Spring has arrived and marks the end of the winter break. Extended from November 1 to March 31 of the following year, this period of tenant protection will therefore end this Sunday. The winter break effectively prevents owners from evicting their tenant(s) “with the intervention of a justice commissioner or the public force, even if they have a legal decision in their favor”, recalls the Agency national for information on housing (Anil).
The measure is applied for different reasons, such as unpaid rent, nuisance or non-compliance with co-ownership regulations. Violating this rule constitutes an offense. The lessor in violation is liable to a sentence of three years' imprisonment as well as a fine of 30,000 euros.
However, exceptions exist. This winter break does not benefit residents of a building affected by a security order, squatters who entered illegally or spouses and partners, perpetrators of family violence, whose expulsion the family affairs judge has ordered, list l 'Anil.
The lessor who wishes to recover his accommodation during this period can also offer a rehousing alternative adapted to the needs of the occupant. The latter must then leave the first accommodation, if such a proposal is submitted to him.
Protect from power outages
During the winter break, the tenant is also protected from energy cuts if he does not pay his bills. He can file a complaint if the lessor takes away his electricity, gas or water. The law also applies to energy suppliers who cannot cut off supplies to their customers in their main residence despite unpaid bills.
However, EDF, historic electricity supplier, has no longer made such cuts since 2022: instead, it reduces the power supplied in order to ensure a “minimum service”, recalls AFP.
Finally, during the winter break, the owner is still authorized to contact the guarantor of the tenant in default of payment. He can also pursue proceedings against him or go to court to begin an eviction process. However, the execution of an expulsion decision would necessarily be postponed until April 1.