“The situation is catastrophic”: associations are alarmed by the end of the winter break which threatens 140,000 people with expulsion

From this Monday, April 1, rental evictions can resume. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP – Thierry Thorel

The winter break, which began on November 1, ended this Sunday, March 31. From this Monday, April 1, landlords will be able to submit a request to evict their tenant for unpaid rent.

The winter break, a period during which the procedures for eviction of a tenant by an owner are suspended, ended this Sunday, March 31 at evening. Since Monday, April 1, and until November 1, owners can once again make a request to evict their tenant for unpaid rent.

+ 52% of evictions in ten years

"Approximately 140 000 people are threatened with being evicted from their homes", warns the Abbé Pierre Foundation in a press release published Wednesday, March 27. The foundation fears "a sharp increase in rental evictions, while& ;rsquo;they have already increased by 52% in ten years".

"Vulnerable households with young children or elderly people can find themselves on the street", denounces Manuel Domergue, director of studies at the Abbé Pierre Foundation. Because, "very often", these people are not offered "any accommodation& ;quot;, points to the associative.

The situation was already considered "alarming" in 2023. 21  500 households had been evicted, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing communicated to World. This year, "the situation is catastrophic", alerts the press release.

"Lack of compassion"

The Foundation also deplores the "little compassion" shown by the government towards the most precarious . In its sights: the promulgation of the Kasbarian law in July 2023, aimed at accelerating eviction procedures in order to fight against illegal occupations, associations fighting against precariousness fear an increase in evictions .

The three major axes of the law are: securing rental relationships, strengthening support for tenants in difficulty and better repressing squatting. housing for example, the penalties incurred are now increased to three years in prison, and a fine of 45,000 euros, compared to one year in prison and 15,000 euros in fines. ;fine previously.

"In this more dramatic context than ever, the Abbé Pierre Foundation calls on the State to change its policy and deploy substantial means, in particular to strengthen administrative and legal support […] and to reestablish solidarity which alone can bring a little dignity to people who are victims of life accidents", concludes the Foundation.