Ton in Villefranche says his elderly mother-in-law in Marseille is “very upset and worried.” She lives in an apartment the rent of which is controlled under the law of 1948. She’s been told by a neighbour that these controls are to be abolished. Is this true? 

In fact, yes. But this is a complicated matter. From 1948 until 1986 certain properties were granted to low-income tenants on rents which, currently, are up to five times below market levels. No new tenancies have been granted for the past 16 years although spouses and, in limited circumstances, children have been able to succeed a deceased occupant as tenant. The result of this law has been to saddle many owners with very low-yield properties lived in by sitting tenants. Even the advantage to the latter has been somewhat limited since owners have done an absolute minimum of maintenance in most cases and properties are often in very bad repair. Anyway, Housing Minister Gilles de Robien has announced that the law of 1948 is to be phased out although—Ton can tell his mother-in-law—the interests of the elderly and the poor are to be protected.

From Reporter 95 - Feb/Mar 2003

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