Squatted house in Toulouse: the prefect takes charge of the case
Could this be the end of the tunnel for this 84-year-old retiree from Toulouse whose house has been squatted for the third time in two years? The prefecture of Occitanie and Haute-Garonne has indeed the accelerated procedure for the expulsion of the fifteen squatters, provided for by the new law which came into force on January 1. “The owner of the house seized this day (Tuesday) prefect, who immediately has the accelerated eviction procedure that can lead, if necessary, to the evacuation of the premises, by administrative decision as provided for by law», Explains the prefecture.
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As provided for in the new law, landlords who are victims of squatters must file a complaint with the police station and then send the prefect a request for the eviction of the illegal occupants. The state representative has 48 hours to respond. If he refuses it, he must justify his decision. If he accepts it, which is therefore the case in the highly publicized case of the squatted house in Toulouse, the prefect sends a formal notice to the squatters who have 24 hours to leave the premises. If they have not complied, the police can intervene to evacuate the illegal occupants.
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It remains to be seen how to react to squatters. Faced with the police, these young people from “25-30 years of ultra-left“According to the owner’s daughter and”hostile”According to the police officers who had gone there, plastered on a sign that article 432-8 of the Penal Code protects them. Admittedly, this text prohibits a police officer or a bailiff from entering “in someone else’s home against their willBut what they forget is that the law has changed since January 1st. From now on, if the owners prove that they own the squatted house, they are entitled to recover their accommodation. Aberrant but now the deportation procedure has been reduced from about 2 years to 72 hours. In theory. “It’s sad to say, but without the media coverage, a squat case is unlikely to be in a few days”, regrets Me Romain Rossi-Landi, lawyer in real estate law, specialist in squats cases.
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In addition to the media coverage of the case, the owner and his daughter were able to benefit from the support of several neighbors to put pressure on the squatters (see the tweet below). The tone even rose, forcing the police to intervene. Clashes reminiscent of those in front of the home of Roland, another retiree from Toulouse, whose house had been squatted when he wanted to sell it to go and live in an Ehpad with his wife. The 88-year-old man was able to get his house back last February after … 6 months. Because the new law does not apply for this squat prior to January 1, 2021.
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