Report of the HOUS mission to Paris, France

The document titled "Report of the HOUS mission to Paris, France" is published by the European Parliament and authored by a delegation including Irene Tinagli, Maravillas Abadía Jover, Leila Chaibi, Isabelle Le Callennec, and Nora Mebarek. This report outlines the findings and insights gathered during a mission to Paris focused on the housing crisis in the European Union.

On September 12, 2025, a delegation from the HOUS Committee of the European Parliament visited Paris to gain insights into housing policies and challenges. The delegation included five Members and was accompanied by staff from the secretariat. The mission aimed to explore the Paris Housing Model and discuss social housing policies, current legislative frameworks, and stakeholder perspectives.

During the mission, the delegation learned about the gap between legislative ambitions and on-the-ground implementations of housing laws in France, particularly the DALO law, which enshrines housing as a legal right. Despite comprehensive legal protections, complexities in the system have marginalized those most in need. Organizations like the Fondation Abbé Pierre and Espace Solidarité Habitat highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in accessing housing rights and the essential role of legal support.

Housing has become the primary household expense in France, with rising energy costs contributing to this trend. The report emphasizes that effective housing solutions must include clear social conditions for European public aid, ensuring that investments address the needs of the most vulnerable populations. The importance of integrating social housing with private housing initiatives was underscored, as well as the need for solutions targeting extreme precarity.

The mission also explored innovative models like the "pension de famille" approach, which provides supportive and community-oriented housing for low-income individuals. Habitat et Humanisme, an organization managing over 13,000 housing units across France, presented their innovative financing model that combines public subsidies and private investments, demonstrating how to mobilize resources for affordable housing.

The delegation met with members of the French National Assembly who discussed newly adopted laws aimed at regulating short-term rentals. These laws seek to balance the demand for tourist accommodations with the need for long-term housing availability. The regulations include mandatory rental declarations and align energy performance requirements for short-term rentals with those for long-term housing.

The mission highlighted Paris's comprehensive housing strategy, which includes rent control enforcement, financial instruments for affordable housing, and partnerships with non-profit providers. The city has taken steps to address housing crises by ensuring that ecological transformations align with social justice, particularly through projects like the Sthrau initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in social housing.

The report concludes that effective housing policy requires collaboration across various governance levels and active engagement with stakeholders. It emphasizes the need for adequate resources for frontline services to support vulnerable populations. The mission's findings provide valuable lessons for other European cities facing similar housing challenges, advocating for policies that integrate social, ecological, and participatory objectives to ensure housing accessibility for all.