what does the “shock of offers” that Gabriel Attal wishes to put in place correspond to?

The Prime Minister told the National Assembly on Tuesday that he wanted to “unlock” the housing sector. How does he plan to go about it?

During his general policy declaration, Tuesday January 30, Gabriel Attal announced a “shock of offers” to unlock the housing sector in crisis. “We are going to massively simplify the standards”, said the head of government. Simplification, a magic word widely used at the moment. Several axes seem to emerge. Simplify access to MaPrimeRénov (to replace an aging heating system, equip yourself with a more energy-efficient device). Facilitate densification (which consists of building on existing plots at the bottom of the garden, higher up, etc.). Lift constraints on zoning (differentiation of municipalities based on market tensions). Here are three concrete examples.

The problem of social housing

Concerning social housing, here again the time has come for facilitation, with the revision of the count of social housing that municipalities must respect as part of solidarity. The objective is to add intermediate housing available to the middle class, that is to say for people with monthly incomes ranging, roughly, from 1,600 to 3,000 euros. The Prime Minister also intends to requisition empty buildings, particularly offices.

The government has no choice but to move quickly, as the situation is so critical. According to the site specializing in real estate transactions SeLoger, the rental supply has fallen by 36% in two years. And growing demand automatically leads to an increase in rents (+3.5% last year on average across the entire French territory). Add to this the rent controls which dissuade many owners from renting their property, and the heavy environmental constraints, the cup is full. We obviously need to simplify, simplify, simplify.

An unfavorable economic context

High interest rates don’t help real estate, that’s for sure. Banks will also have to play the game to lend money to households more easily than they do today. Finally, all these measures are announced while the government still does not have a Minister of Housing. The issue is a priority in high places but no minister was named in the first salvo of the reshuffle. Illogical and not convincing from a State which intends to drastically reduce unemployment. Because finding or finding a job, or being transferred, without the possibility of housing, is a wasted effort.