LAB IMMO: Faced with the increase in Livret A, social housing plays together

Will social housing overcome the crisis? This was the theme of a round table organized this Monday 24 April at the headquarters of La Dépêche du Midi with the main donors in the sector. Social housing actors are in fact affected by the increase in the livret A which increases the cost of borrowing from social owners. Its rate has been multiplied by six in just over a year, going from 0.5% to 3%. Despite the economic situation, everyone said they wanted to continue building.

Guest of honor Dominique Estrosi-Sassone

“These variable rates will increase interest costs for Métropole Habitat by 10 million euros in 2023,” explained Bertrand Serp, its president. Around Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, senator of the Maritime Alps and general secretary of the Federation of social housing offices, met Frédéric Carré, president of Action Logement Immobilier (1^um social landlord of France), Annabelle Viollet regional director of the Banque des Territoires and Jean-Michel Fabre vice-president of Habitat social Occitanie. The elected president of the Riviera has asked for a real consideration of a housing policy by the government while the conclusions of the National Council for the Refoundation (Cnr) of housing construction will have to be unveiled at the beginning of May.

A clear course required by the government

The risk for social owners is that the rate on booklet A reaches 3.6% or 4% by the end of the year due to inflation. “It is the government that chooses whether or not to increase the rate of the livret A. A further increase would prevent social owners from building new homes,” feared Dominique Estrosi-Sassone. “The state must finally take housing policy in hand and set a clear course,” pleaded Jean-Michel Fabre as the Banque des Territoires offers equity loans and subsidized rates.

For his part, Frédéric Carré regretted that the five-year agreement between Action Logement and the state has not yet been completed “while the discussions began in September 2022. Our sector needs a long-term vision and immediate measures” launched Toulouse.

A video showing all the debates and exchanges will soon be published on the depeche.fr website.