The housing allocation commission (CALEOL) is the body that examines each application for social housing and issues an opinion: favorable, unfavorable, or pending. The time frame between the commission meeting and receiving a response varies depending on the landlord, but a legal framework governs this process. Understanding this framework allows for anticipating the wait and knowing when to follow up.
Notification period after a favorable opinion from the allocation commission
Once the application is reviewed by the commission, the response is sent to the applicant in the form of a letter, email, or update on the landlord’s online space. In practice, the average response time is between 2 and 10 working days after the commission meeting.
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Some landlords like Seqens announce a response by mail within 48 hours after the application is reviewed by CALEOL. However, this timeframe can vary from one organization to another: larger offices, which handle a higher volume of applications, may take longer to send the notification.
The legal benchmark is as follows: the maximum legal timeframe is two months after the housing visit. If the landlord does not provide any response after this period, their silence is considered a refusal. Knowing the favorable opinion timeframe from the housing allocation commission allows for acting at the right moment, without following up too early or missing a deadline.
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Favorable opinion and ranking: what the decision really means
A favorable opinion does not guarantee obtaining the housing. The commission typically reviews several applications for the same property and ranks the candidates. The candidate ranked 1 receives the offer. The others remain on the waiting list, available if the first declines or does not follow up.
The assigned rank is not always communicated spontaneously. A candidate may receive a favorable opinion without knowing they are ranked second or third. This situation creates prolonged waiting and uncertainty.
To clarify this ambiguity, it is recommended to request in writing from the landlord the exact nature of the decision. Three pieces of information should be requested:
- The precise decision made by the commission (firm allocation, ranking on the waiting list, or refusal)
- The candidate’s rank when multiple applications have been submitted for the same housing
- Any missing documents that could block the continuation of the process
A registered letter or an email with acknowledgment of receipt formalizes this approach. Using written communication allows for keeping a record in case of future appeals.
Housing visit and lease signing: the steps after the decision
The favorable opinion triggers a specific sequence. The landlord offers a visit to the housing to the candidate ranked 1. This visit occurs within a variable timeframe, often a few days to a few weeks depending on the property’s availability.
After the visit, the candidate has a timeframe to accept or refuse. Acceptance leads to the preparation of the security deposit file, followed by the lease signing. Refusal frees the housing for the next candidate in the ranking.
Two situations deserve attention:
- A refusal of the offer may, depending on the landlord and the applicant’s situation, result in a return to the general waiting list, or even removal in certain specific cases (notably for priority groups under the DALO)
- A silence from the candidate beyond the allotted time to respond is generally interpreted as a refusal
- The security deposit and key handover occur at the lease signing, not before: no payment should be required between the commission and the visit
Refusal from the allocation commission: understanding the decision and appeals
The commission may issue an unfavorable opinion. The notification letter must state the reason for the refusal. In practice, the most common reasons relate to exceeding income limits, an incomplete application at the time of review, or a mismatch between family composition and the type of housing offered.
A refusal is not final. The applicant retains their unique number and remains registered in the applicants’ file. Their application can be resubmitted to a subsequent commission for another housing.
For recognized priority situations (people in emergency housing, households threatened with eviction, people with disabilities), the DALO appeal constitutes a specific pathway. This appeal is made to the departmental mediation commission when the waiting time exceeds the abnormally long timeframe set by the department prefect.
Following up with the social landlord without compromising your application
Following up too soon after the commission, for example, the next day, does not speed up processing. The allocation services operate in the order of commission meetings, and notification letters follow an administrative circuit.
A first contact by phone or email after about ten working days remains reasonable if no notification has been received. After three weeks without a response, a registered letter to the landlord formalizes the follow-up and creates a starting point for calculating the two-month legal timeframe.
The tone of the follow-up matters. A factual request for information about the status of the application yields better results than a premature formal notice. Mentioning your unique number, the date of the commission meeting, and the housing in question facilitates processing by the allocation service.
The last useful precaution is to regularly check your online candidate space on the landlord’s website or the national social housing application platform. Some landlords update the status of the application there even before sending the postal letter.