End of the winter truce in France: a record 30.500 evictions expected in 2025 and stricter rules against rent arrears

As the end of the winter truce reignites the issue of rental evictions in France, associations and public authorities disagree on how to respond to the rise in rent arrears and the record increase in evictions.

"Every eviction means broken lives, traumatized women, men, and children. No one should be forced to choose between housing, food, or heating," said Bernard Thoreau of the National Housing Confederation, during a press briefing by several associations and unions that are organizing demonstrations between now and Wednesday, including one in Paris on Sunday afternoon.

In 2025, the situation for tenants in France remains precarious: last year, 175.000 tenants received a payment order, the first legal step before proceedings that could lead to eviction for rent arrears. This represents a 2,4% increase in unpaid rent compared to 2024, according to the National Chamber of Judicial Officers.

“Life’s unexpected events, the rising cost of living, and the increasing number of households struggling to pay their rent,” emphasizes Marie Rothhahn, head of the fight against social exclusion at the Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged. She also warns of a 27% increase in evictions in just one year, reaching 30.500, double the figure for 2016.

"It's going to increase even more, Vincent Jeanbrun is the executioner of tenants, he would like 50.000 evictions per year," attacks Jean-Baptiste Eyraud, spokesperson for the Right to Housing association (DAL).

Squatting, unpaid bills and political tensions

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Vincent Jeanbrun launched a mission on rent arrears, entrusting it to Hugues Périnet-Marquet, with the aim of addressing an issue deemed "urgent and essential": that of "squats and unpaid rent." However, Périnet-Marquet ultimately declined the mission on Friday, telling Les Echos that the ministerial communication did not align with the initial scope.

In the context of a housing crisis in France, the government aims to revive rental investment by facilitating "both moving into and moving out of a property" and by restoring "trust between landlords and tenants." Sources close to the minister assert that "today, a tenant who owes thousands of euros is not considered a squatter," a situation deemed "incomprehensible" and making "evictions virtually impossible and interminable."

These statements were disputed by associations. "That's false; if there's a very large debt, the judge orders eviction," retorted Marie Rothhahn, who deemed these remarks "serious" and "indecent." She also pointed out that "landlords have rent guarantee insurance, and the small landlord in difficulty—who must be compensated in case of non-payment—is not the majority."

For Jean-Baptiste Eyraud, equating unpaid bills with squatting is "terrible" and reflects "the cruelty of the society that has settled in".

Invited to the Grand Rendez-Vous CNews/Europe 1/Les Echos on Sunday, Vincent Jeanbrun distinguished between "fragile French families", for whom "support measures must continue", and "specialists" who, "year after year, do not pay their rent in full" with "a form of malice".

Kasbarian Law and the rise in evictions

Associations are particularly critical of the impact of the 2023 Kasbarian-Bergé law, known as the "anti-squatting law," on the increase in evictions in France. This law requires tenants, to avoid eviction, to request a judge to maintain their lease and pay the last month's rent, otherwise their lease will be automatically terminated.

At the Paris court, these developments have had "a direct effect on court decisions": in 2024, 35% of unpaid debt cases resulted in a payment deadline without eviction, compared to 48% in 2023, according to the vice-president of the local civil division, Françoise Thubert.

According to Marie Rothhahn, these measures are also accompanied by "firm instructions to prefects," with an increase in evictions affecting vulnerable groups: "the elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, and those with young children." She laments the lack of long-term solutions: "no rehousing options, perhaps a few days in emergency accommodation."

For his part, Vincent Jeanbrun welcomed the "Ripost" bill put forward by Laurent Nuñez, aimed at filling a "blind spot" in the Kasbarian law, particularly concerning squatters who have legally entered a dwelling, for example via a short-term rental of the furnished tourist type.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.