Aide personnalisée au logement (APL) is a personalized housing assistance that the French government gives to low-income households, students, the unemployed, etc. It is managed by the local CAF offices across France.
This article covers the frequently asked questions on housing assistance.
Did you know?
You can use an online simulator to estimate your eligibility for housing assistance (APL) from the CAF website.
Summary
- How can I apply for APL to CAF?
- What is the age limit for receiving APL?
- Can I receive housing assistance (APL) if I am a student?
- Will I receive APL immediately after submitting the application to CAF?
- Can I receive housing assistance (APL) if I am in a shared accommodation (colocation)?
- Am I eligible for housing assistance (APL) if the property belongs to my family?
- Can I receive housing assistance (APL) if I am subletting?
- Does my APL increase automatically when my rent increases?
- Is the payment of APL maintained if I can no longer pay my rent?
- If my family or professional situation changes, will the amount of my APL be modified?
- I am separating from my partner. Can I continue to receive APL in the case of joint custody of my child?
- Can I keep receiving APL if I move to a new accommodation?
- Should I have to declare APL to my French income tax declaration?
- Sources & References
How can I apply for APL to CAF?
You can submit an online application to receive housing assistance (APL) on the CAF website. You need to upload the following documents during the application,
- Front and back copy of your national identity card or copy of your passport and valid residence permit (non-EU citizens).
- Apostilled and translated copy of your birth certificate;
- French Bank statement known as Relevé d’identité bancaire (RIB).
- Completed, dated, and signed rental agreement from your landlord.
Ensure that you follow the guidelines and provide accurate information during the online application process. If not, the APL payment will be delayed until you submit all the required documents.
Did you know?
Since January 2021, CAF has started evaluating the eligibility for APL based on our financial resources (worldwide income) from the last 12 months. Earlier, it was last 24 months.
Also, CAF keeps re-evaluating it every 3 months.
What is the age limit for receiving APL?
- If you are the actual tenant, there are no age limits applicable.
- If you are the sub-tenant (sous-location) renting an apartment spatially or completely, you should be under 30 years old. The owner of the apartment must be informed.
- A minor can receive the APL, but the rental agreement must be signed by the parents.
Can I receive housing assistance (APL) if I am a student?
Yes. You can receive housing assistance (APL) if you are renting accommodation and satisfy the following criteria.
- You are a French or an international student with a valid residence permit.
- You are renting a decent accommodation that meets 5 criteria: a minimum surface area, no risk to the tenant’s safety and health, absence of harmful animals and parasites, minimum energy performance, and the provision of certain equipment.
- You have no family relationship with the owner of the rented accommodation.
- Your income (salary, scholarship, etc.) and other financial resources are below certain limits.
Will I receive APL immediately after submitting the application to CAF?
- No, The APL is applicable only from the first day after the month of your application and the payment is usually done on the 5th day of the month.
- For example, if you move into an apartment on 10th September, the rights will be opened in October and the first payment will be made on 5th December.
Can I receive housing assistance (APL) if I am in a shared accommodation (colocation)?
- Yes. Each roommate can receive housing assistance (APL).
- Each person must have their name on the colocation rental contract and declare their personal income when applying for APL.
- The calculation of the APL assistance takes into account each person’s share of the total rent.
Am I eligible for housing assistance (APL) if the property belongs to my family?
- No, if your landlord is a direct ancestor (father, mother, grandfather, grandmother) or descendant (child, grandson, granddaughter) of yourself, your spouse, or your civil partner (PACS).
- Yes, if you have another direct family relationship with the property owner (brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, niece, nephew).
Can I receive housing assistance (APL) if I am subletting?
Yes. Both the tenant and the subtenant of a part of the accommodation can receive housing assistance (APL) if they meet certain criteria:
- The subtenant must be under 30 or over 60 years old or be in a situation of disability.
- The property owner must be informed of the subletting and approval is mandatory.
- These rules do not apply to subletting the entire accommodation.
Does my APL increase automatically when my rent increases?
- No. The increase in your rent will not be immediately considered in the calculation of your APL during the year.
- However, on 1st January of the following year, your local CAF office will automatically recalculate your APL based on the amount of your rent from the previous July.
Is the payment of APL maintained if I can no longer pay my rent?
- No, except in some rare cases.
- If you have not paid your rent for at least 2 months, the payment of your APL may be suspended.
If my family or professional situation changes, will the amount of my APL be modified?
- Yes. Any change (moving to a new place, bank details, family situation including childbirth, etc) of the household can modify the amount of your APL.
- You must inform your CAF promptly to calculate your new eligibility.
- You can do this by updating your personal details on your CAF online account.
I am separating from my partner. Can I continue to receive APL in the case of joint custody of my child?
- Yes. Each parent can receive APL, but only for the period when they have the child at their home during the year (on a prorated basis).
Can I keep receiving APL if I move to a new accommodation?
- Yes, but you must make a new application for APL for your new accommodation.
- If you have moved to a new city, you shoud update your personal details including the new address on your CAF account. This will automatically transfer your CAF account to the new local CAF office.
Should I have to declare APL to my French income tax declaration?
- No. You don’t have to declare it.
- The APL benefit is exempted from any income tax.
Sources & References
- Aide personnalisée au logement – APL www.service-public.fr
- Income Tax – Do I have to declare social benefits and employer benefits? www.prasanthragupathy.com
- Can a student receive housing assistance (APL, ALS, ALF)? www.service-public.fr
