10% of French homes used only occasionally

How often have you noticed the shuttered windows of neighbouring houses and wondered who owns them, and where they live? 

According to the state statistics institute Insee, there are currently 38.4 million dwellings in France, of which 82.5% are primary residences.

Complicated succession laws mean that homes are often inherited by multiple heirs, who must all agree on terms for sale, leaving many properties uninhabited in the meantime. 

The number of vacant properties (habitable but not lived in for at least a year) rose sharply between 2005 and 2019; at one point they made up 8.1% of all properties in France.

Government action – specifically the Plan national de lutte contre les logements vacants – saw the proportion of vacant dwellings drop to 7.7% in 2025. It is expected to fall again this year. 

Of the 38.4 million dwellings in France, 3.8 million (10%) are second homes or are only used occasionally. In comparison, only 0.6% of properties in England and Wales are classed as second homes, and 4.6% in the US.

Unsurprisingly, 40% of second homes in France are located on the coast and 16% in the mountains, locations selected for holiday suitability. Some 12% are in highly populated areas away from the seaside or ski resorts. 

Second homes tend to be smaller than main residences: 10% are under 40m².

Only 10% of second homes belong to someone living abroad, the rest are owned by French residents. 

Over two-thirds (66%) of second homes are owned by people aged 60 or over, and this rises to 75% in certain coastal areas, with 38% of owners living at least three hours away. 

Over half (58%) of households own their main residence, a proportion that has remained virtually stable since 2014.