Your house is hosting occupants who never signed a lease or paid any rent? It is not a hopeless situation, it is a procedure.
Occupants you never chose, no rent, and a sale that seems impossible. Yet a squatted property is still a property that can be sold: you need to know the procedure, then target the right buyers.
First, have it recorded and file a complaint
As soon as you discover the occupation, have it officially recorded (by the police, the gendarmerie or a judicial officer) and file a complaint for unlawful entry into a home or unlawful occupation. Gather proof that the property belongs to you: title deed, property tax notice, bills.
The accelerated eviction procedure
Since the law of 27 July 2023, the administrative eviction procedure applies to any dwelling, whether it is your main residence, a second home or an empty property. After the complaint and the official record, you ask the prefect to give the occupants formal notice to leave the premises; if they have not left within the set time, the prefect can have them evicted. The law also increased the penalties against squatters.
Never give in to the temptation to remove them yourself (changing the locks, cutting off the water): you would be in the wrong.
Never give in to the temptation to remove them yourself.
Selling without waiting for the procedure to end
You do not have to wait for the eviction to sell. An occupied property mainly attracts informed buyers: investors and professionals used to handling this kind of situation. They buy with full knowledge of the facts, building the delay and the risk into their price.
- Inform the buyer of the occupation and of the steps taken: it is an obligation, and it is what makes the sale secure.
- Put together a clear file: official record, complaint, correspondence with the prefecture, condition of the property.
- Compare the price obtained today with that of a sale after eviction, taking into account time, costs and possible damage.
After the eviction: putting the property back on the market
Once vacated, the property must be secured (doors, windows, alarm), cleaned and, if necessary, repaired before being shown to the general public. This is often when the decision is made: sell quickly as it is, or invest a little to sell for more.
Our approach
We look at your situation with you: stage of the procedure, condition of the property, buyers likely to be interested. You then decide, with full knowledge of the facts, whether to sell now or later.
Frequently asked questions
Can a home occupied by squatters be sold?
Yes. The buyer must be informed of the occupation; this type of property mainly attracts investors and professionals, who build the delay into their price.
Does the accelerated procedure apply to a second home?
Yes: since the law of 27 July 2023, it covers any residential premises, including a second home or an empty property.
Can I change the locks to make squatters leave?
No. You must go through the legal procedure; taking the law into your own hands exposes you to prosecution.
Sounds like your property?
Tell us about it: we look at your case with you, with no commitment.
Get a free opinionRead next
