abusive landlords in the sights of certain cities

It is a building that has become a symbol of the fight against the sleep merchants. Near Dunkirk (North), a building of 350 m² operated for fifteen years by an abusive owner. He rented ten dilapidated apartments here to people in great difficulty. “I don’t understand how people could have lived there”says a neighbor.

450,000 places of life considered unworthy in France

A hovel, confiscated by the courts two years ago, then entrusted to this association to make social housing, a first in France. Inside, the traces of the former occupants are still there. Some families paid 500 euros for a studio. “In terms of health, we are not at the top, far from it”, deplores the head of Habitat and Humanism Nord-Pas-De-Calais, Françoise Delvoye. In France, 450,000 places to live are considered unworthy. To fight against these illegal practices, some municipalities such as Lens (Pas-de-Calais) have set up a rental permit. If they still rent their property, the owners risk a fine of 15,000 euros.