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France Moves To Toughen Social-Housing Rules With Faster Evictions and Fixed-Term Leases

A fresh ministerial blueprint follows a survey showing broad backing for expulsions.

Overview

  • Housing minister Vincent Jeanbrun used a JDD interview to propose "dejudiciarizing" evictions, extending them to major offenses after final convictions, and replacing open-ended HLM tenancies with three–six–nine year leases.
  • A CSA poll conducted November 13–14 for Europe 1, Le JDD and CNews reports 71% support for expelling families of convicted delinquents from social housing, with strong backing on the right and weaker support on the left.
  • Marseille authorities have initiated about 20 expulsion procedures since September using anti-narcotics provisions, including cases triggered by police seizures such as 2.5 kg of cannabis, and the prefecture plans to roll out the approach department-wide.
  • Local officials say current law often blocks expulsions unless offenses are tied to the dwelling, while a recent circular allows prefects to substitute for reluctant social landlords.
  • Social-housing organizations and left-wing figures contest the diagnosis and call for exit-path solutions, as low turnover—under 8% in 2023—with 2.87 million households awaiting social housing frames the reform push.