Intermediate social housing in the Paris metropolitan area

Intermediate social housing in France constitutes a segment of housing with regulated rents with income eligibility limits that are higher than in standard social housing, giving access to wider group of households. It is at aiding middle income households retain accessibility to housing, especially in cases of tight real estate markets, or to infuse a social mix. Using the database on social housing in 2014 and the population census of 2011, this article explores the distribution of intermediate social housing at departmental and communal levels in the Paris metropolitan area and the range of landlords who manage this stock. Secondly, it investigates more indepthly the role of intermediate social housing in the communes which are perceived to be socially differentiated. Finally, this paper provides different explanations for the phenomenon of rent reduction in intermediate social housing.