The government is considering suspending the property tax increase, according to the Housing Minister.

"At the time we were on the budget, it was not the time" to increase it, "there is a desire on the part of the government to be able to suspend the application of this measure," said the minister, a guest on RMC/BFMTV's morning show.

"Real reform would require a new logic, new paradigms, and we are not in the right place at the moment to do that," he added, specifying that it was not up to him to "announce" a possible suspension of the application of this measure.

On average, the increase in this tax, paid by some 32 million owners, would be 63 euros for the 7,4 million homes concerned.

In ten years, this tax has increased by 37,3%, between 2014 and 2024, with an acceleration from 2018 due to the indexation of rental value to inflation and no longer to a coefficient defined according to the evolution of rents.

For the calculation of property tax amounts in 2026, it is the so-called "comfort" elements, such as the presence of running water, electricity, toilets or sinks in the dwelling, which must be updated and included in the "property bases" of Bercy.

The presence of each of these elements artificially increases the number of square meters taken into account, and mechanically the amount of property tax.

The Minister for Public Action and Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, announced on Tuesday morning that she would meet on Wednesday with "associations of elected officials and parliamentarians" to "take stock" of this increase, which, if it is effective, should benefit the local authorities that receive it.

"Either the elected officials consider that, since it is a good idea and that it still allows for clarity and consistency, we will do it. Or they want us to make adjustments, we will make them, but we are moving forward," she added, as a guest on Public Sénat.

Last Thursday, the government announced the launch of a "flash consultation" which will aim to "examine the necessary changes" to property tax "to make it more transparent, clearer and fairer, with a view to simplification".