The construction sector denounced on Wednesday “an announcement effect” from the government, after the declarations of the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire on a lesser tightening than expected of the zero-rate loan (PTZ), which does not remedy the exclusion of rural areas from the system.
The government announced the tightening of the PTZ on purchases of new apartments in a stressed area – where it is difficult to find housing – or of old housing with work in a non-strained zone. Compared to what was initially planned, Bruno Le Maire announced on Wednesday an increase in the ceiling of the maximum sum 100,000 euros and resource conditions, as well as an expansion of the perimeter to 210 additional municipalities.
Real estate credit: what will change for the PTZ in 2024
Compared to the basic forecasts which were to remove the zero rate loan on 93% of the territory, (…) put back flash zones on the territory, the famous 200 municipalities which concern industrialization or tourist zones, (. ..) so much the better, but we still exclude almost 90% of the territoryresponded Olivier Salleron, president of the French Building Federation (FFB).
150,000 job cuts coming in the construction sector?
He denounced an effect of announcement, of positive communication which today is not up to the level of the crisis affecting housing and the construction sector. This last still fears the loss of 150,000 jobs by 2025taking into account the setbacks of new construction.
Mr. Salleron was also moved by the fact that the government did not take into account a transpartisan amendment for the maintenance of the PTZ as it exists today, everywhere in the territory, individual houses included, while the new version of the zero rate loan in fact provides for the exclusion of individual houses.
Deputies from different sides are also opposed to the tightening of the PTZ in a series of amendments, adopted in committee, but the government does not intend to retain them in the budget it is preparing to pass with the constitutional weapon of 49.3.
Concerning the exclusion of individual houses, the minister justified it out of concern for consistency with our objectives of fighting against the artificialization of land. A partially admissible argument for Mr. Salleron, who nevertheless emphasizes that there are also wastelands to be rebuilt, there are already waterproofed areas that can be used and everything has, we exclude. At the very least, 35 million of our fellow citizens are excluded from being able to take out a zero-rate loan, he lamented.
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