Poor housing and unsanitary conditions: air quality at the heart of social insecurity

Another important figure, according to the Energy Ombudsman, is that 30% of French people reported suffering from the cold in their homes in 2024, compared to 14% in 2020. Beyond prefectural declarations indicating unsanitary conditions, there are realities that go beyond administrative milestones.

A map of unsanitary conditions in France

The causes of substandard housing, unsanitary conditions, and energy insecurity are diverse. The lack of insulation, access to efficient heating coupled with rising energy prices (75% of households have reduced heating in their homes according to the Energy Ombudsman's report), and finally, inadequate ventilation largely explain these social problems.

Firstly, according to the ONPE (National Observatory for Energy Poverty), 3,2 million households are affected by energy poverty, meaning that, both in summer and winter, their homes are energy traps or sieves, letting in heat or cold. Although the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) allows for an assessment of the extent of the necessary work, this work remains expensive, despite support schemes like MaPrimeRénov', which can be complex to implement.

Then, economically, if households are heating less or air conditioning less, it is largely due to the increase in electricity prices (137,17% since 2007[2]) and gas prices (63% since 2005[3]).

The third factor is probably the most underestimated by public authorities, managers, and construction professionals. When discussing unsanitary conditions, humidity is the primary concern. It is often due to poor indoor air ventilation. However, a significant social divide exists regarding access to good indoor air quality (IAQ), even though air is a common good under Article 714 of the French Civil Code. According to the WHO, poor IAQ is responsible for 20.000 premature deaths in France each year. Furthermore, it causes numerous health problems and illnesses such as coughs, chronic fatigue, headaches, and asthma—a real public health issue!

France has a large stock of collective housing, whether social or private.

However, this heritage has been gradually neglected, with a lack of investment in integrating modern insulation, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation technologies. The task is enormous, but not insurmountable!

Renovation and ventilation: a duo working together for better housing

With social housing construction declining and the number of applicants rising (82.000 new builds per year versus 2,7 million applicants), renovation appears to be a major lever to address this tension.

Comprehensive energy renovation, supported by public policies, is crucial to the future of substandard housing in France. The state has already been condemned for inaction by the "Case of the Century" collective for failing to allocate sufficient resources to reach the target of 200.000 renovated homes per year. The USH (Union Sociale pour l'Habitat), through its president Emmanuelle Cosse, is advocating for a socially-oriented renovation of the housing stock.

Despite a challenging market environment with many construction companies struggling (60.000 bankruptcies projected for 2024 according to the French Building Federation – FFB), there is a growing awareness among co-ownership associations and property managers. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) has played a significant role in this movement, enabling these stakeholders to reclaim their role as guarantors of housing health and safety.

As such, ventilation offers numerous advantages and can be the first area of ​​focus for addressing the urgent need for inadequate housing. The work is less burdensome for both the building management and the residents, as the main installations can be carried out within the existing ductwork. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of a ventilation system are rapid, continuous, and permanent thanks to controlled airflow, ensuring air renewal with reduced energy consumption. The comfort experienced by residents and the acoustics of certain ventilation systems are largely mitigated by the precise adjustment of the motor and the airflow volume.

Faced with the urgent problem of inadequate housing, combating energy poverty and protecting the health of occupants through ventilation proves to be the best solution. Ventilation serves to improve air quality, ensure access to decent housing, and combat social insecurity.

[1] 30th report of the Housing Foundation: The state of poor housing in France 2025.

[2] Ekwateur: Electricity price evolution over 10 years.

[3] INSEE – Ministry of the Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.

Tribune by Julien Bodin, Co-manager of MVN (LinkedIn).