Social Housing: "We no longer have enough land available," this mayor near Nice does not want to pay penalties

Levens should have 570 social housing units under the Solidarity and Urban Renewal Act (SRU). Every municipality with more than 3,500 inhabitants must have 25% of the existing number of social housing units. Except that Levens, with a population of 5,300, has 301 social housing units. That's too few. According to the SRU law, it should pay a penalty of €70,000 each year because the municipality is not meeting its targets. "It's enormous. It represents 60% of the school budget," complains Antoine Véran, mayor of Levens.

The Metropolis therefore requested in 2022 that the prefect exempt the municipality from the SRU law. The request was accepted. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Levens therefore did not pay any penalties. However, this agreement is only valid for three years. The Metropolis must therefore reapply for the next three years (2025, 2026, 2027).

"Not enough land available anymore"

A resolution will therefore be submitted to the metropolitan council on Friday, July 11, 2025, to empower the president to request the prefect again. "We'll talk again with Christian Estrosi ," the mayor said. "The proof is that he's going to defend this case for a temporary exit from the SRU system."

He continued: "We no longer have enough land available. So we can no longer build social housing."

What if the state refuses this temporary exit from the SRU system? "I will have no choice but to pay the fines. It will be to the detriment of other projects ," says Antoine Véran. "But I don't believe in this hypothesis. The state has recognized that we have made efforts. And we meet the criteria to request an exemption. Moreover, when we can build social housing, we do so. Two projects are underway: 10 housing units to accommodate young people with disabilities and 12 housing units with a real solidarity lease."