The amendment provides for modifying the 2007 law on the right to enforceable housing (Dalo), by extending the concept of "domicile" to secondary or "occasional" residences.

Once the squat discovered and the facts denounced to the police, the owner of the accommodation will contact the prefect, who will have 48 hours to respond to the complainant.

MEPs unanimously adopted a measure in committee on Wednesday that will simplify the eviction of squatters, after an owner saw his second home occupied by a family without his consent on the Côte d'Azur.

It is about "facilitating the protection of the right of property" and "to fight effectively against the squats of housing whatever it is, principal residence, secondary or occasional", according to the amendment of Guillaume Kasbarian (LREM), adopted in special committee with the favorable opinion of the government.

The notion of domicile extended to secondary or "occasional" residences

In detail, the amendment plans to modify the 2007 law on the right to enforceable housing (Dalo), by extending the concept of "domicile" to secondary or "occasional" residences.

Once the squat has been discovered and the facts denounced to the police, the owner of the accommodation will contact the prefect, who will have 48 hours to respond to the complainant before giving notice to the squatter (s) to leave the premises. 

Guillaume Kasbarian is the rapporteur of the bill "Acceleration and simplification of public action" (Asap).

"We were all shocked by the distress of these retirees whose house was squatted in Théoule-sur-Mer in the Alpes-Maritimes", he said in reference to the occupation of the property of a retiree , for nearly three weeks, from the end of August, by a family and their children.

The retiree and his wife were able to return home and accommodation was offered to the occupying family, according to Emmanuelle Wargon, Minister for Housing. 

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A risk for tenants? 

Minister Delegate for Industry Agnès Pannier-Runacher told the committee that the "balanced" amendment did "not target the rights of tenants and those who would not pay their rents".

Mathilde Panot (LFI) was however concerned about the vagueness surrounding the notion of "occasional residence", considering that there was a risk of extending this measure to vacant housing.

Presented as a catch-all text, the Asap bill aims, according to the government, to "make life easier" for citizens and businesses.

It was adopted on March 5 by the Senate at first reading, and will be debated in the Assembly from September 28.