Boiler room housing: the CNL announces a lawsuit against the State for "endangering the lives of others"

As France experiences another heatwave, the National Housing Confederation (CNL) has announced its intention to sue the state. The residents' and tenants' rights association believes that public authorities are not doing enough to address housing described as "energy sieves" in winter and "thermal kettles" in summer.

A complaint is expected the week of July 20th.

The CNL plans to file its complaint with the public prosecutor at the Paris judicial court during the week of July 20, 2026. It wants the justice system to examine the possible responsibilities of the State in the face of the persistence of housing that it considers to be thermally deficient.

The association intends, in particular, to invoke the "endangerment of the lives of others." However, the filing of this complaint does not prejudge either the action taken by the public prosecutor's office or the recognition of the State's criminal liability.

During a press conference, the president of the CNL, Eddie Jacquemart, argued for the need to better integrate summer comfort into the criteria for housing decency.

"A dwelling where the temperature reached 40°C during the heatwave [...] is no longer considered habitable."

The CNL believes that the extreme temperatures measured in some homes now constitute a public health problem. It calls for greater consideration of heatwave protection in renovation policies and in the obligations imposed on landlords.

A sharp increase in mortality was observed at the end of June.

To support its warning, the association cites the first data published by Public Health France after the heatwave episode of June 2026.

Based on electronic death certificates, which are not yet consolidated, 8.973 deaths from all causes were recorded between June 22 and 28, compared to 6.948 the previous week. This represents an increase of 29,1%, or 2.025 additional deaths.

This increase primarily affected people aged 45 and over and was particularly pronounced in the home. However, these data relate to all-cause mortality: they do not yet allow us to attribute all the additional deaths to the heat or the thermal characteristics of the dwellings.

The housing bill is also contested

The CNL also criticizes the draft law aimed at revitalizing and decentralizing housing. In its version presented by the Government, the text provides for a temporary relaxation of the rental conditions for certain properties classified as F or G on the energy performance certificate (DPE), in exchange for a commitment from the owner to carry out renovations.

The projected delays could reach three years for a detached house and five years for a condominium unit. The CNL (National Housing Confederation) believes this development risks postponing necessary renovations and keeping residents in homes that are inadequately protected against both cold and extreme heat.

The association believes more broadly that insufficient investment in energy renovation, difficulties in social housing and successive changes to the obligations imposed on landlords weaken the most vulnerable households.

Several legal actions concerning climate adaptation

The action announced by the CNL comes after another legal proceeding targeting France's climate change adaptation policy. On May 27, 2026, the Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged filed a voluntary intervention in the Climate Victims' Action before the Council of State.

This legal action, filed in 2025 by several organizations and individuals affected by the consequences of climate change, calls for a revision of the third National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC 3). The plaintiffs consider the planned measures insufficient, particularly to protect vulnerable populations from heat waves, floods, and other climate-related risks.

Image illustrating the article via Depositphotos.com.