It was a campaign promise from the municipal team. During its municipal council on Tuesday May 10, the municipality of Villejuif, in Val-de-Marne, voted unanimously to implement a rental permit in order to fight against unfit housing and merchants sleep. With this device, which was introduced by the Alur law of 2014, local authorities can condition the rental of a property to a declaration, or even to a prior authorization.
In Villejuif, the declaration regime will apply to all new rentals. The request for authorization, for its part, will concern on the one hand small housing, that is to say one- and two-bedroom apartments, built before 2005. According to Alain Weber, deputy in charge of housing to the mayor (PCF ) Pierre Garzon, “it is especially on these dwellings that we find poor quality housing”. Housing built before 1946 will also be subject to prior authorization.
One month delay
In detail, after the request for authorization, the City will have a maximum period of one month to respond. Agents from the hygiene service will be able to visit the accommodation to see their condition and draw up a report with recommendations in the event of a problem. The owners will have to comply with it to have the right to rent their property. Recruitments will thus be made to the housing and hygiene services to ensure the proper functioning of the system.
Alain Weber recognizes, however, that the rental permit “is a device in a toolbox, not a magic wand”. For example, the measure will not make it possible to regulate the abusive division of pavilions, which is often carried out by slum merchants. In the eyes of Christel Esclangon, opposition councillor, the rental permit should thus be supplemented by a permit to divide. The municipality would also like to set up rent regulation, like ten other communes of the Grand-Orly Seine Bièvre intercommunality.
“There will be holes in the racket”
Alain Weber also points out that “there will be holes in the racket”. Housing with more than 3 rooms shared with “5, 6, 7 families”, unworthy housing already rented out and landlords who do not declare the rental of their housing will in particular escape control. Nevertheless, he sees in this measure a “strong and committed device”.
The rental permit is adopted by a growing number of communities, particularly in Ile-de-France, particularly affected by unfit housing. In Val-de-Marne, Champigny-sur-Marne and Villiers-sur-Marne have already applied it, with the support of the Paris-Est Marne et Bois territory. During its next territorial council, Grand-Orly Seine Bièvre will also deliberate on the rental permit. The intercommunality will indeed be responsible for coordinating its application in Villejuif and in the other towns in the territory which have adopted it.
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