Personalised housing benefit (APL)
A benefit paid by the CAF or MSA to reduce the rent or loan instalment of a low-income household. Under a Prêt Conventionné or PAS, APL can be paid directly as a deduction from the instalment (APL accession). Banks generally do not count APL as stable income in their debt-ratio calculation.
Key points
- Paid by the CAF or MSA based on household income and property type.
- Under APL accession, it is deducted directly from the instalment for Prêt Conventionné or PAS loans.
- Banks generally do not include it in stable income for the debt-ratio calculation.
- Its amount may vary each year based on changes in declared income.
Frequently asked questions
Is APL accession still accessible for a property purchase in 2025?
Since 2018, APL accession has been removed for new Prêt Conventionné agreements in most cases. It persists for certain deteriorated older housing financed by a PAS in specific geographic areas. The broker checks eligibility at the time of file assembly, as the rules change regularly.
Why do banks exclude APL from their debt-ratio calculation?
APL is a social benefit whose amount is not guaranteed over time, it can be revised, reduced, or removed in the event of a change in circumstances or policy reform. Banks favour structural and sustainable income; including a variable benefit would be considered an overestimation of repayment capacity.
How does APL rental benefit influence a debt consolidation file?
In a debt consolidation, the bank analyses net expenses after APL for renters, which can improve the residual income presented. However, APL is not added to gross retained income for the debt-ratio calculation. Its role is therefore indirect: it lightens monthly expenses without formally increasing the reference income.
In practice
A modest-income household receives €250/month in APL on their primary residence. The bank calculates the debt ratio based on salaried income only, ignoring the APL; the broker notes it in the contextual summary to strengthen the residual income presented.
Official sources
- Personalized housing assistance (APL) · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Obtaining a mortgage loan · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Mortgage credit (official guide) · Service-Public.gouv.fr