You can have social housing if:

• Your resources and those of the people who live with you (salaries, allowances, etc.) do not exceed a maximum amount.

• You have a valid residence permit:
  - the residence permit, if you already have it
  - OR the API (certificate of extension of instruction), which you receive when applying for your residence permit, with a copy of the OFPRA (or CNDA) decision.
• You have a definitive or provisional social security number (13-digit number starting with 1 or 7 for men, 2 or 8 for women).

• Are you older than 18.

The site demand-logement-social.gouv.fr covers most departments for social housing applications.

To check which site you should make your request on:

Click on this link , indicate the city where you are looking for accommodation and follow the procedure indicated.

You must first create your account to apply for social housing online.

To create your account:

• Go to demande-logement-social.gouv.fr
• Click on “Register/Login”
• Click on “I create an account”
• Complete your personal information and choose a password
• Validate your account by clicking on the link received by email.

On the Internet

Connect to your demande-logement-social.gouv.fr account or to your department’s website.

You can then:

• Create your online file
• Send requested documents

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “ Scan a document ”

The date of first request is important to open other rights. For example, the right to enforceable housing (DALO) (see explanations at the end of the sheet).

On paper

If you do not want to apply online, you can also complete and print the social housing form (Cerfa 14069*05) and submit the complete file (form + supporting documents) to a registration counter, that is i.e. an HLM organization or a town hall. An explanatory note is available here .

To find the counters near you , go to this address . Then, write the postal code of your city, find it in the list, then click on "Search", and on "Consult the list of counters" at the bottom of the page.

After sending your complete file, your request will be validated.

You will then receive a unique national registration number.

From this moment, your file is visible to the "social landlords" (these are organizations that rent social housing to individuals) with housing in the municipalities you have requested.

Each lessor then has the possibility to contact you if they have an available accommodation corresponding to your request.

Connect to your demande-logement-social.gouv.fr account (or to your department's website) to consult, update or renew your existing social housing application.

To do this, you must click on the “I manage my request” button and enter your unique registration number.

A housing allocation commission decides on the allocation of housing.

If the commission decides to assign you housing, you can:

• either accept accommodation and sign a contract
• or refuse accommodation, explaining why.

For the application to remain active, it must be renewed every year.

The request must be renewed 1 month before the anniversary date of its online registration (this means 11 months after the request).

So as not to forget, you will receive an email or letter every year to inform you of the deadline for renewing your request.

Don't forget to update your file whenever your situation changes :

• address change,
• new people to accommodate,
• birth of a child,
• return to employment or loss of your job,
• increase or decrease in your income,
• health problem, etc.

If you have difficulty completing the form, you can call 0 806 000 113 (cost of a local call) from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

You can also ask your social worker for help.
> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Make an appointment with a social worker” .

Help videos and general questions/answers on applying for social housing can be found on this link .

For each department, it is possible to know the what an abnormally long waiting time is for a social housing proposal.

If you have not received a housing offer adapted to your needs after this deadline (depending on your department), you have the possibility of using the Right to enforceable housing (DALO).

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Make a DAHO or DALO request” .

If your social housing no longer suits you (need for more space following a birth, onset of a health problem, desire to be closer to your workplace, etc.), you can ask to change accommodation.

Requesting a change of social housing requires making a new housing request , online at demand-logement-social.gouv.fr or by paper (see step 3).

When making your request, remember to specify that you are already an HLM tenant and indicate the name of your landlord.