The recent adoption of an amendment to the 2025 finance bill could well breathe new life into an old promise: the universal rental guarantee. This measure, which plans to compensate owners in the event of unpaid rent, could be financed by a levy on rental income.
A payment guarantee for owners
Proposed by MP Danielle Simonnet, this amendment envisages creating a public rental guarantee scheme. In practice, this would mean that landlords could be compensated if their tenants fail to pay their rent, thereby reducing the risk of eviction. Donors would contribute to this fund through a contribution estimated between 2 et 2,5 % of their rental income, an amount which could however weigh in certain cases.
A project part of an older initiative
The idea of the universal rent guarantee (GUL) is not new. There loi Groove of 2014 under the presidency of François Hollande had planned such a system, but the absence of an implementing decree had blocked its implementation. Planned for main residence leases from 2016, this guarantee was to be administered by a dedicated agency, never created. This relaunch of the project responds to strong demand from the left, who see the GUL as a solution to secure housing in France.
A substantial budget envelope
The recently voted amendment proposes a budgetary allocation reaching 994 million euros to finance this program. However, the inclusion of this measure in the final finance law will depend on subsequent deliberations and the publication of a government decree.
As the housing crisis worsens, could this universal guarantee project become a reality? It remains to be seen whether this initiative will actually be integrated into future legislation and whether the financial and administrative means will follow to make this protection a reality for owners and tenants.
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