End of the winter break

After five months of suspension, evictions of tenants who are in arrears of rent can resume.

It also becomes possible again to cut electricity and gas to households in the event of non-payment, in certain cases. For households that benefit from the energy voucher and the solidarity fund for housing (FSL), a new decree requires suppliers to first reduce power for at least 60 days before proceeding with the cut.

EDF, the historical supplier of electricity, no longer carries out such cuts, reducing instead the power supplied in order to ensure a "minimum service" (light, refrigerator, phone charging).

Revaluation of unemployment benefits...

Unemployment insurance benefits will be increased by 1.9% on April 1, an exceptional boost due to inflation. The decision was taken by Unédic's Board of Directors. This is a "first", because until then, only one revaluation took place per year, on 1 July.

... and social benefits

Social benefits, notably the RSA, the activity bonus and family allowances, will increase by 1.6% on 1st April.

This rate was established on the basis of the average monthly inflation rates over the past year, i.e. +5.6% compared to April 2022. But the real increase was reduced to +1.6% because the government took into account the exceptional increase of 4% that had been granted "early" in July 2022.

A decision strongly criticized by associations fighting against precariousness who consider this increase very insufficient or even "indecent".

Wear and tear rate for home loans

The rate of wear, which sets the upper limit of new loans, will be raised on April 1 from 4.00% to 4.24% for fixed-rate mortgages with a term of 20 years and more.

This ceiling rate set by the Bank of France includes all the costs of a mortgage: credit rate charged by the bank, borrower insurance, possible commission of brokers ... Since 1 February, it has been exceptionally adjusted every month, for a period of six months.

MaPrimeRenov subsidizes fewer things

The MaPrimeRénov State scheme, intended for energy renovation, will no longer subsidize certain "single-gesture" projects - development of the attic, insulation of roof terraces, insulation of walls from the outside or inside - intended for households with higher resources.

The State is also ending the bonus of 1,000 euros so far paid for the replacement of an oil or gas boiler with renewable energy equipment, a bonus that was originally scheduled to stop in 2022 and had been extended for another 3 months.

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© 2023 AFP