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Burst pipes, warped doors and windows, and large cracks in your home.
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These are the threats facing more than 12 million properties in France, as greenhouse gases continue to burn the planet and fuel extreme weather.
Man-made climate change is exacerbating a phenomenon called clay shrinkage-swelling, or RGA (Retrait-Gonflement des Argiles) – which can cause major structural problems in detached houses.
The French government predicts that more than half of the country is now at medium or high risk of RGA, especially for houses built with concrete bricks since the 1970s.
Why are French houses shrinking and swelling?
During the dry season, the clay soil loses moisture and begins to shrink, putting the foundations of houses at risk of collapse. When heavy rain hits, the clay begins to swell, absorbing more water.
These dry-to-wet cycles are repeated over time, gradually weakening the soil and foundations. It can be exacerbated by a number of factors, including poor drainage and tree roots too close to homes.
“This phenomenon affects 54 percent of foreclosed homes in France,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Ecological Change told Euronews Earth.
“On average, landslides and erosion cost €1 billion annually in compensation under the natural disasters scheme.”
The latest map published by the French government shows that the most vulnerable areas at risk of soil erosion are Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Dordogne, Gers, Indre, Lot-et-Garonne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nord, Puy-de-Dôme, Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne. About three million houses in these areas are considered “high risk”.
Is climate change making things worse?
Global warming is exacerbating this phenomenon, as higher temperatures increase the frequency and severity of heat waves and floods.
For every 1℃ rise in air temperature, the atmosphere can retain up to seven percent more moisture, which can lead to heavy and heavy rain.
Last year, France was hit by extreme heat that plunged large parts of the region into drought. A severe heatwave in August pushed temperatures up to 43.4C – making 2025 the country’s third hottest summer on record.
Researchers from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that climate change is responsible for 68 per cent of the estimated 24,400 heat deaths in the summer of 2025 – raised temperatures to 3.6C. 1,444 of the dead were in France.
Earlier this year, France saw its highest amount of rain on record, from January 14 to February 22. Heavy rains caused severe flooding across western France, forcing nearly 4,000 people into emergency shelters.
As of mid-February, evacuations were underway in several areas, as hundreds of homes and buildings were reportedly destroyed.
The UK’s Met Office warns that 2026 could be another year where the average global temperature has reached 1.4C above pre-industrial levels. Due to global warming causing extreme weather conditions, France risks repeated periods of severe droughts and rains that can destroy its homes.
In order to deal with this problem, the government is piloting the Argile prevention fund, which aims to carry out vulnerability assessments and ensure that prevention work is carried out before any incidents of clay houses occur.
If you are concerned about soil shrinkage, you can see if you are eligible for financial support here.
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