications to address the concerns raised by the opposition and the government.
The controversial proposal aimed to alter the current framework for social housing by lowering the income thresholds that would allow landlords to evict tenants or impose additional rent charges known as "sur-loyer." A key provision of the bill included allowing landlords to terminate leases if a tenant's income reaches a certain level, which Vojetta argued would affect about 30,000 social housing units.
Under the proposed changes, a tenant in Saint-Denis would be required to vacate their social housing if their salary exceeded €3,800 per month, down from the current threshold of €4,336.
As of late 2024, approximately 2.7 million households were on waiting lists for social housing in France.
The withdrawal of the bill has been welcomed by leftist lawmakers, with François Piquemal of La France Insoumise expressing satisfaction that their rejection motion had a decisive impact, ultimately rendering a formal presentation unnecessary.
Critics of the bill, including Iñaki Echaniz from the Socialist Party, labeled the proposal "misleading" and criticized it as ineffective and counterproductive.
Vojetta had indicated a willingness to collaborate with opposition members, proposing several amendments to the original text, such as changing its title to remove references to "lifetime social housing," which were viewed as misleading.
Further amendments sought to restrict the termination of leases only in high-demand areas, excluding priority neighborhoods from this measure.
There was also an intent to protect social diversity by exempting less advantaged areas from additional rent charges.
The Rassemblement National proposed amendments to protect French nationals from the tightening of housing access conditions.
However, earlier attempts to significantly alter the bill's content in committee had resulted in a diluted proposal.
The primary articles of the legislation were rejected, forcing the bill to return to the assembly unchanged.
Some Communist lawmakers had also called for the withdrawal of the proposal based on the evident majority against it.
Juliette Méadel, the Minister for the City, voiced her preference for social diversity over creating ghettos, while her predecessor, Guillaume Kasbarian, controversially suggested she consider stepping down.
Valérie Létard, the Minister for Housing, acknowledged the bill's well-meaning intent but emphasized the need for a balanced approach in any potential legislation.
The Union Sociale pour l'Habitat, an organization representing social landlords, criticized the proposal, suggesting it would worsen the conditions for social diversity, a core principle of France’s social housing model.
The National Agency for Information on Housing (Anil) characterized the initiative as more of a media diversion than a substantive attempt to address the ongoing housing crisis.
The bill, put forth by former Housing Minister Guillaume Kasbarian, faced significant backlash from left-wing parties and industry professionals.
The decision to withdraw came as the bill was likely to encounter a motion to reject from La France Insoumise, a prominent leftist party, which would have impeded its progress.
Stéphane Vojetta, a Macronist deputy and the bill's rapporteur, explained the decision was a move towards "responsibility." He announced via social media that the bill would be reintroduced in a modified form in the coming days with clarifications to address the concerns raised by the opposition and the government.
The controversial proposal aimed to alter the current framework for social housing by lowering the income thresholds that would allow landlords to evict tenants or impose additional rent charges known as "sur-loyer." A key provision of the bill included allowing landlords to terminate leases if a tenant's income reaches a certain level, which Vojetta argued would affect about 30,000 social housing units.
Under the proposed changes, a tenant in Saint-Denis would be required to vacate their social housing if their salary exceeded €3,800 per month, down from the current threshold of €4,336.
As of late 2024, approximately 2.7 million households were on waiting lists for social housing in France.
The withdrawal of the bill has been welcomed by leftist lawmakers, with François Piquemal of La France Insoumise expressing satisfaction that their rejection motion had a decisive impact, ultimately rendering a formal presentation unnecessary.
Critics of the bill, including Iñaki Echaniz from the Socialist Party, labeled the proposal "misleading" and criticized it as ineffective and counterproductive.
Vojetta had indicated a willingness to collaborate with opposition members, proposing several amendments to the original text, such as changing its title to remove references to "lifetime social housing," which were viewed as misleading.
Further amendments sought to restrict the termination of leases only in high-demand areas, excluding priority neighborhoods from this measure.
There was also an intent to protect social diversity by exempting less advantaged areas from additional rent charges.
The Rassemblement National proposed amendments to protect French nationals from the tightening of housing access conditions.
However, earlier attempts to significantly alter the bill's content in committee had resulted in a diluted proposal.
The primary articles of the legislation were rejected, forcing the bill to return to the assembly unchanged.
Some Communist lawmakers had also called for the withdrawal of the proposal based on the evident majority against it.
Juliette Méadel, the Minister for the City, voiced her preference for social diversity over creating ghettos, while her predecessor, Guillaume Kasbarian, controversially suggested she consider stepping down.
Valérie Létard, the Minister for Housing, acknowledged the bill's well-meaning intent but emphasized the need for a balanced approach in any potential legislation.
The Union Sociale pour l'Habitat, an organization representing social landlords, criticized the proposal, suggesting it would worsen the conditions for social diversity, a core principle of France’s social housing model.
The National Agency for Information on Housing (Anil) characterized the initiative as more of a media diversion than a substantive attempt to address the ongoing housing crisis.
