The housing allocation commission (CALEOL) has reviewed your file, and the subsequent wait generates understandable tension. The response from the social landlord does not arrive on the same day: it depends on a series of internal verifications whose timeline varies according to the reserving party, the territory, and the administrative workload of the landlord. Understanding this process allows for timely actions, without counterproductive follow-ups.
Post-commission sequence: what happens on the landlord’s side before any notification
The CALEOL generally ranks three candidates in order of priority for the same housing unit. The minutes of the commission are then sent to the landlord, who initiates their own verification.
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The landlord checks the compliance of the selected file: supporting documents, consistency between family composition and housing type, effort rate. If a document is missing or presents an inconsistency, the notification period is suspended until regularization.
Next, in most cases, comes the proposal for a visit to the housing unit. The candidate ranked first has about ten days to respond to this invitation. If they refuse or do not respond, the landlord moves on to the next candidate, which mechanically lengthens the process for all applicants.
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We regularly observe that applicants confuse the commission’s decision with the landlord’s decision. The CALEOL proposes, but the social landlord chooses the applicant from the presented candidates. In Paris, in particular, this distinction is explicit: the final decision rests with the landlord, not the commission.
Shared experiences on specialized forums confirm that the response time for housing allocation commission forum ranges from a few days to several weeks depending on the landlords and the territories involved.
Actual response time after allocation commission: the decisive variables
No regulatory text sets a uniform maximum time frame between the commission and the notification to the candidate. The framework varies according to the reserving party (State, local authority, Action Logement, landlord in their own right) and the local context.
In Île-de-France, the DRIHL has structured a more readable timeline for housing units under the prefectural quota: publication of the offer for 7 days, then processing of applications within 8 to 15 days after the announcement closes. This sequencing provides a concrete reference for anticipating the response window.
Three factors consistently extend the timeline:
- The pressure on the housing stock in the concerned municipality: in very tight areas, the volume of files processed by the commission slows down the individual processing of each application
- The completeness of the file: a missing document (tax notice, employer certificate, rent receipt) suspends the validation chain until received
- The ranking of the candidate: the second or third candidate will only be contacted if the first declines or does not respond within the allotted time
The City of Paris reminds us that, given the low vacancy rate and the volume of requests, the overall wait to obtain social housing can extend over several years. The post-commission response fits within this reality of sustained pressure on the housing stock.
Following up with the landlord without jeopardizing your allocation file
An early follow-up does not accelerate processing. We recommend waiting at least two to three weeks after the date of the commission before contacting the landlord, unless a specific timeline has been communicated to you during the meeting.
The appropriate follow-up channel is the landlord’s allocation service, not the general reception or the building manager. A concise email mentioning your unique departmental number and the date of the commission is sufficient. Avoid repeated calls: they clog the lines without changing the processing order.
If you are ranked 2 or 3, the landlord will only contact you if the priority candidate declines the offer. In this case, the landlord’s silence does not mean a refusal but simply that the procedure is proceeding with the first-ranked candidate.
Notification of refusal after the commission
A refusal must be notified in writing and justified. Acceptable reasons are framed: inadequacy between resources and rent, inconsistency of family composition with the housing type, or exceeding the applicable income ceiling (PLAI, PLUS, PLS). If the notification does not mention any reason, you can refer the matter to the mediation commission or the designated contact person from the landlord.
Favorable opinion in commission: the concrete steps until the lease is signed
A favorable opinion from the CALEOL triggers a specific sequence. The landlord first offers you a visit to the housing unit. After acceptance, they prepare the lease and set a signing appointment.
- Visit to the housing unit: the candidate generally has about ten days to confirm their interest after the proposal
- Preparation of the final rental file: the landlord may request additional documents (home insurance certificate, bank account details, security deposit)
- Signing of the lease and handing over of keys: this step occurs after complete validation of the file, often within a few weeks following the visit
The security deposit and home insurance must be ready before the signing appointment. A delay in these documents postpones the move-in without the landlord being responsible.
Refusing a housing unit after a favorable opinion is not without consequences. In Île-de-France, the DRIHL specifies that an abusive refusal of an offer suitable for the applicant’s situation may lead to a downgrade in priority during subsequent commissions. Before refusing, ensure that the proposed housing unit presents a real inadequacy with your situation.
The period between the commission and moving in remains the most opaque for applicants. Preparing each document in advance and responding within the allotted time remains the most effective lever to shorten this process. The rest depends on the administrative pace of the landlord, which the candidate has no direct control over.