Constructing an additional residential property: A venture into secondary home ownership
Feeling Bummed About Your Beach House Dreams? Here's the Scoop!
Photo By Notre Site/Adobe
By Christine Lejoux, Real Estate Editor
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Looking to make waves in Royan for your coastal escapades? You better think twice! The municipal council of this popular Charente-Maritime coastal resort took a tumultuous turn on Tuesday, May 13. They passed a revision of the local urban plan (PLU) that imposes an "obligation of use as the primary residence" in certain new residential construction projects. What does this mean for your beach house dreams? Future homes built on a sprawling 17-hectare area will be restricted to primary residences only. No more beachfront retreats as second homes!
The town of Royan devised this initiative with a specific loathing for the "anti-Airbnb" law enacted in November 2024. This law aims to prioritize year-round housing over short-term, touristic dwellings. According to the First Deputy Mayor, Didier Simonnet, 85% of the 50 private homes recently listed for sale in Royan are not intended for year-round occupancy. That kind of scenario simply can't continue! After all, second homes account for a staggering 43.2% of all housing in Royan, according to INSEE.
Curious about those monthly mortgage payments for a 2025 T3 in major cities?
Take a Chill Pill: Chamonix Doesn't Want You!
Crikey, that second home percentage skyrockets in Chamonix Mont-Blanc, reaching a whopping 70%! Frightened of being overrun by ski-season refugees, the local council has declared that almost no new second homes will be tolerated in the municipality. This initiation coincides with the "anti-Airbnb" law, enabling them to establish "permanent housing servitudes" and thus curb new second home construction.
You think Chamonix is heartless? What about the town of Bonifacio, in Corsica? They beat Chamonix to the punch, with a complete ban on the construction of second homes across all their urbanized areas back in March. Expected to adopt their new local urban plan in September, they aim to turn approved, remaining constructible land into zones exclusively for primary residences. Back in the day, Bonifacio had about 5,000 hectares of constructible land, but now that figure stands at approximately 87 hectares. Bummer, eh?
Loving this trend? Well, here's the twist: there's no explicit list of French cities taking cues from these leading examples. Some regional councils, however, are concentrating on fostering permanent housing in favor of second homes. Yet, we're yet to see comprehensive data detailing cities implementing such extreme measures. So, before you pack your surfboard or ski gear, remember: the legislative landscape is ever-changing, and your dream getaway might still be a reality! But it's wise to keep tabs on local government updates and real estate market trends specific to the cities you're interested in.
FYI: Did you know?
- Chamonix: Second homes account for 70% of the housing stock in Chamonix Mont-Blanc. The local government imposed a ban on new second home construction as of May 2025.
- France: Additional taxes, like the TLV, are imposed on second homes left unoccupied for over a year. This doesn't prohibit new construction but discourages landlords from leaving properties vacant.
- The housing market in Royan, France has seen a restriction on new residential construction projects, with the intention of limiting beachfront retreats as second homes.
- Chamonix Mont-Blanc has a staggering 70% of its housing stock as second homes, leading to a ban on new second home construction as of May 2025.
- Bonifacio in Corsica imposed a complete ban on the construction of second homes across all urbanized areas as early as March, with plans to turn approved, remaining constructible land into zones for primary residences.
- The trend of prioritizing permanent housing over second homes is being observed in certain French cities, although comprehensive data detailing cities implementing such measures is not yet available. It's essential to monitor local government updates and real estate market trends in the cities of interest to ensure that one's dream getaway remains a reality.
