How many reports related to poor housing have you recorded in Finistère?
In 2023, there were 274 situations of poor housing compared to 196 in 2022 and 69 in 2021. In reality, this increase is mainly due to the resources committed by the Abbé Pierre Foundation and the Department of Finistère to finance a full-time position in charge of these questions at Adil. What is certain is that we receive a lot of reports, and we need more resources to respond to them correctly.
Among the cases identified, are certain situations repeated more than others?
The majority of reports concern tenants of private housing, who live in damp housing with traces of mold. Conversely, owner-occupiers very rarely complain about their housing conditions. For the latter, it is sometimes Diogenes syndrome (a behavioral disorder which includes a tendency to accumulate objects), and it is often the town hall which warns us. Situations involving owner-occupiers are particularly difficult to manage because most of them refuse to move despite the proven risk to their health.
What is the procedure for reporting substandard housing?
It is possible to call Adil directly. Before activating other levers, the tenant is asked to send a letter to the owner-landlord. If a month after sending the letter, the tenant has not heard, then he must come back to us. Subsequently, the tenant can appeal to the justice conciliator, because there are obligations linked to the rental of accommodation. If the person receives a housing allowance paid by the Caf or the MSA, you can request that a housing decency inspection be carried out. If the diagnosis is not compliant and the owner does not meet the work obligations, the allowance is no longer paid. Above all, you should not take justice into your own hands by not paying the rent. It is much more complicated to intervene when the tenant is not up to date with payments because the owner can initiate eviction proceedings.
Why do many tenants not report their situation?
The majority of people who call Adil about this subject are precarious people, who benefit from a low income. Their big fear is finding themselves without a roof over their heads. However, it is true that the rehousing of people in poor housing is very complicated because we are currently experiencing a significant housing shortage, both in the private sector and in the social sector. And then, some tenants are not comfortable with initiating administrative procedures and/or fear possible reprisals from their landlord.
Do most poor housing situations result from unscrupulous landlords?
I do not subscribe to the “bad landlord VS nice tenant” vision. There are cases where owners are unaware of their obligations. On the tenant side, we also realize that, sometimes, living skills are lacking. For example, there are tenants who, in order not to pay too much for electricity, stop heating their home and turn off the ventilation. But this is the kind of thing that will lead to deterioration of housing.
