A bill to limit blockages after a succession of assets

According to the MP for Indre, there are many cases in all rural departments of houses inherited by siblings as joint owners, managed as best they could as a second home, then gradually abandoned, poorly maintained and kept empty.

"This standing heritage or these building plots have a role to play, since with zero net artificialization (which limits the concreting of natural and agricultural spaces, editor's note) we can no longer build," François Jolivet explained to AFP, who assures that his proposal responds to a "demand from many rural mayors" and could achieve consensus within the political class.

Joint ownership provides that "the assets of the estate belong indiscriminately to all the heirs without their respective shares being materially individualized"; there is a blockage when the heirs do not agree on the management of the property.

This is sometimes the case for entire buildings left vacant due to a lack of agreement between heirs on the work to be done. A situation in which the public authorities have no means of action.

The proposed law provides for making it compulsory to sign a written joint ownership agreement to establish "the management rules, maintenance conditions and the possible appointment of a manager" within three months of the creation of the joint ownership.

Currently, joint ownership agreements exist, but are not obligatory. They provide in particular that all heirs agree to appoint a representative who will facilitate the management of the property.

François Jolivet believes that his measure could make it possible to "release thousands of goods currently frozen" and thus "put them back on the market."