Towns failing on affordable homes

HUNDREDS of French towns and cities face sanctions for failing to provide enough affordable housing to low-earners.

New research by the Fondation Abbé Pierre welfare charity has found that 1.2 million people are on the waiting list for social housing and another six million are in accommodation that is not suitable for them.

It found that many towns are choosing to ignore a law stating that affordable homes must account for 20% of all the primary residences in large towns with more than 50,000 people.

Towns that ignore the rules face a fine of €157 for each missing home.

The latest study, seen by Le Parisien, looked at 682 towns around France and found that 343 of them were well below the 20% threshold.

Some of the worst offenders were in the Paca region, including Nice, Toulon and Hyères.

Housing minister Benoist Apparu has published a separate report, focusing on the Ile-de-France, which praises an "exceptional" effort to address the problem.

Photo: Thomas Launois - Fotolia.com