A 64-year-old retired teacher saw his house in Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, expropriated after years of abandonment and degradation of the property and garden. The process, triggered by neighbors’ complaints and confirmed by the Rouen Administrative Court, culminated in a declaration of public utility for the acquisition of the land by the municipality, with the aim of rehabilitation of social interest.
According to Le Figaro Immobilier, a website specializing in real estate news, the case raised questions about the link between mental health problems and property management.
Progressive deterioration of the property
The complaints began in 2019, according to the same website, when the owner fell into depression after the separation.
For several years, the lack of maintenance left the house and garden in an advanced state of degradation, affecting not only the aesthetics of the neighborhood but also the safety of the space. It was only in 2024 that the land was cleaned, after the authorities had started the administrative process.
The legal procedure and resources
The Préfecture de Seine-Maritime declared the public utility of the expropriation, justifying the municipal purchase with a view to the social rehabilitation of the property. The owner filed requests for annulment, but these were rejected by the court, which upheld the decision. In cases of expropriation, there is always compensation, which must be paid to the retired teacher, as explained by Le Figaro Immobilier.
According to the same source, the situation sparked reflection on how mental health problems can influence a person’s ability to manage their assets and face complex administrative processes. This case, initially published in Portuguese and Spanish by NoticiasTrabajo (HuffPost edition), has served as a warning about situations in which personal vulnerability collides with strict urban planning and administrative rules.
The framework in Portugal
In Portuguese territory, municipalities have prior intervention mechanisms, starting with subpoenas, coercive works and administrative eviction under the Legal Regime for Urbanization and Building (DL 555/99, articles 90 to 92). There is also the possibility of resorting to forced leasing of vacant properties, provided for in Law 56/2023.
Expropriation always requires a duly substantiated declaration of public utility. When the initiative comes from the municipality, the DUP is generally declared by the member of the Government responsible for the local authorities, except in cases where it is the responsibility of the municipal assembly, such as in the execution of urbanization plans or details.
The case of professor de Sotteville‑lès‑Rouen highlights how, even in clearly structured legal processes, personal and social factors can determine the loss of a property.
According to , this episode opens a debate that goes beyond French borders, questioning how legislation and authorities deal with situations of vulnerability and prolonged abandonment.
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