France

The current housing market situation in France (2025) shows signs of stabilization after a period of decline. The home ownership rate declined slightly to 61.2% in 2024 from 63.1% in 2023, with about 40.3% of primary residences occupied by renters—22.8% in the private rental sector and 17.4% in the public rental sector. This means roughly 38.8% rent their homes, reflecting a significant rental market share. Regarding prices, the median purchase price across France is about €3,060 per square meter, with Paris commanding a premium at approximately €9,355 per square meter. Rental prices vary widely: the average rent nationwide is around €723 per month, but in Paris, rents can be exceptionally high—up to over €35 per square meter monthly in expensive arrondissements, with Paris about 164% more expensive than provincial France. Publicly owned housing in France, often referred to as social housing, plays a substantial role, mandated by the SRU law requiring urban municipalities to have at least 25% social housing by 2025. Social housing is primarily affordable rental housing managed by local authorities, nonprofits, and public-private partnerships, aiming to ensure low- and moderate-income families access affordable homes. It is not exactly the same as public housing in some other countries, since it is more integrated into urban areas rather than segregated estates, with a strong legal and policy framework supporting its distribution and funding. Social housing represents around one-fifth of new homes in Greater Paris and nearly half of French rentals fall within social housing buildings. In summary, France’s housing market is characterized by stable demand, a large rental segment with substantial social housing presence, and regional price disparities, especially between Paris and other regions. Public housing is a key inclusionary tool distinctively structured from typical “public housing” models, focusing on affordability and social integration.

France is experiencing a severe housing crisis, with the scale and impact deepening in recent years. As of 2024, the number of homeless people surged to 350,000, more than doubling since 2012. In total, around four million people are considered poorly housed or living in extreme conditions. The crisis is particularly acute among students, single parents, and low-income earners, who find it increasingly difficult to access affordable housing. The deteriorating situation is driven by rising rents, higher building costs, increased mortgage rates, and a dramatic drop in new housing construction and permits—building starts fell by nearly 12% in 2024 after already sharp declines the previous year. Energy poverty is another dimension: 30% of households reported being unable to properly heat their homes in 2024. Supply constraints are worsening as allocations of public social housing dropped from 500,000 per year (2015–2017) to 393,000 in 2023. Additionally, the growing trend of purchasing property for investment and the proliferation of short-term rentals in tourist hotspots like Paris have further tightened the long-term rental market. Young people are especially hard-hit, often unable to leave their parental homes, delaying independence and family formation. Low-income private renters face the greatest insecurity, spending a disproportionate share of their income on housing and risking overcrowding or eviction. The crisis is thus multidimensional, affecting millions and touching diverse segments across France.

The French national government addresses affordable and sustainable housing through a mix of regulatory reforms, direct financial assistance, and targeted development programs. Recent targets include enforcing the SRU law, which mandates that urban municipalities achieve at least 25% social housing by 2025, with significant penalties for non-compliance. Key programs and activities include the “Habiter Mieux” initiative, focusing on renovating older buildings to improve energy efficiency for low-income households, and “Louer Abordable,” which provides tax incentives for landlords offering below-market rents. Additionally, the zero-interest PTZ loan program for first-time homebuyers is being expanded in 2025, aiming to boost access to new housing for an estimated 15,000 additional families. To curb speculation and free up long-term rental stock, France is implementing stricter regulations on short-term rentals from January 2025, reducing tax breaks for non-primary residences and mandating higher energy performance standards. Municipalities are empowered to enforce these standards and penalize non-compliant owners. Financial support, such as the APL housing benefit, remains a cornerstone, ensuring that vulnerable populations—students, young people, and low-income renters—can access decent housing. There are also proposals to ease inheritance tax for gifts used to buy primary residences, provided rents stay within affordable limits. Through these measures, France aims to balance affordability, sustainability, and social integration in urban housing, despite challenging market dynamics and supply shortages. En français : La France renforce la réglementation sur les locations touristiques et élargit les aides financières et fiscales pour favoriser le logement abordable et durable, tout en imposant des quotas stricts de logements sociaux dans les communes urbaines et en soutenant la rénovation énergétique des logements anciens.

Housing cooperatives in France represent a **small but resilient segment** of the country’s housing landscape. Nationally, housing co-ops account for **less than 1% of the total housing stock**, far behind the dominant social and private rental sectors and the larger cooperative sectors seen in other European countries. Despite this modest scale, housing cooperatives are gaining renewed attention amid broader debates on affordability, sustainability, and tenant participation. Recent years have seen **increased interest in co-ops** as they offer democratic, non-speculative, and community-oriented housing. This model appeals to those seeking alternatives to the mainstream market, particularly in the context of rising real estate prices and a persistent housing crisis. Growth in France remains constrained by regulatory, financial, and land-access barriers, but the movement is evolving, with new projects exploring innovative tenure models and partnerships with local authorities. Policy dynamics include periodic calls for national support and recognition of cooperatives as a tool for affordable and sustainable housing—especially in urban areas. However, there is **no targeted large-scale national program** specifically dedicated to cooperative housing; most policy emphasis remains on social and affordable rental housing, where the government has set mandates and provided resources for new construction and renovation. The overall trend is gradual but positive, with ongoing experiments and advocacy fueling hopes for a broader cooperative sector in the coming years.

Key individuals and organizations in France voicing the need to tackle the housing crisis and build more affordable, sustainable housing include the Abbé Pierre Foundation (recently renamed the French Housing Foundation), whose managing director Christophe Robert has been a vocal critic of insufficient political action and slow construction rates. The organization leads public debate and advocacy for better regulation and increased social housing. On the corporate side, the BATIGERE Network’s subsidiary Livie, led by President Pascal Barbottin, is notable for securing major financing (notably a €125 million EIB loan) for constructing 1,500 new affordable homes, targeting middle-income households often excluded from social housing. Among NGOs, Solidarités Nouvelles pour le Logement (SNL) stands out for its collaborations with local authorities and private investors to secure, renovate, and manage affordable housing for vulnerable groups, pioneering legal and financial tools such as usufruct rights and renovation leases. In academia and innovation, collaborative housing initiatives in Lyon, supported by the Fabrique de l’Habitat Participatif and Grand Lyon, bring together architects, social developers, and public actors, fostering participatory co-housing projects. The modular and prefab housing provider Karmod offers industrial partnerships for sustainable and flexible construction, while startups like Evolea innovate in rental solutions. Promising collaboration partners thus include: - The Abbé Pierre Foundation (advocacy, research, policy) - Livie/BATIGERE Network (affordable construction, finance) - SNL (housing access for vulnerable groups) - Fabrique de l’Habitat Participatif, Grand Lyon (participatory housing, academic engagement) - Karmod (sustainable prefab technology) - Evolea (real estate startup sector).