More difficult housing conditions for immigrants and the second generation in France

Immigrant households are more exposed to the housing supply crisis

The poorest households are most affected by the housing supply crisis in France and the concomitant rise in property prices and rents. Because immigrants and their direct descendants often have lower incomes, less stable jobs, larger families than the majority population and may be subjected to origin-related discrimination, they are particularly exposed. 

The study focuses on people living without assistance in ordinary housing and therefore does not take into account persons in extremely precarious circumstances living in hotels, hostels, or shelters.

Immigrants population groups particularly vulnerable to a tight housing market

People with ties to immigration usually live in France’s major conurbations, where jobs are many but rents are high. A total of 50% of immigrants live in such areas, characterized by tight rental markets. The figure is 59% for immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and 49% for immigrants from North Africa, as opposed to 22% for the majority population.

Immigrant access to the rental market is limited in these conurbations due to their resources and discrimination: 19% of immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa report having been treated discriminatorily when searching for a place to live. 

Difficult for immigrants to become homeowners

Much lower proportions of immigrants (than the majority population) accede to home ownership: while 58% of the majority do, this is the case for only 33% of immigrants and 48% of the second generation. With other variables equal, the differences between people originally from North and sub-Saharan Africa and all other groups are considerable.

Conversely, the proportions of immigrants living in social, i.e., subsidized rental housing are relatively high: 34% do, as against 23% of their descendants and 10% of the majority population. However, the proportions of immigrants from North Africa and  sub-Saharan Africa living in social housing are higher: respectively, 46% and 50%. 

Units are usually over-occupied

60% of the majority population live in housing assessed to be in very good condition, as against 47% of immigrants and 52% of the second generation. The total proportion of people living in deteriorated or substandard housing in France remains low at 5%, but immigrants find themselves in that situation more often than others. The most widespread problem is over-occupancy ; i.e., when the unit is too small for the number of people living in it—the case for 25% of immigrants and 13% of their descendants, compared to 8% of the majority population. Moreover, 37% of immigrants renting in the private rather than social or public housing sector live in substandard housing. 

Immigrants usually live in disadvantaged neighborhoods

Regardless of housing sector, 22% of immigrants live in what French urban policy terms “priority neighborhoods,” (i.e., neighborhoods officially deemed to be at a particularly high socio-economic disadvantage), compared to 10% of the second generation and 3% of the majority population. For immigrants from North and sub-Saharan Africa the figure is as high as 31%.

Origin and socio-economic situation

The degree to which immigrants are faced with disparities in housing varies by geographical origin. The residential situations of immigrants and descendants originally from sub-Saharan and North Africa, Turkey, and the Middle East are the worst, especially when there is a statistical association between origin and low qualifications.

While social housing partially protects the most vulnerable people, the amount of it is not sufficient to offset housing disparities. And the fact is that housing conditions affect other major components of social life, such as academic achievement, economic situation. Improving access to quality housing therefore seems à key solution for reducing disparities overall.