Social housing or private housing: what differences for the tenant?

Verified 02 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The main differences concern the conditions for obtaining the accommodation, the amount of rent and the duration of the lease.

Tableau - Main differences between social and private housing

Social housing

Private dwelling: empty house lease

Private accommodation: furnished apartment lease

Private accommodation: mobility lease

Conditions for obtaining accommodation

The tenant must have an income not exceeding one maximum amount

The landlord freely chooses the tenant, but must not make any discrimination

The tenant must be in at least 1 of :

  • Vocational training
  • Higher education
  • Apprenticeship contract
  • Internship
  • Voluntary engagement (civic service)
  • Occupational transfer
  • Temporary assignment (professional activity)

    • How to apply for accommodation

    • For accommodation in Île-de-France, you need to make a application file unique
    • For housing in the provinces or in the Dom, you have to make a application file by department

    Where the applicant does not obtain accommodation

    The applicant may submit his or her right to housing (Dalo)

    No recourse is possible unless the applicant can prove that there has been discrimination

    Fixing the initial rent

    The amount of the rent is regulated

    According to the municipality, the rent is free or framed.

    According to the date of signature of the lease and the classification of the dwelling indicated on the DPE: titleContent, the rent may be limited to that of the previous tenant

    Rent Review

    The rent is revised every year

    If the lease so provides, the rent can be reviewed every year.

    However, the revision of the rent may be prohibited, depending on the date of signature of the lease and the classification of the dwelling indicated on the DPE: titleContent.

    The rent cannot be reviewed during the lease

    Lease Duration

    Not known. The tenant has a right to be kept on the premises.

    At least 3 years

    • At least 1 year
    • For a student tenant, at least 9 months

    1 to 10 months maximum

    The lessee may terminate the lease

    At any time, provided you give leave with 3 or 1 month's notice, as appropriate

    At any time, provided you give leave with 3 or 1 month's notice, as appropriate

    At any time, provided you give leave with one month's notice

    At any time, provided you give leave with one month's notice

    The landlord/landlord may terminate the lease

    At any time, when:

  • the tenant's income exceeds the maximum allowed
  • or the accommodation is under-occupied (too large)
  • or the dwelling is empty
  • or the accommodation is inadequate (the disabled person has left the accommodation)
  • or the dwelling has been assigned by the tenant
  • or by serious fault of the tenant (unpaid, neighborhood disturbance...)
    • Under lease, in the event of serious misconduct on the part of the tenant (unpaid, neighborhood disturbance)
    • When the lease expires, to live in the dwelling or to house a relative, or to sell the dwelling. He must give the tenant at least 6 months notice.
    • Under lease, in the event of serious misconduct on the part of the tenant (unpaid, neighborhood disturbance)
    • When the lease expires, to live in the dwelling, or to house a relative, or to sell the dwelling. He must give the tenant at least 3 months' notice.
    • During the lease, in case of serious fault of the tenant (unpaid, neighborhood disorder)
    • TO the due date of the lease, without any action to be taken

    FYI  

    There are private dwellings (owned by individuals) for which the tenant must have an income below a maximum amount: contracted accommodation Anah.

    Who can help me?

    Find who can answer your questions in your region

    • Departmental Agency for Housing Information (Adil)

    • Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

      For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Cost: free service

      The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.

      Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

      The service is available at the following times:

      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

      Request a call