The SNCF manages nearly 100,000 rental homes in France and supports towns in their housing policies.

Railway estate agency
The ICF Group, a subsidiary of the SNCF Group is designed to offer accommodation to railway workers and satisfy the needs of local authorities in accordance with the laws in force. It builds, rents out and manages a portfolio of nearly 100,000 homes (social housing, properties available for rent via estate agents / free) throughout the whole of France. In order to respond to the needs of railway workers (who represent 45% of tenants) and to support local authority housing policies, ICF has pledged to build 1300 social housing units per year, with a focus on quality of construction and accommodation, social diversity and close control of land prices.

The Pantin example
The town of Pantin is on the edge of Paris, well served by public transport and sees a great deal of property speculation. To preserve its working-class character and social diversity, the town has planned to build 3000 social housing properties between now and 2015 and to demolish some 35 buildings over 5 years. To rehouse families, it is depending on landlords of social housing, including ICF La Sablière, with each relocation giving the right to build two homes in the future.

It is in Pantin that SNCF has installed its maintenance workshops for the TGV Est Européen, which will eventually employ 500 railway workers. However, its current holdings in the town are limited to one building with 79 apartments. With this in mind, the town has signed an agreement with SNCF. It will transfer to SNCF a piece of land set aside for the construction of social housing and will include SNCF in its programme for slum clearance.

At the heart of the economic development of the town and its inhabitants SNCF is set to play a vital role.