This plan taken from the discussions of the National Council of the Refoundation (CNR), series of thematic consultations wanted by Emmanuel Macron, was to be announced Monday by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Matignon finally unveiled the essential on Sunday evening.

A total of 700 proposals "collected in 200" had been formulated by the CNR. The government has retained a series of technical provisions supposed to respond to all aspects of the housing crisis but not shock measures such as the control of land prices, one of the strong proposals from the CNR.

Major projects are also "open", such as the overhaul of the taxation of furnished tourist accommodation, accused of aggravating the housing crisis throughout France.

"It is not in one go that we solve the entire housing policy," said Matignon. "We touch a little on all the levers (...) We must both act on the structural and respond to a form of economic crisis."

To promote home ownership, the government will extend the PTZ, which was to stop at the end of 2023, until 2027. But the device will be refocused on "new collective housing" in tense areas, and on "old housing under renovation condition" in relaxed areas.

To promote access to renting, the government will stop the Pinel device at the end of 2024, deemed ineffective, and focus on "intermediate rental housing", i.e. housing that, without being social, allows moderate rents.

This system reserved for tense areas will be open to a hundred additional municipalities, currently located in relaxed areas.

Measures have also been announced for social housing but have yet to be the subject of a "pact" with social landlords. The objective is to help them renovate their real estate portfolio and invest and support their equity.

An additional envelope of 160 million over 5 years will also be devoted to the "Housing First" scheme, which consists of granting permanent housing to poorly housed people.

To revive new construction, currently at a standstill, 47,000 homes that were not sold will be bought from developers by the Caisse des Dépôts and Action Logement.

Finally, to accelerate the energy renovation of buildings, the MaPrimeRénov' system will be strengthened, with 1,300 "France Rénov" counters against 450 currently and an increase in "Rénov' guides" from 2,000 to 5,000.

These measures will be financed by the end of the Pinel device and the refocusing of the PTZ, said Matignon.

© 2023 AFP