National report on the housing system from a multi-level perspective: France

An extract from Deliverable 4.2 “National reports on the housing system from a multi-level perspective”

At the national level, the housing system shows a complex picture combining elements of decommodification and re-commodification. Despite the pro-ownership policies introduced since the 1970s, including measures targeting first-time buyers, the rental tenure kept on being supported through specific regulation and funding.

Additionally, state fiscal incentives encouraged private investments in the rental market, while social housing production remained significant throughout the 2000s. Affordability is supported by a strong social housing sector with long-term loans and mandatory quotas, a tradition of public land ownership and the consolidation of the right to housing. However, urban regeneration policies, budget cuts, and limited fiscal autonomy of local authorities increasingly undermine the social housing sector and push partnerships with the private sector. Moreover, the land system is affected by rent-seeking practices driven by different actors.