It is a sadly common narrative. When they return from their holidays, a family discovers their accommodation squatted… And therefore cannot return home. Some of those who occupy the houses of others do not wait for the holidays, as La Dépêche reminded us, in 2021: in Occitania, 13 cases of squatted residences were recorded between January 1 and the end of May of the same year. Roland, an 88-year-old Toulousain, had particularly moved the nation at the time: the octogenarian had been ejected from his home after the change of the locks of his house, which occurred in his absence. He then wanted to sell his home to be closer to his wife, in Ehpad in Albi.

In order not to suffer the same kind of situation, it is essential to be particularly careful… and to follow some advice before going away, for example to go on vacation. More information on this subject in our slideshow, which you will find below, at the conclusion of this article.

Contrary to what some might say, continues La Dépêche, there is no typical profile of a squatter in France.

“There is no typical profile of squat residents. Some of the squatters find in the squat a place that combines living space, work space and artistic or militant activities. These are rather young, and often benefit from a certain cultural capital. Nevertheless, the vast majority of squat inhabitants face difficulties in accessing housing (including the previous ones), and choose to squat rather than move to housing that is too expensive, uncomfortable, possibly remote and isolated. ”, indicated Florence Bouillon, lecturer in sociology at the University of Paris VIII and researcher at the Norbert Elias Center, EHESS-CNRS, in an interview given to the journal Regards Croiss sur l’Economie, years ago.