At the heart of the “Squatteurs Airbnb” issue is a surprising legal loophole unique to French tenant law. In contrast to the U.S., where overstaying guests are generally regarded as trespassers and can be swiftly removed with the help of law enforcement, French law treats any occupant who enters legally—even briefly—as having established tenant-like rights almost immediately. While France recently toughened anti-squatting regulations, these laws primarily target individuals who break into properties illegally.
However, when guests enter legally—such as through Airbnb—even for a very brief period, they automatically gain certain tenant-like protections. Under French law, the moment a person establishes residence, even minimally (changing utility bills, receiving mail, or installing personal belongings), they’re no longer regarded as trespassers. They become occupants entitled to extensive tenant protections.
Why Is This Buzzing Now?
The phenomenon exploded in visibility during France’s peak tourist seasons in 2024 and 2025, notably in popular tourist regions like the French Riviera and Paris. High-profile cases of “Airbnb squatteurs” have intensified media coverage, making this issue a public debate. French vacation homeowners have become increasingly vocal, sharing experiences in the media of long, costly, and emotionally draining eviction processes that drag out for 6 to 24 months, with legal fees mounting into thousands of euros.
Real Stories from Real Hosts:
- Douai (Nord): Squat Narrowly Avoided After Short Airbnb Stay
A property owner rented an apartment via Airbnb for just one night. Guests initially made multiple excuses (forgotten belongings, delayed trains) to prolong their stay without additional payment. The swift intervention by the owner prevented the squatters from establishing formal residency (by receiving mail or changing utility contracts). According to a lawyer interviewed, without forced entry, authorities won’t intervene, turning the eviction process into a lengthy ordeal—identical to evicting a traditional tenant—that can take months or even years. - Nice: Surge of “Tourist” Squats via Airbnb
Nice-Matin, Capital, and Boursorama detail incidents where fake tourists reserve accommodations for a few nights through Airbnb, then change locks, switch electricity bills into their names, and move their belongings in. Property owners find themselves locked out, only to discover that the “anti-squat” law doesn’t apply since the guests had legal entry under a rental agreement. Hosts must then initiate prolonged and expensive legal proceedings. One host in Perpignan experienced this nightmare firsthand, with occupants brazenly stating, “I changed the locks and put the electricity meter in my name.” - Paris and Suburbs: Weekend Rentals Turning into Administrative Squats
In the Paris region, several families renting their houses through Airbnb for short stays face tenants quickly changing locks, registering utilities in their names, and receiving mail at the address. Without forced entry or violence, police refuse to intervene. French law then treats these occupants as legitimate tenants, requiring eviction proceedings that can stretch beyond nine months. Experts confirm that simply registering a utility account or receiving mail is enough to shield occupants legally, even when their initial contract was brief.
Mechanism Exploited by Squatters:
- Reserve a property on Airbnb legally for one or two nights.
- Rapidly change locks, sometimes transferring utilities into their name and receiving mail.
- Authorities will not intervene without evidence of forced entry.
- Owners must undertake lengthy and costly civil eviction proceedings.
- Any attempt by owners to reclaim the property by force can result in penalties of up to 3 years in prison and €30,000 in fines for violation of domicile.
Why the French Legal System Makes It So Difficult
French tenant laws historically prioritize protection for occupants to prevent homelessness and unjust evictions, a legacy stemming from deep social protections. Consequently, even occupants who clearly exploit short-term rentals for unlawful gain benefit from these strong protections once they are physically inside. Police and courts often refuse immediate eviction without a formal judicial procedure, due to the legal complexity and tenant-friendly interpretations of existing regulations.
Historically, eviction processes have also been delayed further by the “winter truce” (trêve hivernale), a period in France from November to March during which evictions are legally prohibited, intended to protect occupants from homelessness during colder months. Even recent legal reforms, which have improved eviction procedures somewhat—such as the ability for authorities to evict squatters within 72 hours—do not apply if the original entry was legitimate, leaving vacation rental hosts particularly vulnerable.
Not a New Phenomenon:
This loophole has existed for years and occasionally surfaces in high-profile incidents involving secondary homes or vacation rentals. However, the rapid rise in Airbnb rentals, combined with heightened media visibility around notable cases during major events like the Paris Olympics and high tourist seasons, has escalated awareness of the issue. Recent legislative attempts, including harsher penalties (up to 3 years in prison and fines of €45,000), have improved eviction processes slightly.
However, these measures haven’t fully resolved the loophole because they primarily address forced entries and overt squatting, not situations where the occupant initially enters legally. Thus, guests who initially book via platforms like Airbnb still fall outside the scope of rapid eviction measures, leaving hosts vulnerable to prolonged legal battles.
In short, French vacation rental hosts currently face a challenging landscape under French tenant law, where even a single booking could lead to a prolonged legal ordeal. The pain for hosts is real—financially, legally, and emotionally—and the issue continues to generate strong public debate across France.
