Introducing the OFS Press Kit
The press kit, issued by Habitat 44, presents the creation of an Organisme de Foncier Solidaire (OFS) in Loire‑Atlantique. It is a joint initiative of the Department of Loire‑Atlantique, Nantes Métropole, the CARENE and fourteen social housing operators belonging to the Union Sociale pour l’Habitat des Pays de la Loire. The document outlines the OFS as an innovative tool to help modest‑income households purchase homes in areas where land prices have surged.
How the OFS Works
The OFS acquires land and retains it long‑term while a residential programme is built on it. Households buy the building, sign a bail réel solidaire (real‑estate lease) with the OFS and pay a modest ground‑rent fee that is added to their mortgage instalments. When a property is resold, the OFS controls the sale price and verifies the buyer’s income eligibility, ensuring long‑term affordability.
Key Price Data
Land prices in Loire‑Atlantique have risen 45 % in ten years, reaching roughly €400 / m² in Nantes. New‑build housing averages €3 850 / m² (+25 % in ten years) and exceeds €4 000 / m² in Nantes, €4 500 / m² on the northern coast. By separating land cost from building cost, OFS projects sell at €2 150‑€2 300 / m², a reduction of about €1 700 / m² compared with the open market. Monthly ground‑rent is kept between €0.15 and €0.60 per m², often offset by public subsidies, resulting in monthly housing costs of roughly €700 in places like Pornic versus €1 145 in the free market.
Target Households
Eligibility is based on income ceilings defined by the PSLA scheme: €24 592 for a single person, €32 793 for two, €37 932 for three, €42 032 for four and €46 121 for five or more. The OFS aims to enable these modest‑income families to own homes in high‑price districts that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Public‑Private Partnerships
The OFS is financed through contributions from the Department, Nantes Métropole, CARENE and the social operators. The land is owned by the OFS (a SCIC – Société Coopérative d’Intérêt Collectif) and leased to occupants for a symbolic fee (about €10 per month in Nantes). Operators receive subsidies that allow them to sell at the reduced price while the OFS retains a modest rent for land management.
First Projects and Ambitions
Initial projects include:
- Blancho‑Zamenhof (Isle of Nantes) – 170 mixed‑use units plus 174 social, affordable and free‑market homes, of which at least 13 will be under a bail réel solidaire.
- Boulevard Romanet (Nantes) – 26 units built by CIF Cooperative on city‑donated land.
- Rue du Coudray (Nantes) – 20 collective affordable units and 10 social rentals, with a crèche and other services. The OFS targets a portfolio of 3 000 homes within ten years, illustrating the scale of the ambition.
Sustainability and Long‑Term Impact
By limiting speculative resale gains and maintaining affordable rents, the OFS contributes to a more sustainable housing market. The model reduces the financial pressure on households, preserves neighbourhood diversity and encourages the efficient use of land resources. The partnership demonstrates how coordinated public funding and cooperative structures can deliver durable, affordable housing solutions across Europe.