What is APL?
The APL was created by the Law of January 3, 1977 To reduce housing expenses by lightening the loan charge for ownerships or the rent load for tenants. Thus, it supports Part of the rent For tenants or the reimbursement of a fraction of a borrowing contracted for an old accommodation occupied as a principal residence. This aid is governed by the Construction and Housing Code (CCH).
Who has the right to touch the APLs?
Tenants
The APL is reserved for people who rent accommodation from an owner completely outside their families and in which they have no property or usufruct rights. Any tenant, roommate or sub-tenant (under the age of 30) can receive APL if he respects the conditions of eligibility. No age condition is required, except in the context of a sublet. A minor and emancipated child can affect the allowance, if the lease is in his name. Otherwise, the lease must be signed or co -signed by parents.
Parents whose children are in alternate custody can affect the APL only over the cumulative period during which the child resides at home.
Owners
The beneficiary ownerships of an approved loan or a social accession loan are also eligible, subject to resources. Unlike the tenants, the APL of owners is often paid directly to the lending organization, thereby reducing the monthly payments of mortgage.
What are the conditions for affecting this housing allowance?
Conditions related to the beneficiary
To benefit from the APL, it is necessary be of French nationality Or, for foreigners, have a valid residence permit. Since the reform of housing aid, a condition of residence in France For at least eight months per year applies to be able to benefit from the APL.
Conditions on housing
The right to APL is granted for a single accommodation in front of:
- situate in France,
- be the tenant’s main residence,
- Be the subject of an agreement between the State and the owner (fixing the evolution of the rent, the duration of the lease, the maintenance conditions, the standards of comfort …),
- Meet criteria for decency and minimum occupation conditions.
Only one request for help must be made for the entire household.
Tenant’s resources conditions
The APL is allocated under resource conditions and as a function of different ceilings varying as a function of many criteria (composition of the rent, place of housing …). All income from people living in the home are taken into account for the calculation of the allocation of the APL. Benefits already benefiting from the social housing allowance (ALS) or the family housing allowance (ALF) cannot combine it with the APL.
If a person depends on the tax household of his parents and the latter are indebted to the IFI, he will also not be able to claim the APL. In addition, a sub-tenant, declared to the owner, can also touch the APLs, provided that he is under 30 years old.
Conditions for a roommate
In the case of a roommate, the amount of personalized aid is proportional to:
- the share of rent paid by the roommate;
- his income;
- The composition of his home.
If the rent receipt is unique (not individualized), the CAF divides the price of the rent by the number of roommates appearing on the lease.
What is the income ceiling not to be exceeded to touch the APL in 2025?
Criteria taken into account
The right to APL (personalized housing assistance) depends on the resources of the household. To be eligible, all of the household resources must therefore not exceed a certain ceiling, determined from the composition of the family and the geographic area of the accommodation.
The assets of the APL applicant is also recognized in calculating rights if it exceeds 30,000 euros. Exceptions exist, especially in favor of the elderly residing in a accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people (EHPAD).
Resources of the last 12 months
Since January 1, 2021, these are the Resources of the last 12 months which make it possible to calculate the APL, and no longer those of the previous two years. In addition, the right to APL is automatically updated every three months.
The resource ceiling taken into account is to be heard in the broad sense. He crosses different data that vary depending on the composition of the home. As soon as this annual resource threshold is exceeded, the amount of the APL allocated to the beneficiary decreases.
Annual resources ceilings in 2025
The resource ceilings for the year 2025 were set by an order published in the Official Journal of December 31, 2024. These thresholds apply for the services due from January 1, 2025. Here they are according to the composition of the home:
What is the rent ceiling not to be exceeded to touch the APL?
The rent ceilings determine the maximum amount taken into account by the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) to calculate personalized housing assistance (APL). They vary depending on the location of the accommodation and the composition of the home.
Table of rent ceilings for tenants
Here is the amount of the rent ceiling in force in 2025:
Table of rent ceilings for roommates
Here are the ceilings for shared people in 2025:
How is the amount of APLs calculated?
The amount of the APL is calculated according to scales taking into account:
- the family situation and the number of people usually living in the tax household;
- the resources of the applicant, the person with whom he lives as a couple and people usually living under the same roof;
- the value of the real estate and financial assets of the applicant as well as the people attached to him (beyond 30,000 euros);
- The amount of rent or loan monthly payments.
APL calculation formula
APL = L + C – pp.
- The L corresponds to the possibly capped rent.
- The C, has a load package.
- The PP, in personal participation, depending on the resources of the household and its family situation.
What is the amount of personalized housing assistance in 2025?
Revaluation of APLs in October
Personalized housing aids are revalued each October 1ᵉʳ according to the evolution of the rent reference index (IRL) of the second quarter of the current year. On October 1, 2025, the APLs increased by 1.4%against 3.26 % in 2024.
Make a simulation to estimate the amount of its APL
The beneficiary can estimate the amount of his APL by connecting to the CAF website. He must first answer several questions to find out if he is eligible or not to the APL. Then he indicates the amount of its taxable net resources.
This simulation does not take into account certain abatements which the applicant can benefit or certain charges, such as the food pensions paid or the real costs. The estimate obtained can therefore be different from the actual amount.
How to apply for APL?
Make your request from CAF
APL’s request is made online with the National Family Allowance Fund (CAF) or via sending a form to MSA by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.
The documents to be provided in his file
The list of supporting documents to be provided has evolved following the publication of a ministerial decree in the Official Journal of November 16, 2024. This text applies to both APL requests as to renewal requests made since November 17, 2024. Here are the necessary documents:
- the copy of proof of identity (identity card, passport, extract from the birth certificate, valid residence permit in other cases);
- a state of people usually living in the home;
- a bank identity statement;
- a certificate of the lessor justifying the assignment (for residential use), the area, the decency of the accommodation (especially on the basis of the energy performance diagnosis) and the amount of the rent;
- The amount of the assets if its value exceeds 30,000 euros.
When is the APL paid in 2025?
Monthly payment
Personalized housing assistance (APL) is paid monthly by the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) in the long term, that is to say at the beginning of the month following that for which help is due. Thus, the APL of January 2025 will be paid in early February 2025.
Payment calendar 2025
Here is the calendar of the payment dates of the APL 2025:
- APL January 2025: Wednesday February 5, 2025.
- APL February 2025: Wednesday March 5, 2025.
- APL March 2025: Friday April 4, 2025.
- APL April 2025: Monday May 5, 2025.
- APL May 2025: Thursday June 5, 2025.
- APL June 2025: Friday July 4, 2025.
- APL July 2025: Tuesday August 5, 2025.
- APL August 2025: Friday September 5, 2025.
- APL September 2025: Monday October 6, 2025.
- APL October 2025: Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
- APL November 2025: Friday December 5, 2025.
- APL December 2025: Monday January 5, 2026.
What remedies in the event of refusal to open the rights to APLs?
The reasons for the refusal
CAF can refuse a request for APL for various reasons:
- Exverting the resource ceiling,,
- The accommodation does not meet the decency criteria,
- The owner is a direct parental parent of the applicant, etc.
Contested CAF’s decision
To contest this decision, it is necessary beforehand to send a letter by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to the CAF within two months of the notification of the refusal. The applicant must explain the disputed decision, mention the reasons for the dispute and request a new examination of his situation.
Enter the administrative court
The request is studied and the decision of the amicable appeal committee is systematically sent to the applicant within two months. In the event of a new refusal, the last open appeal is the seizure of the administrative court. It should be entered within two months.
To enter the administrative court, it is necessary to send a registered letter explaining the contested decision and the reasons for the dispute accompanied by all the documents in the file. A summons is sent by the administrative court to the applicant.
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