Enquête Exclusive

New squatters, bad payers, the response of small owners (2023x41)

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It’s a never-ending nightmare for all homeowners: discovering that squatters have taken possession of their house or apartment and not being able to have them evicted immediately. Today, with the economic crisis and the collapse of purchasing power, a new anxiety has emerged, that of bad-paying tenants who, once legally entering the premises, very quickly stop paying their rent. And dislodging them is an obstacle course. The law has certainly evolved, including increased sanctions for squatters of up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros, but it remains ineffective. In recent years, only 10% of eviction procedures have been carried out by law enforcement, even though they had all been validated by the courts. Some small owners, like Maria, therefore no longer trust the justice system. She had rented her house to a couple with two children. Shortly after, the family stopped paying