French lawmakers propose summer eviction ban amid heatwaves

Twenty-five left-wing lawmakers in France have introduced a bill to establish a summer eviction ban, mirroring the current winter moratorium. The proposal, registered with the National Assembly on July 23, aims to prohibit evictions for unpaid rent for a minimum of three months during the summer.

If passed, the law would mean that evictions for unpaid rent would be forbidden for eight months out of twelve. The lawmakers cite increasingly frequent, earlier, longer, and more intense extreme heat episodes as justification. They propose the summer truce run from June 15 to September 15, with protections also extending beyond this period if a department is placed on orange or red heatwave alert.

However, the bill faces criticism regarding its potential impact on the housing market. Critics argue that making evictions impossible for two-thirds of the year could deter landlords from taking risks. This might lead to even more stringent selection of tenants, potentially excluding precarious profiles and further tightening an already strained market.

“

When a climate risk is likely to seriously endanger people's health or lives, the public authority cannot allow them to be deprived of their home.

Landlords currently face lengthy procedures to evict tenants for non-payment, often taking six to 18 months to obtain a judgment, followed by an additional six months for execution. This duration can be extended by judicial grace periods or existing eviction truces. While the state offers compensation to landlords when the Prefect delays eviction, this compensation is often limited and not widely known.

France has experienced increasingly harsh climate conditions, with four heatwaves in 2025 lasting between three and 12 days, affecting about 80% of the population. The proposed summer eviction ban aims to protect vulnerable individuals from losing their homes during periods of extreme heat, but its broader economic implications are a significant concern.

“

Extreme heat episodes are now more frequent, earlier, longer, and more intense.