France widens government aid for homes cracked by clay soils
Affected homeowners can seek state aid under scheme
Published
Property owners in parts of France with high numbers of insurance claims for cracked homes can now benefit from wider government support after eligibility criteria were relaxed.
The changes follow criticism of a six-month trial in which only 19 homeowners across 11 departments were able to access government assistance, including expert assessments on how to repair damage and prevent further cracking.
The €30 million scheme is aimed at departments with high numbers of claims made under household and natural catastrophe insurance policies.
Cracks caused by clay soil
Many cracks occur because homes have been built on poor foundations over clay soil. During periods of drought, the clay shrinks before expanding again when rain returns.
The scheme's first phase allows eligible homeowners to obtain a full assessment of the problem.
A second phase provides help with selecting and funding preventive measures and repairs, including through low-interest bank loans.
The departments included in the trial are Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Dordogne, Gers, Indre, Lot-et-Garonne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nord, Puy-de-Dôme, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne.
Rules widened after low take-up
Announcing the results of the six-month pilot at the end of May, Housing Minister Mathieu Lefèvre acknowledged that attracting only 19 successful applications was not sufficient.
He promised changes to speed up the claims process and increase the number of homeowners eligible for help.
Decrees have since modified the trial to include properties with up to three storeys.
This followed the discovery that some homes with cellars had been excluded by the previous requirement that properties could have no more than two storeys.
Restrictions on the types of cracks eligible for assessment have also been eased.
However, the criteria for receiving help with repairs and preventive measures have been tightened. Cracks must now measure at least 5mm wide, compared with 1mm previously.
