The city of Paris is launching its first real solidarity lease (or emphyteutic lease) marketing operation on Tuesday.

Already possible in several cities in France, this principle consists in buying the walls of a dwelling and leaving the land ownership to the town hall, making it possible to drastically reduce the price. 

Become an owner for 30, 40 or even 50% less than market prices?

Yes, it is possible, and it already exists in several cities in France.

It's about buying the walls, but not the land.

A practice with a barbaric name: the emphyteutic lease - better known under the name of solidarity lease - which is attracting more and more municipalities such as Rennes, Lille or Espelette, in the Atlantic Pyrenees.

And Tuesday morning, it is in Paris that the first sales of this type take place.

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Facilitate access to property for the middle and lower classes 

400,000 euros for an 80m2 apartment in the heart of the 14th arrondissement: in normal times, you would have to pay double that.

Be careful, at this broken price you buy the walls of your home for a period of 99 years, but the town hall remains the owner of the land.

You therefore have the right to resell at any time, but under certain conditions.

"You can resell it or pass it on," explains Ian Brossat, deputy mayor of Paris.

"On the other hand, you resell it at the price at which you bought it, revalued by inflation".

Prohibition, therefore, to make a capital gain!

The objective displayed by the municipalities: to maintain a certain social mix in the city center.

Lille is a pioneer city in this area.

"Fifteen first buyers have entered the premises since September 2020", explains Stanislas Dendievel, urban planning assistant.

"The idea is really that modest families - from 1 to 3 minimum wage - can become owners of a house with a garden or of an apartment for a stable amount over the long term".

Be careful, however: to be able to claim this type of accommodation, you must meet many criteria, such as not exceeding a certain income threshold.