Nearly 11 million houses are affected, according to this report consulted by France Bleu. The problem is set to get worse due to global warming.
Renaissance MP Vincent Ledoux submitted a report on Monday, October 9 in Halluin (North) to the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, on the phenomenon of clay shrinkage-swelling (RGA), causing costly damage to homes. , like cracks. 48% of the country is exposed to it, or 11 million houses, according to this report that France Bleu was able to consult. The problem is all the more important as it is set to get worse due to global warming.
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In this document, the culmination of a six-month mission entrusted to him by the government, Vincent Ledoux makes more than thirty recommendations. First, recognize cracked houses as the result of a natural disaster, with support from the State worthy of an earthquake or flood.
1,000 ground weather stations for municipalities at risk
Another option: reduce processing times to a maximum of six months to obtain the first expert report from your insurer, with the obligation to transmit all the elements of the file to the victims.
This parliamentarian also recommends making the risks of shrinkage-swelling of clay visible to buyers of a house, with an overall diagnosis of the building. Finally, he imagines the creation of 1,000 ground weather stations in the municipalities most at risk to improve the assessment of a damaged house.
Questioned by France Bleu Nord, the elected official hoped that his “report will be the start of profound change”. “I promise you that this report will not remain a dead letter”assured Gérald Darmanin, who proposed meeting to take stock “every three months, six months” on the progress of the file.
The RGA caused nearly 2.9 billion euros in claims in 2022, according to France Assureurs, which forecasts a tripling of this amount by 2050.