The Senate is examining a bill to revive the housing market, which has been criticized by associations

The Senate is examining on Tuesday, January 13, in first reading, a bill tabled by LR to "revive the construction and production of housing", a text criticized by associations and unions.

The proposed law seeks to provide an "overall vision of what a medium-term housing policy should be," explains Senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone (LR), co-author of the text with the head of the right-wing senators Mathieu Darnaud, to AFP.

The text, which aims to address the housing crisis, covers a broad spectrum: social housing, private housing stock, building renovation, land acquisition and the revival of new construction.

The goal is also to "lay the groundwork that can be incorporated into a program" for the 2027 presidential election, explains Dominique Estrosi-Sassone.

Adopted by the Economic Affairs Committee in early January, the text notably provides for a relaxation of the SRU law (Solidarity and Urban Renewal), which has imposed a minimum percentage of social housing on urban municipalities for the past 25 years. Municipalities lagging behind this target could catch up by including intermediate housing.

Criticizing the text, Green Party senator Yannick Jadot sees it as "a challenge to the SRU law which goes against what should be done".

Another point of contention is the strengthening of mayors' power in allocating social housing, by granting them a "reasoned veto right." In a press release, the Right to Housing association denounced the risks of "clientelism" in a measure that "opens the door to national preference."

Article 8 of the text aims to "supplement" the measures of the 2023 anti-squatting law by "penalizing continued occupation of someone else's home" after legal entry, such as through tourist rentals. It also extends eviction procedures for squatters to offices, shops, and other premises. The entire left wing has tabled amendments to remove this article.

Housing rights groups are furious and denounce the bill as "brutal." Several of them, along with unions including the CGT, are calling for a rally in front of the Senate on Tuesday at 14:30 PM, before the bill is debated.

Housing Minister Vincent Jeanbrun (LR) submitted only three amendments to the text. His entourage indicated that he "will have the opportunity to discuss all these issues in the major housing plan that he will present as soon as our country has a budget."

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.