In many municipalities it is common for empty homes to accumulate, sometimes for years. This situation can cause loss of economic activity and opportunities, a problem that many municipalities try to address with measures such as facilitating access to housing for new residents. However, in some cases more forceful actions are chosen. This is what happened in this French municipality, where the mayor promoted a plan to intervene in abandoned properties through a procedure that could culminate in their expropriation.
In this municipality in the Loiret department, the existence of between 100 and 150 unoccupied homes was estimated, around 10% of the real estate stock. Given this situation, according to reports from Figaro Real Estate, The mayor has decided to apply the “manifest abandonment” mechanism of French law, which allows municipalities to intervene in deteriorated properties or properties without prolonged use. “Our goal is not to punish, but to encourage owners to take action,” he explained.
The procedure begins with a municipal report to evaluate the condition of each property and subsequently the owners are located and notified of the situation, giving them a period of three months to rehabilitate the home or commit to doing so. In case of inaction, the council can continue the process and move towards its declaration as abandoned property.
The mayor defends the interest of the people against the right of property
To date, the City Council has only initiated two files, mainly due to lack of personnel. The council prioritizes supporting owners, offering them advice and access to assistance programs for rehabilitation, especially in cases of properties closed for years without a defined project.
The process includes several phases before reaching expropriation. After the first evaluation, the municipal council had to rule on the declaration of abandonment. Subsequently, and once six months have passed, a final report confirms the situation to allow the expropriation to be authorized in favor of the municipality.
As the mayor himself explained, the purpose is to “revitalize the city center with businesses,” since many of these homes are located on commercial premises. Its recovery allows both the reopening of economic activity and the incorporation of new residents.
The City Council defends that this measure seeks to recover properties off the market and stop urban deterioration.