Toulouse. The house of Georges, 84, is squatted: “It’s a nightmare”, testifies his daughter
Through Gabriel Kenedi
Published on
At first sight, nothing seems abnormal. However, if we approach a little closer to the portal of this large house, an old market garden located on the road to Launaguet, in the popular district of Izards, in Toulouse, a little word displayed on the grid announces the color.
“We are protected by law”
“This place is our home as well as our main residence. As occupants of the building, we are protected by law. To act outside the procedural framework is to offend the principles of French law, the inviolability of the home according to article 432-8 of the Penal Code “, states the letter signed by” the residents “of the house, who conclude:” There can be no expulsion without an enforceable court decision ”.
No doubt, therefore: the house is squatted. This building is however the property of Georges Dematis, a Toulousain aged 84 years old who lives in another house, not far away. Tuesday October 19, 2021, as revealed by The Dispatch, several individuals broke in and took possession of the premises.
“They taunt him by saying hello”
His daughter, Marie-Ange – very affected, like her father, by the situation – indicates to Toulouse news : “A neighbor heard noise coming from people equipped with circular saws. She thought we were doing some work, she didn’t really pay attention. They were able to open the big gates and enter the house. My daddy lives next door. He went to see the place, they saw him and now, when he walks past to get his bread, They taunt him by saying hi and Company ! “.
Georges’ daughter adds: “Yet it is a house pending sale, which has already been walled up. But this huge grid, we don’t think anyone can franchise it. In addition, there is an almond tree which fell this winter in front of the house, so we left it so that the cars do not park in case there is an intrusion… But they passed by on foot and by bike! », She adds.
A complaint filed
From Wednesday morning, a complaint has been filed by Georges Dematis. Who are the squatters, who will have “20 to 30 individuals”, according to our sources?
“According to the police, this is theultra-left” , underlines Marie-Ange, who adds: “This is the third time that this house has been squatted in the space of three years. Three years ago it was Afghans and two years ago it was Romanians. Each time, the police had quickly dislodged them ”.
Contacted by Toulouse news, a police source indicates: “The police moved and could not expel the individuals with regard to the regulations in force. We are awaiting instructions from the prefecture ”.
“I have two months to fire them, otherwise we will have lost everything”
Inhabited for five years, this house has belonged to the Dematis family for several generations. “We lived there, I grew up there. My father did a lot of work there, ”comments the daughter of Georges Dematis, who fears having to wait a long time for the squatters to be evacuated. Or, the house is in the process of being bought by a real estate developer, who wishes to raze the building in order to build a residence there.
“We’ve been trying to sell this house for four years. The Toulouse town hall, after several refusals, has finally accepted the building permit proposed by the developer. The permit will be displayed in front of the house in a few days. Me , I have two months to fire the squatters otherwise we will have lost everything.
“My father is already very affected by the idea of the house being razed. But there in addition, that it is again squatted, really it is complicated for him. If we have to fight, it will go through a long legal process. I called Julien Courbet. He and his team told me that it could take up to two years, three years or four years for such a procedure. It’s a nightmare !“, She adds.
She created a facebook group
While the story is reminiscent of that of Roland, an octogenarian who had seen his house located on Avenue de Fronton squatted by individuals – who had finally left under pressure from the support of Roland and the neighborhood – Marie Ange Dematis created a facebook group in order to obtain support. “I’m trying to shake things up and I’m determined to fight!“, She concludes.
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