“It will be two years since I slept at night.
What I am going through is a nightmare ”.
Emmanuelle, 49, is one of the many owners who are victims of squatters.
Since 2017, a woman has occupied her studio located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris in a completely illegal manner.
“I bought this little apartment a little over three years ago.
I invested all my heritage in it.
I finally thought I was safe with a fixed income.
But I quickly became disillusioned, ”she says.
After having had a first tenant without history, his studio is again for rent.
But barely three days after the keys were handed over and the inventory of fixtures, someone forced their front door and moved in.
“The mistake in this case is that I didn't realize it right away.
The law stipulates in fact that if the owner of the property does not notice the violation within 48 hours, he cannot file a complaint to have them evicted immediately, ”explains Emmanuelle.
She then embarks on a long eviction procedure targeting the squatter, who also happens to be the mother of a toddler.
“Before I got there, I first contacted her.
I even found him other accommodation.
But she never followed up, ”says the owner.
In November 2019, the Paris Court finally ordered the squatter's expulsion, without delay.
Despite the court ruling, Emmanuelle is still waiting to get her property back.
“The police headquarters opposed the immediate expulsion of the squatter because of her family situation.
As long as she has not found a rehousing solution, we cannot force her to leave ”.
In the meantime, Emmanuelle, who rents an apartment in the 18th arrondissement, has not received any rental income for two years and her income as a blogger in the kitchen is not enough to pay her own rent.
“I managed to hold on for a while by digging into my last savings.
But for a year, I can no longer pay my landlord.
I am now under expulsion, ”she breathes.
