In the urban community of the Basque Country, coastal erosion threatens 530 homes and 40 businesses in the short term. And this is not an isolated case: in France, no coastal region is spared by this phenomenon. We can mention Brittany, Normandy, Hauts-de-France. It is the result of human activity and the effects of climate change, including sea level rise.
To support the territories affected, the “climate and resilience” law provides for new measures for housing. If you own or rent by the sea, things may change for you. To find out, start by looking if you live in one of the 126 municipalities on the list published in the decree of April 29, 2022. The municipalities concerned have four years to draw up a map of the retreat of the coastline. It will be added to the town planning document and, eventually, the information will also appear in the property diagnostics.
It will make it possible to know which areas are threatened by erosion, and when. For those that are threatened in the next thirty years, all construction will be prohibited. If you want to build in an exposed area for a longer term (between 30 and 100 years), you will have to deposit the amount necessary for the demolition of the building with the Caisse des dépôts.
Another important point: local authorities and the State will have a right of pre-emption and expropriation. But one can wonder if they will have the financial means to exercise it, knowing that in certain areas, the properties are worth several million euros… Admittedly, the law provides for a revaluation of the properties for acquisitions by the public authorities, but no calculation formula was given. And the question of the rehousing of expropriated people is not addressed.
For tenants, the ordinance establishes a real adaptation lease, which allows early termination when danger becomes imminent. This shows that for the moment, the objective is to maintain activity in threatened areas. Meanwhile, the sea continues to advance.