Housing policy outlined by PCF leader

Fabien Roussel, the national secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), has proposed a detailed housing plan as part of his campaign for the 2027 presidential election. The plan aims to tackle the housing crisis through public intervention, including building 200,000 social housing units annually and strengthening existing housing laws.

PCF identifies supply as key housing issue

According to the PCF, the housing crisis is primarily a supply problem, worsened by insufficient resources for social housing providers and rising rent costs. The party aims to build one million social housing units over five years and increase the social housing share in cities to 30%, up from the current 20 to 25%.

Proposals to boost housing construction

To support its goals, the PCF suggests increasing state funding for housing by 15 billion euros annually, abolishing the solidarity rent reduction (RLS), and reducing the VAT on social housing to 5.5%. The party also proposes a national public housing service with three main functions: land management, construction, and financing.

Focus on rent control and tenant protections

The PCF wants to cap housing costs at 20% of a household's income, after accounting for assistance. It also seeks to strengthen rent regulation in both private and social housing and expand personalized housing assistance (APL). The party opposes evictions without relocation options and proposes a social guarantee for tenants facing financial hardship.

Opposition to national preference policy

Roussel criticizes the national preference policy supported by far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, calling it discriminatory against legally residing workers. He argues that increasing housing availability should take precedence over restricting access based on nationality.

Energy renovation as part of climate plan

The PCF plans to integrate housing energy improvements into its climate strategy, aiming to install 2 million heat pumps annually. However, the financing and support mechanisms for private property owners in this initiative are not yet detailed.

Home ownership and private rental details unclear

At this stage, the PCF has not provided specific details on measures aimed at supporting home ownership or private rental investment, leaving these aspects of the housing policy underdeveloped.