Albane Leprince 12:44 p.m., January 31, 2024

While Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced this Tuesday a "supply shock" to "unlock" the housing sector, in crisis, Loïc Cantin, President of the National Real Estate Federation (FNAIM) reacts to the measures taken by the head of government, interview...

“A supply shock” to “unlock” the housing sector in the midst of a crisis. This is the promise of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal during his general policy speech. The head of government announced several measures. For Europe1.fr, Loïc Cantin, president of the National Real Estate Federation (FNAIM) reacts to his announcements. Interview.

When Gabriel Attal announces a “supply shock” to “unlock” the housing sector, what should we understand?

It is difficult to understand what the Prime Minister meant. A “supply shock” would suggest that there are no projects underway, but this is not the case, the entire sector is prepared to build but with what support system and for whom? Today, it is a demand shock that should have been announced: supporting households and first-time buyers in their access to property. France is suffering from a stalled real estate market and economy, demand is at a standstill.

To support the social housing sector, Gabriel Attal wants to create a very long-term loan of 2 billion euros. 

This is not a loan that will create housing, it is only one element of financing. This is not a criterion of success for a social housing policy. How can we understand that the State can live up to the mission incumbent on it when it estimates the needs at 250,000 housing units compared to 512,000 for the HLM movement? We must already agree on a road map, we are in total ignorance and refusal to see what is really happening. The State does not want to understand, the State does not want to accept being faced with a situation that it cannot manage.

Is the requisition of empty buildings, particularly offices, to create 30,000 new homes within three years a good solution?

A State that cannot even requisition administrative buildings that have been empty for several years at least to respond to the emergency of homeless people who are still dying in the streets in 2024, how would it requisition office buildings to make homes when they do not comply with this destination? It's yet another idea that is being launched, it's a sprinkling of slogans that has nothing to do with reality. 

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Helping the middle classes access intermediate housing, what do you think? Isn't becoming an owner more important than remaining a tenant?

The ambition of a great country is to allow everyone to have a roof over their head when they retire. The social sector should only be a relay point in the residential journey of life and that is not the path we are taking. Social housing is a springboard, but not an end. Everyone aspires to become an owner, but it is not the political vision of this government which would do well to get closer to the French. 

Another measure announced by Gabriel Attal, the massive simplification of standards: reviewing the DPE, simplifying access to MaPrimeRénov'... What do you think?

It's always the same refrain! Elisabeth Borne said the same thing... Today, it's not the DPE that's the problem, it's the waiting time. For example, an energy audit at the moment takes two years to complete! Their vision is extremely technocratic, as when Gabriel Attal says that we must unlock access to the profession of co-ownership trustee: what a vision disconnected from the reality of the professions.

I suggest to Gabriel Attal that he come and take a look at the co-ownerships and the general meetings, he will understand what life is like as a trustee from whom we always ask more. He has a reductive vision of the profession. We are in the middle of the macronism of excess. 

Finally, to respond to the housing crisis which is a major issue, shouldn't Gabriel Attal appoint a full minister? 

We need a real Minister of Housing and Regional Planning with a real vision of the situation in France. At FNAIM, we have the solutions, we have the remedies but the government does not listen to us, it does not even respond to our requests. A full minister would be extremely beneficial. If we still have a delegate minister, I very much fear that we will continue to sink into a crisis that the government will not have seen and for which it will bear full responsibility.