More decentralized, less assisted: Vergriete outlines his housing policy

For his first public conference since taking over from Olivier Klein in July, Patrice Vergriete came up against a salvo of grievances from personalities in the housing world during a round table in Bunus (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).

He assumed the programmed abolition of the Pinel tax niche and the refocusing of the zero-rate loan, which construction professionals or social housing actors have strongly criticized.

"I'm not looking for the magic measure, the tinkering, the thing that will make us artificially relaunch a production that has to ask new questions," he said.

The Basque Country, in the grip of a housing crisis where second homes and Airbnb-type tourist accommodation are singled out, should soon obtain authorization to apply rent control, he promised.

He also said he was “personally” in favor of local elected officials being able to apply it or not without asking the State for authorization, as is currently the case.

On the other hand, the reform of the taxation of furnished tourist accommodation, insistently demanded by elected officials of all stripes who accuse them of preventing locals from finding accommodation, "will undoubtedly take a little time", he tempered.

Finally, on energy renovation, a colossal project essential to meet France's climate commitments, Patrice Vergriete wants to "massify operations", judging that "operations house by house, building by building, that probably does not make it possible to structure a sector".

In places, it will be necessary to demolish and rebuild, he judged, despite the ecological and heritage cost of the demolitions.

"There are also buildings in France which are not compatible with energy renovation. And I think that we must also raise the awareness of the ABF", the Architects of the buildings of France, sometimes accused of blocking construction sites in the name of the defense of the architectural heritage.