Presidential 2022: in terms of housing, the French vote for "whatever the cost"

Important: the respondents do not know the name of the candidate who was the author of each proposal, so as not to influence their vote.

Synthetic :

• It is the most costly proposals for public finances (subsidies, financial aid, reduction in taxation) that appeal the most, regardless of the profile of the respondents (tenants, owners, investors).
• Measures affecting rurality are also the subject of a broad consensus.
• The traditional landlord-landlord/tenant divides persist on issues such as rent control, tenant evictions and housing requisition.
• Tenants do not intend to remain so and support all the measures favorable to the acquisition of the main residence.

Increase housing supply

Three proposals aimed at increasing the supply of housing have been retained among the measures listed in the programs of two candidates for the presidential election: Philippe Poutou and Yannick Jadot.

Philippe Poutou's proposal: "Prohibit AirBnb type rentals except for main residences"

First proposal submitted to the votes of individuals: "Prohibit AirBnB type rentals except for main residences" which appears in the program of candidate Philippe Poutou and whose underlying idea is to reinject housing into the rental market to reduce the structural shortage of offers affecting certain areas of the territory (Paris, Basque Country, etc.). A proposal that attracted 52,1% of tenants and 45,3% of owners, excluding investors. The latter are the least in favor of this measure, which they approve at 38,4%.

Yannick Jadot's proposal: "Promote the transformation of offices into housing"

This second proposal, the practical and financing terms of which are not known, enjoys more consensus than the first since it receives, all profiles combined, 88,1% favorable opinions and uniform support regardless of the profiles: from 89,1% favorable opinions among tenants to 86,1% among investors.

Philippe Poutou's proposal: "Requisition all empty housing on national territory"

This other proposal by Philippe Poutou, which intends to fight against the shortage of housing by requisitioning all empty housing, arouses very disparate reactions depending on the profiles... Indeed, if 77,2% of tenants approve of the measure, the rate of adhesion drops to 45% among owners of their main residence to tumble to 29,2% among investors, almost half as much as tenants. However, this result is surprising since it means that nearly 30% of the investors questioned approve of this solution.

Protect tenants

Measures to protect tenants are found more in the programs of candidates labeled to the left of the political spectrum. Six proposals drawn from the programs of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Anne Hidalgo, Philippe Poutou, Yannick Jadot and Jean Lassalle as well as - for lack of a known program on March 16, the day the survey was launched - that of a LREM deputy who is working on the Housing program of candidate Emmanuel Macron, according to La Lettre A of March 1, 2022.

Anne Hidalgo's proposal: "Generalize rent control in all tight areas in France"

This proposal from the Mayor of Paris aims to extend to all tight areas (territories where there is a very strong rental demand) the experience implemented in the capital. A proposal that garners the support of 58,5% of those interviewed (regardless of their profile) and even more among those with a real estate project in progress (64,8%). But these figures hide strong disparities according to the status of the respondent. Tenants are 90,3% to approve the measure while on the contrary, only 38,7% of investors agree.

Proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon: "Regulate rents throughout the territory and lower rent ceilings in large cities"

This proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon goes further than that of Anne Hidalgo since the candidate of La France Insoumise proposes, at the same time, to apply a rent control system throughout the territory (and no longer only in tight areas) but also to lower the rent ceilings already in force in certain large cities such as Paris, Lille, Lyon, Grenoble, Bordeaux and Montpellier, for example. Overall (all types of profiles combined) this measure won the vote of one out of two respondents: 49,6% were in favor against 50,4% against. But once again, the status of the respondent reveals very notable differences in assessment. The tenants approve of the measure in the same proportion as that of Anne Hidalgo with 88,9% of favorable opinions. But investors are much more unfavorable to it than to the measure of the Mayor of Paris: 73,4% reject the measure against 61,3% for that of Anne Hidalgo. Nothing surprising in this since in the hypothesis of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, no owner escapes the measure: wherever the rented accommodation is, it will be subject to rent control. Not to mention that the rents already supervised will be revised downwards...

Philippe Poutou's proposal: "Stop rental evictions, even in the event of unpaid"

This proposal is the one that leads to the most rejection among all those submitted to the votes of individuals. Which is hardly surprising given the emotion aroused in public opinion by several squat news items, widely publicized in the fall of 2020, even going so far as to reform the law. Overall, 83,3% of respondents are opposed to the measure and this rate even rises to 94,5% among investors.

Proposal by Yannick Jadot (and Marine Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron): "Abolish the deposits during the rental which will be replaced by a Universal Rent Guarantee (public guarantee), financed jointly and in equal parts by the owners and the State at through a contribution of 1 to 2% of the amount of the rent"

This proposal by Yannick Jadot also appears in Marine Le Pen's program but in less detail, since the environmentalist candidate goes so far as to specify the practical details. Emmanuel Macron also seems - since the disclosure of his program on March 17 - to have a proposal in this direction, even if it is very vague: "Extend the public deposit for tenants in order to facilitate access to housing while sanctioning bad payers".

And it is certainly the practical terms (contribution of 1 to 2% paid by the owners, half with the State) which explain the rejection of it by Investors: nearly one in two, 48,9%, is totally opposed to it and 22,6% rather opposed, that is to say a total of 71,5% who do not want it. The tenants, for their part, take a benevolent look at this proposal - in which they would not be required to contribute financially - which they approve at 77%.

Proposal by Mickaël Nogal, LREM deputy for Haute-Garonne in charge of housing for candidate Emmanuel Macron: "For any rental, make the intervention of a real estate professional mandatory who will sequester the security deposit"

This proposal by Mickaël Nogal, who is in charge of the housing component of candidate Emmanuel Macron, was tabled in February 2020 in the National Assembly before being withdrawn from the parliamentary agenda. Although set aside, it is one of the few key measures on the housing theme of Macron's five-year term and could emerge in the event of a second term. This solution would appeal to slightly less than one in two tenants (46,3% are in favor of it against 53,7% who are against it). Investors who are just as concerned largely reject this measure since 86% are opposed to it, of which 64,2% are totally opposed.

NB: Since the completion of this study, Emmanuel Macron unveiled, Thursday, March 17, his measures in terms of housing and does not seem to accept this proposal from Mickaël Nogal.

Proposal by Jean Lassalle and Jean-Luc Mélenchon: "Go back to the 2020 APL reform and increase the housing allowance"

This measure, which is found both in the program of Jean Lassalle and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, intends to return to the reform of the APL (the "contemporization" to use the expression of Jean-Luc Mélenchon) as well as to their decrease with the objective, on the contrary, of increasing them. And it is clear that such a measure - the financing of which has not been quantified - wins the support of tenants who are in favor of it at 80,7%. But this measure is welcomed by owners at 65,8%, while investors are also overwhelmingly in favor at 59,4%. It is, moreover, Jean-Luc Mélenchon's proposal that has gained the most support from investors.

Promote access to property

Measures favorable to home ownership, in general, are the prerogative of candidates located on the right of the political spectrum. Three proposals from the programs of Valérie Pécresse and Eric Zemmour were submitted to the vote of individuals.

Éric Zemmour's proposal: "Exempt from notary fees all first-time buyers who buy a property of less than 250.000 euros"

This unquantified proposal from the candidate-controversy is one of the few to appeal to all respondent profiles and in significant proportions: 89,7% of tenants are in favour, as are 81,8% of landlords and 76,1% of investors. The high level of tenant acceptance proves, if need be, that renting is not an end in itself and that the acquisition of a principal residence is a natural aspiration.

Proposal by Valérie Pécresse: "Create a solidarity real estate guarantee to cancel the additional insurance premiums suffered by people at risk of health when they want to borrow and thus allow them to access housing"

This proposal, which affects health as much as housing, is one of the most popular, all themes combined. It wins a level of support ranging from 86,8% among investors to 91,9% among owners to peak at 94,1% among tenants.

Valérie Pécresse's proposal: "Generalize zero-rate loans for first-time buyers throughout France and not just in tight areas"

The spirit of this proposal, which is aimed at first-time buyers, is similar to that of Éric Zemmour but acts on a different lever. When the Reconquest candidate! intends to act on the taxation of notary fees (about 8% of the purchase price of a property, i.e. up to €20.000 for a property at €250.000), Valérie Pécresse prefers to broaden the conditions for granting the zero-rate loan , which is currently limited to tense areas, by extending it to all of France. A measure whose interest is indexed to the levels of credit rates: the more these will increase, the more the zero-rate loan will prove interesting.

real estate taxation

Real estate is heavily taxed in France and the measures taken by the outgoing President, during his election, widened the gap with securities (introduction of the Flat Tax, abolition of the ISF but creation of the IFI) . Two candidates have made proposals in favor of a reduction in taxation: Nicolas Dupont-Aignan and Éric Zemmour. When a third candidate, Jean Luc Mélenchon, intends to create new targeted taxes.

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan's proposal: "Abolish inheritance tax on the main residence"

If this unquantified proposal is more related to those relating to inheritance, it underlines the particular character of the main residence in the heritage of the French. This is confirmed by the strong approval of the measure regardless of the status of the respondent: around 90% among owners of their main residence but also among investors and 78,1% among tenants.

Éric Zemmour's proposal: "Reduce the holding period from 30 to 15 years, which allows total exemption from taxes and social security contributions on real estate capital gains"

This unquantified proposal hits its target: the investors who would be the first to benefit from it since they are in favor of it at 91,7%. But without shocking the other owners who are 86,7% to also approve. Similarly, 82,3% of tenants view this measure positively.

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan's proposal: "Cap taxes on rental income at 35%"

This unquantified proposal seems to want to realign the taxation of income from real estate with that of securities (Flat tax at 30%). An idea that seems widely approved, beyond the only investors (the first concerned by this measure).

Jean-Luc Mélenchon's proposal: "Tax high real estate transactions through a progressive tax to finance the fight against substandard housing"

This non-detailed proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon intends to tax high real estate transactions (trigger threshold not known) in order to be able to finance the fight against substandard housing. And if the rate of support for this measure decreases depending on whether you are a tenant, owner or investor, it is approved by a majority of French people: from 65,3% among investors to 77,4% among owners and 87,5% among tenants.

Proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon: "Increase the tax on vacant housing in tight areas to 50% the first year and 100% the second"

Currently, the tax on vacant accommodation is 12.5% ​​of the rental value the 1st year, and 25% from the 2nd year. Jean-Luc Mélenchon proposes to increase these respective rates to 50% and 100%. An idea to which investors are mostly opposed: 52,7% disapprove of this measure while tenants are, for their part, in favor at 74%.

Energy renovation

Housing and the environment are two themes that have been in perfect convergence for several years. It must be said that the building is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and logically the issue of housing renovation is intrinsically linked to the fight against global warming. In this context, many proposals on the theme of housing are directly linked to the issue of energy renovation. Among the many proposals of the candidates, sometimes redundant, we submitted three to the vote of individuals drawn from the programs of Anne Hidalgo, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen.

Anne Hidalgo's proposal: "Implement a major multi-year energy renovation plan for buildings based on a new system: no costs to be advanced at the time of the work; reimbursement will be made at the time of resale or succession"

This unquantified proposal which aims to accelerate on the front of the energy renovation of housing, is distinguished by its original mechanism which postpones the financing of the works at the expense of the owners, resale or inheritance by deducting from them " according to income" the share advanced by the state. And it is clear that this solution is welcomed by all profiles including those who are the first concerned. Thus, 69,7% of owners of their main residence say they are in favor of the measure, while 61,5% of investors are also.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon's proposal: "Make the renovation of "thermal sieve" housing mandatory before any rental via a "rental permit" anywhere in France"

This proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon looks very similar to the Climate and Resilience law adopted in 2021. But it seems to want to ignore the existing calendar (2025 for G-classified housing then 2028 for F-classified housing) by making the rental permit required immediately. Still, this measure is received rather favourably, including by Investors even if they are only one out of two (51,9%) to approve this idea.

Marine Le Pen's proposal: "Subsidize the replacement of oil-fired boilers"

This unquantified proposal by Marine Le Pen, which is also found in the program of Fabien Roussel - who has made himself the champion of the "great replacement ... of oil-fired boilers" wins wide support among all respondent profiles.

Housing in rural areas

Like medium-sized towns, rural areas have benefited from a real renewed interest since the health crisis and now constitute an almost fantasized territory. Three proposals from the programs of Marine Le Pen, Éric Zemmour and Valérie Pécresse aimed at improving living conditions there were put to the vote of individuals.

Marine Le Pen's proposal: "Facilitate the reception of neo-rurals with the sale of low-cost housing in exchange for an installation commitment of at least 10 years"

This unquantified proposal by Marine Le Pen intends to allow the repopulation of deserted rural areas by offering households the opportunity to settle there through the purchase of housing below the market price and in exchange for a commitment to occupy it as your principal residence for at least 10 years. An idea supported by the majority of all the profiles questioned: 79,7% of tenants are in favor of it, compared to 74,9% of owners and 68,1% of investors.

Proposal by Éric Zemmour: "Redirect the funds allocated to the suburbs in favor of rural areas"

This non-detailed proposal by Éric Zemmour aims to reallocate city policy funds to the suburbs for the benefit of rural areas by improving infrastructure, living conditions and equipment. A proposal that stands out for its balance in the responses received. Tenants, owners and investors share the same point of view on this subject with an approval of around 62 to 64% and a rejection of around 36 to 38%.

Proposal by Valérie Pécresse: "Deployment of Very High Speed ​​Internet access via optical fiber over 100% of the territory at the start of 2024"

This non-detailed proposal by Valérie Pécresse does not directly concern housing since it is about infrastructure. But it is indicative of the interest shown in rural areas and in the first of the facilities that one should be able to find there if one wishes to settle there: fiber optics! And this measure is the one that wins the most support: no less than 92% approval regardless of the profile of the people questioned...

Social housing

Most of the proposals of the candidates for the presidential election in terms of housing concern social housing. Among the many proposals on the subject, we have selected two which have the particularity of also impacting people who are not eligible for social housing: one by Éric Zemmour and another, completely opposite, by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Proposal by Éric Zemmour: "Repeal the SRU law imposing a quota of at least 25% social housing in each municipality with more than 3.500 inhabitants (1.500 in Ile-de-France)"

This proposal by Éric Zemmour, which intends to repeal the SRU law setting thresholds for social housing in municipalities with more than 3.500 inhabitants, receives a mixed reception: only 35% of tenants are in favor of it. Owners, on the other hand, are mostly in favour: 55% of owners of their main residence and 58,8% of investors agree with this proposal.

Proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon: "Raise the quota of social housing in cities to 30% and increase the sanctions against outlaw municipalities"

This proposal by Jean-Luc Mélenchon is the exact opposite of that of Éric Zemmour. When the latter intends to repeal the SRU law, Jean-Luc Mélenchon for his part wishes to extend it, by fixing the minimum of social housing per municipality at 30% and by strengthening the system of sanctions against offending municipalities. Here again, a divide exists between tenants, owners and investors. Two thirds of tenants (66,6%) approve of this measure against 54,6% of owners. Investors are for their part mostly hostile since they are only 31,5% to approve and 68,5% to reject it.

Methodology

Survey carried out via an online questionnaire, between March 16 and 18, 2022, among 18.712 people including:

• 6.156 investors with one or more rental properties representing 32,8% of respondents.
• 6.362 owners of their main residence who are not investors, representing 34% of respondents.
• 6.194 tenants of their main residence representing 33,1% of the total respondents.

The proposals were voluntarily anonymized so as not to influence the respondents according to their political orientations.