When patience runs out and bureaucracy moves at a glacial pace, some people decide to act – even if it means crossing a legal line. That’s exactly what one apartment owner on the French Riviera has done, after watching strangers occupy her home for months.
A growing problem across France
Cases of homes being taken over by squatters are becoming increasingly common, sparking public outrage and making headlines. Not long ago, a retired couple’s plight – forced to live in their camper van while strangers stayed in their house – struck a national nerve. Though their story was eventually resolved, similar incidents keep surfacing, fuelling a sense of injustice among property owners.
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In this latest case, the apartment in question is in Nice, and its owner says it has been occupied illegally since April. Speaking to local radio station France Bleu Azur, she explained: “They changed the locks and moved in.”
Taking matters into her own hands
Fed up with the situation and convinced official channels wouldn’t help her quickly enough, the owner began keeping watch. When she spotted the couple leaving, she seized her moment. With the flat empty, she called a locksmith, had the locks changed, and took back her property.
The move, she knows, is illegal – and she doesn’t shy away from admitting it. “I’m breaking the law, but I have no choice,” she told the station.
Public opinion firmly on her side
On social media, her actions have been met with a wave of support. Comments range from “Bravo, you did the right thing” to “It’s about time owners made their own laws.” For many, her defiance is seen as a form of necessary civil resistance, particularly in a climate where they believe the legal system is too soft on squatters.
Criticism of the French justice system is a recurring theme in these discussions. One online commenter summed up the frustration: “It’s time the law stopped protecting squatters – it costs a fortune to get your own property back.”
Calls for tougher laws
The debate has even reached the National Assembly, where a new proposal aims to strengthen penalties for squatting and make certain evictions easier to carry out. Supporters argue it’s essential to restore balance between protecting vulnerable tenants and safeguarding property owners’ rights.
Whether or not the law changes, cases like this one in Nice suggest that some owners are no longer willing to wait. For them, the risk of breaking the law is worth the reward of regaining their home.
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Hi, I’m Brandon from the Decatur Metro team. I guide you through the trends and events reshaping our region.
