It all starts with an aqueduct that collapses in December 2022 in Pavilly (Seine-Maritime) a few days before Christmas. Four houses, threatened by this land movement, are evacuated by the municipality. Without them knowing it yet, it is from there that the troubles will begin for Laurent Hérichon and his companion, Delphine.
Owners of two adjoining cottages close to their main residence, they host in one of them one of the emergency evacuees. The latter occupied the cottage until June, but Laurent Hérichon is still waiting for the municipality to pay him the 8,450 euros corresponding to the rent.
"It was the town hall that came knocking on our door to ask if we could welcome him. We were a little taken aback, but we organized, and on January 2, the tenant moved in. In passing, the municipality writes an administrative certificate granting Laurent Hérichon the sum of 50 euros per day as rent for the occupation of his cottage, which can accommodate up to six people.
"I feel like I've been swindled by the town hall"
"We thought in good faith that this document was sufficient to be settled by the city. We were confident. And if every month, he gave a bill to his tenant, he thought that at some point the communal administration would come back to him to pay the rent.
But the devil is in the details. "It is clearly stipulated that the municipality is committed to Mr. Hérichon being settled," explains François Tierce, the mayor of Pavilly, "but not that the municipality will do it directly. In this case, it is up to the insurance of the person accommodated to pay the bill because he was the owner of his home. And, if necessary, the insurer can turn to us since the aqueduct was municipal. »
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"The latest expert reports have shown that we were right to act quickly by evacuating these houses," adds the mayor. During the festive season, we could not leave these people without a solution, even if only the relocation of tenants is the responsibility of the municipalities. »
Not convinced at all, the owner of the cottage, Laurent Hérichon, has since asked his tenant to leave the premises in early June. "I have the feeling of having been defrauded by the town hall," he said after sending a formal notice to the town hall, while evoking an action to the administrative court.
Sure of his right, the mayor says he is "sorry for this situation", but warns: "If we were to advance the money, he warns, it would be necessary to set up a seizure on the salary of the tenant who will have to be reimbursed by his insurance. "
