Controversy Surrounding New Standards for Ceiling Height in French Rentals

In a context of increasing housing insecurity, the French government published a decree last July concerning the minimum ceiling height for rentals. This decree, intended to set up hygiene and sanitation standards at the national level, provoked strong reactions from associations fighting against poor housing and some parliamentarians.

The new standards relating to ceiling height

While the minimum authorized ceiling height was previously set at 2.20 meters, the new decree provides for a limit lowered to 1.80 meters. This measure, initially provided for in a draft text dating from last February, had already raised concerns about the impact on the living conditions of tenants.

A debate around substandard housing

For advocates of poor housing, this new rule would allow landlords to rent smaller and potentially unsanitary accommodation. Manuel Domergue, director of studies for the Abbé Pierre Foundation, expressed himself on Twitter on this subject, saying that this measure would have the effect of “making dwellings with a ceiling height of less than 2.20 meters habitable”.

Similarly, the LFI deputy for Yvelines William Martinet accused the Minister of Housing of paving the way for the rental of accommodation with a ceiling height of 1.80 meters, denouncing a “great leap back“.

The government’s arguments

Faced with this controversy, the government defended its position by explaining that this decree mainly aims to harmonize the rules relating to the hygiene and sanitation of housing at the national level. Indeed, these standards were previously determined locally by departmental health regulations, resulting in disparities between territories.

A desire to facilitate access to housing?

Some observers believe that lowering the minimum ceiling height could also aim to promote access to housing for the most precarious people. By allowing landlords to rent smaller units, the number of properties available on the market could increase and thus meet the growing demand for housing.

• Pour : Harmonization of rules at national level, facilitation of access to housing.
• Against : Risk of seeing an increase in unsanitary housing, degraded living conditions for tenants.

A subject that divides and questions

Beyond the question of ceiling height, this debate raises questions about housing policy in France and the measures put in place to fight against precariousness. As the country faces an unprecedented housing crisis, the choice to allow smaller and potentially less comfortable accommodation to be rented is met with mixed reactions.

A necessary consensus for better management of poor housing

To solve this problem, it seems essential to reach a consensus between the various actors concerned – associations, owners, tenants and public authorities – in order to develop solutions adapted to the situation. Whether it is a question of setting up stricter standards concerning the quality of housing or even encouraging the construction of social housing, courses of action exist to meet the challenge posed by poor housing in France.