Housing Assistance (AL, APL)

What is housing assistance? What are AL and APL?

You may be eligible for Housing Assistance (AL), a financial aid granted to tenants by the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF).
Each year, or during the year if your situation changes significantly, CAF recalculates the amount of aid you are entitled to.
It’s therefore important to report any change in your family or financial situation, as it can directly affect your housing allowance.
If you qualify, housing assistance can help cover part of your rent (but not additional services or fees).

⚠️ Important:
The first month of your lease is not eligible for housing assistance.
Aid is only granted starting the month following your move-in date and your application submission.
It is not time-limited.

Example:
If you move in on September 1st and apply to CAF on September 2nd, housing aid will only be paid starting October 1st.

What is APL?

The Personalized Housing Assistance (APL) is only available for units (PLS, PLUS) that are part of a state-approved agreement between the landlord and the French government.
In such cases, the APL is paid directly to the landlord by CAF and deducted from the rent you pay.
Simply go to the CAF website to submit your housing assistance application.

In both cases, as a tenant, all you need to do is visit the CAF website to apply for benefits (APL, AL)

My lease ends during the month, will I still receive housing assistance?

To receive AL or APL, your rent must be charged for the full calendar month.
If your lease ends before the last day of the month, CAF will not issue housing aid for that month (see caf.fr for full details).

Examples:

-> If your lease ends on the 28th, you will not receive housing assistance.
-> If it ends on the 30th or 31st, you will receive housing assistance for that month.