In addition to the household waste tax, household charges, cold water supplies, the “bedbug” tax.
The RIVP (Real estate agency of the City of Paris) goes up a notch.
At the same time as the social landlord is launching a bedbug prevention campaign this month aimed at the tenants of its 55,000 family HLMs, the management has just signed the second agreement on the “bedbug” tax.
It will appear on the next receipt for the regularization of charges for HLM tenants.
The City's two other social landlords, Paris Habitat and Elogie-Siemp, have already applied it and have also put their tenants to work.
In total, in Paris, for these three landlords, 220,000 housing units are concerned.
“This is a modest contribution,” assures Serge Contat, the head of the RIVP.
The tenants associations, CLCV
(Consumption Housing Environment)
, SNL
(Solidarités Nouvelles pour le Logement)
… agree and have signed.
Tenants pay 4 euros per year, or 20% of the overall score that we budgeted at one million euros.
This represents 220,000 euros.
The other 80% are at our expense.
"
Disinfection operation in an apartment invaded by bedbugs.
LP / Philippe de Poulpiquet
The victims do not have a euro to take out of their pocket to get rid of the pests.
The donors have established an intervention protocol with specialized companies.
"4 euros per year, that's fine, we're going to survive!"
smiles Marie, tenant of a public housing group of the RIVP in the 20th district.
For now, we're touching wood.
On the other hand, my brother who lives in a private building was invaded.
He lived a real nightmare and it cost him dearly.
So if our donor establishes a real plan to fight against bedbugs and invests effectively with reliable companies, I want us to participate in the war effort on our side.
It is a gesture of solidarity.
"
A problem appeared 5 years ago
“In private housing, insists Serge Contat, tenants are told to manage.
We said to ourselves that we had to deal with this fairly recent problem.
Five years ago, there were hardly any bedbugs in Paris.
At the RIVP, "we are talking about ten buildings" completely infested.
We also mention “the suffering caused by the tenants affected”.
At Paris Habitat, if the agreement has been voted, it has caused some stir.
“Bedbugs are considered to be a public health issue,” insists Jean-Jacques Anding, CLCV representative for Paris Habitat.
Therefore, the tenant does not have to pay even 4 euros!
"
"This landlord-tenant partnership is intelligent, virtuous and united", on the contrary greets Ian Brossat, the deputy (PCF) for housing of Anne Hidalgo (PS).
“It allows victims not to be penalized by the bills.
"A treatment on a 50 square meter apartment can cost up to 2000 euros ...
The State questioned by elected officials of the 12th arrondissement
By the way, Ian Brossat tackles "the State which does nothing and considers that bedbugs, it is not a problem of public health".
The subject has become political.
Tuesday evening, he invited himself to the 12th district council.
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Eléonore Slama, deputy mayor of the 12th district in charge of housing, the fight against inequalities and against exclusion, presented a wish with the group "Le 12e en commun, Socialistes et Citoyens".
The elected, who denounces "a legal vacuum", calls on the government so that it "finally goes from observation to concrete action", that the State fight the scourge and recognize bedbugs as a public health issue .
"Psychologically, I'm not doing well"
Victoire, victim of bedbugs in her apartment at the RIVP, rue du Théâtre (15th).
LP / Celine Carez
“I don't sleep anymore.
It haunts me.
The slightest black spot on one of my walls freezes me.
I had to empty my apartment, bag everything, throw away my sofa and my bed.
For a month, I lived on a yoga mattress and slept on an air mattress.
My life is on hold.
"
For five months, Victoire, tenant of social housing from the RIVP, in an old but well-crafted building, rue du Théâtre (15th), has been living a "nightmare of which [she] cannot see the end".
The apartment of this elegant 50-year-old was infested with bedbugs, as well as other accommodation in the building.
“I discovered this last November.
Today, despite five passages from the company mandated by the RIVP, I am still at the same point.
"
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However, the lessor reacted quickly.
“After a week, a specialized company arrived.
Except that the person sent for the diagnosis, super casual, did not respect the protocol, did not return the mattress, did not inspect the apartment properly.
The technician who followed and who had to treat the apartment thoroughly in an hour only stayed a quarter of an hour, spraying succinctly.
The problem is that the RIVP does not follow its companies.
"
Proven "and a little lost", Victoire then turned to the CLCV (association of consumers and users).
“At the beginning of March, at my expense, 245 euros, I passed a sniffer dog which of course found bedbugs.
My new bed, sofa, dyeing and cleaning costs cost me 2,500 euros.
"
“Psychologically, I'm not doing well.
This nightmare had an impact on my work.
As for my friends who are afraid that I will bring them bedbugs, they no longer dare to invite me!
"