Drought and soil rehydration: Extraordinary 2018 support package extended

Who is involved?

Homeowners who occupy a single-unit dwelling can receive exceptional financial assistance to repair structural damage suffered during the 2018 dry-rehydration episode.

The aid is intended for households with very modest or modest income levels according to the criteria laid down by decree of the Ministers responsible for the City and the Economy ceilings on resources applicable to certain beneficiaries of grants from the National Housing Agency and to intermediate-income households in accordance with the criteria adopted for the energy transition premium.

What are the conditions?

The aid may be granted only if the building is occupied as the main residence (housing occupied at least 6 months a year unless there is a professional obligation, sickness or force majeure) by the owner on the date of commencement of the works, and if he has not already benefited from public aid under this phenomenon of drought and soil rehydration.

Only damage to parts for residential use shall be taken into account.

The building eligible for this aid must be located at the same time:

• in an area of exposure to the phenomenon of differential ground movement resulting from drought and rehydration of medium or high clay soils. The exhibition map is available on the website georisques.gouv.fr;
• in a municipality in which the mayor applied before 31 december 2019 for recognition of the state of natural disaster as a result of the drought that occurred in 2018 and for which that state was not recognized.

The building must have been completed for more than 10 years by 31 December 2017 and must have been covered in 2018 by an insurance contract guaranteeing fire damage or any other damage.

The damage taken into account is structural damage to the heavy work due to deformations of the subsoil or of the soil surrounding the building due to the phenomenon of shrinkage-swelling of clays. The works covered correspond to the work of recovery in total or partial subwork and repairs of damage on the main work. Unfurnished attic, shed, garages, terraces, balconies, dryers outside the dwelling, damage to verandas but not the rest of the dwelling are excluded from the device.

What amounts?

The financial assistance shall be granted up to €15,000 for very modest households and €10,000 for low- and middle-income households, for a maximum rate of 80% the amount of work carried out.

The full application package (one application per unit) must be submitted by July 31, 2021. You have to go to his prefecture to find out how to deposit. The Commission has three months from receipt of the complete file to take a decision on the application.

The beneficiary must provide proof of completion of the works within two years of notification of the aid by forwarding the necessary supporting documents to the prefect of the department. The latter may arrange for any checks necessary to verify compliance with the provisions on the payment of the aid to be carried out. In the event of non-compliance with the conditions which led to the award of the aid or the obligation to forward supporting documents, the payment of all or part of the sums collected will be required.