Elected officials demand more resources to combat vacant housing

"While the demand for housing continues to grow, and the number of homeless people continues to rise, (...) the number of vacant homes remains high nationally, and we are struggling to re-mobilize them," warned Suzanne Brolly, president of the association, during a press conference organized in Lyon.

In France, three million homes are identified as vacant, according to the government's Lovac database on vacant housing, including 1,1 million that have been empty for more than two years.

To "remobilize" this pool of unused housing, "we need to properly identify them and have levers to ensure that owners are ready to put them back on the market," explained Suzanne Brolly, also vice-president of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis.

Among the measures requested are improving the reliability of Lovac data, merging the two taxes on vacant housing, and transferring revenue to local authorities, as well as providing resources and tools for local action.

Gathering for their annual meeting in Lyon on Monday and Tuesday, the elected officials also denounced the possible suspension of MaPrimeRénov' energy renovation aid - not confirmed by the government - one of the "essential mechanisms we rely on to remobilize properties," according to Suzanne Brolly.

A suspension of MaPrimeRénov' would be "catastrophic, and even more so in depressed areas" that are experiencing high vacancy rates, worried Valérie Woitier, vice-president of the Meuse department. "This aid is vital, otherwise many homeowners will have no interest in renovating."

"A lack of budget for energy renovations means additional vacancies," warns Renaud Payre, vice-president of the Lyon metropolitan area in charge of housing.

In Paris, there could be 15.000 more unoccupied homes this year, due to the ban on renting out energy-inefficient properties and the steady and sustained increase in second homes and vacant homes, according to Jacques Baudrier, deputy mayor of Paris responsible for housing.

Several elected officials are calling for the organization of a national conference on housing financing and energy renovation, similar to the one organized by the government for transport.