The sun 300 days a year, the sea, the mountains and the airport almost in the city centre. So many reasons that make the Alpes-Maritimes and more specifically, Nice, an attractive territory “has always been” according to Cyril Messika, president of the Observatory real estate housing Côte d’Azur. However, “even with an exceptional semester for the sector, the finding is worrying”, he breathes at a press conference on Tuesday, referring to the consequences of the rise in energy prices and the requirements of the Climate law.
“There is a scarcity of products therefore, an increase in the purchase price, he continues. And this increase does not benefit anyone. Starting with the assets to whom they only have 30% of their salary left and who finally refuse to come and work on the Côte d’Azur. This situation will also have consequences for our businesses. The sun is not everything. »
The problem of the Climate law
The low stock of new, which fell from 18 to 6 months, then benefits the existing one. In effect, the results “are good” for the market. In one year, transactions have increased by 15%, prices per m2 also (+10%) to the point of reaching what a new property was worth only some time ago (€4,710 per m2). But this market will “quickly face the problem of the Climate Law”, warns William Siksik, president of the National Federation of Real Estate (FNAIM).
From January 1, 2023, dwellings in class G of the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) which consume more than 450 kWh will be considered “energy indecent” and will be prohibited from rental. For William Siksik, many lessors will be forced to think about keeping their property or not, not having the necessary resources to carry out the work due to the rise in the price of raw materials.
A situation already witnessed by Lionel Dolciani, of the Fédération du BTP 06. “Today, steel has increased by 100%, PVC by 16%, aluminum by 30%. We are faced with something that never existed with an evolution that is absolutely unpredictable. The deadlines for changing a door or a window are currently 24 weeks. You shouldn’t be in a hurry and this energy transition schedule is not sustainable…” Thus, the Climate Law would push buyers to turn more to new housing to avoid these renovation requirements.
“Housing is a social issue”
It is then the snake that bites its tail. Marc Raspor, president of the Federation of real estate developers of the Côte d’Azur, utters “a cry of alarm”. “Building requests continue to increase in the region, but we cannot build. Each time a building permit is filed, a petition is launched by local residents who put pressure on the communities. We therefore ask for real support from them. We are ready to pay them a share of the VAT. Housing is a social issue. »
The president of the FNAIM supports: “We are facing humans behind these walls. If they can no longer rent, what do we do? Where do we put them? So many uncertainties to which are added other questions: “Why are seasonal rentals exempt from these requirements, how will the market evolve after January 1, 2023 in Nice, where Airbnbs are already very even too present? “, he asks.