The illegal occupation of houses has been spread to several countries in Europe, becoming an authentic nightmare for many owners. The phenomenon, which already worries thousands of families, has given rise to stories that seem taken from a movie scam, but which are very real. One of the most recent cases happened in France, where a owner’s daughter was expelled by the garden police for trying to catch Clementin from a family tree.
A story that started in 2017
According to the Digital Journal Spanish Noticias Work, the case dates back to 2017, when Valérie, owner of a family home in Bastia, on Corsican Island, decided to put the property for sale. During the process, a woman of about 40 showed interest in buying the house. However, shortly thereafter, Valérie found that the lock had been changed. The residence had been illegally occupied by this same visitor, who presented himself as the true owner.
At the time, the French legislation did not yet contemplate a specific law against illegal occupation, which required the owners to start a slow judicial proceedings of eviction. This battle has extended for years without immediate results.
A late court decision
Only in 2024 did the court issue an order of vacancy. However, even after the court decision, Okupa managed to stay in the housing. It was not until September 2025, almost a year and a half after the sentence, was the date for the effective departure of the illegal tenant.
According to the same source, this drag of the process made family life in a true torment, extending not only the loss of use of the house, but also the uncertainty about the future of the property.
The Clementin Episode
However, the waiting years left room for unusual episodes. Isabelle, daughter of the owner, told the French newspaper Le Figaro Immobilier one of the most revolting moments. “One day I tried to get into the garden to catch Clementinas from the tree that my grandfather planted in 1933,” he said. But the occupant’s reaction was immediate: he called the police, who forced Isabelle to abandon the space.
The episode didn’t end there. According to the French law, Okupa may even denounce the owner’s daughter for “home invasion” in a scenario that many classify as a legal contrast.
A struggle that affects family health
For Valerie and his daughter, the situation became increasingly unsustainable. In addition to long lawsuit and associated expenses, the emotional impact has been deep. Quoted by, Isabelle confessed: “I cannot continue to see my mother’s health to deteriorate,” in reference to wear caused by years of bureaucracy and postponed decisions.
The French case joins many others that are generating debate in Europe on the rights of owners and the limits of legal protection to illegal occupants. Among criticism and proposals for legislative alteration, pressure grows so that situations like this family do not repeat themselves.
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