Official procedures & key contacts

Who should you contact in case of unsanitary housing?

An unsanitary property can put the health, safety, and living conditions of its occupants at serious risk. This page clearly explains who to contact, which online procedures to follow, and how to track your case through the official démarches-simplifiees.fr platform.

Town hall, health department, regional health agency, prefecture, landlord, property manager, or support associations: you will find here the right order of contacts, the practical steps to follow, and the possible remedies if no action is taken.

In case of immediate danger — fall risk, electrical hazard, fire, collapse, or any serious emergency — contact 112 or 18 first.

Town hall (health department) Regional Health Agency Prefecture Landlord / Property manager Démarches-Simplifiées
Administrative steps to follow in case of unsanitary housing in France

Recognising the situation

  • Severe dampness, mould, persistent condensation.
  • Lack of water, heating or ventilation (faulty extractor / vents).
  • Leaks, major cracks, risk of collapse.
  • Accumulation of waste, presence of vermin/pests.
  • Strong odours, sanitary and respiratory risks.

See also: Signs of an unsanitary dwelling

Authorities to notify (in order)

1) Town Hall — Hygiene Dept.

First contact to record the situation and start a local inspection.

Service-Public form

2) ARS — Regional Health Agency

For health risks: damp, lead, mould, pests, indoor pollution.

3) Prefecture

May issue an unsanitary order, require works and temporary rehousing.

Landlord / Owner

Legal duty to provide a decent dwelling. Send a formal notice (registered letter) if needed.

Property manager / Syndic

For common areas (ventilation, water columns, roof) or building hazards.

Associations & ADIL

Free legal advice, help with your case and guidance to remedies and financial aid.

Online procedures via demarches-simplifiees.fr

The official platform allows a paperless file, document uploads, notifications and clear tracking.

Quick steps

  1. Create a user account (email address).
  2. Search “unsanitary housing report”.
  3. Fill in the form (attachments: photos, reports, exchanges with landlord…).
  4. Submit the file then follow the instruction (messages, requests).
  5. Receive the decision (measures, works, possible prefect’s order).

Need digital assistance? Visit a France Services office (free support).

Remedies if nothing happens

  • Written follow-up to Town Hall / ARS (attach your file).
  • Formal notice to the landlord / manager (registered letter).
  • Referral to the Prefect or civil court (unfit housing procedure).
  • Request temporary rehousing in case of an order (families, children, vulnerable people).

FAQ — Procedures & contacts

Which administrative procedures are available online?
Unsanitary housing reports, document uploads, case tracking and exchanges with gov services (Town Hall, ARS, Prefecture) through the platform Démarches-Simplifiées.
How do I use demarches-simplifiees.fr?
Create your account, pick the right procedure, fill in the form, attach documents, then follow the steps indicated by the officers.
Who should I contact first?
The Hygiene Dept. of your Town Hall, then the ARS. In case of hazard, the Prefecture can be seized.
Can foreign residents use the platform?
Yes. Non-French speakers can get help from France Services or a local association.

Essential resources

Unsanitary flats — extreme cleaning Main guide

Cleaning unsanitary homes

Cleaning of unfit dwellings and extremely dirty apartments.

Read the article →
Aid & subsidies for unsanitary cleaning Understand

Aid & subsidies for unsanitary cleaning

Explanations about CAF, local authorities, town halls, insurance.

Read the article →
Before/After — rehabilitation examples Heads-up

Before / After: rehabilitation examples

Real cases and photos showing Défi Clean’s effectiveness.

Read the article →
Available in Paris, Île-de-France and across France

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Défi Clean provides extreme cleaning, Diogenes cleaning, disinfection, clearance and property restoration services.

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