If you’re moving to France or buying property to rent out, understanding la Trêve Hivernale, France’s annual Winter Truce on evictions, is critical. This law shapes tenant protections, eviction timelines, cash-flow risk, and even the behaviour of landlords during the winter rental season.
For 2025–2026, the Winter Truce runs from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Table of contents
What is the Trêve Hivernale?
La Trêve Hivernale suspends enforced evictions during the winter months for residential tenants living in their primary home. Its goal: ensure no one is made homeless during the coldest part of the year.
During the truce:
- Bailiffs cannot carry out physical evictions.
- Tenants must still pay rent (arrears continue to accumulate).
- Courts may still rule on cases, but enforcement waits until after 31 March.
This applies to:
- Unfurnished primary-residence leases (bail nu)
- Furnished primary-residence leases (bail meublé classique)
What it does not apply to:
- Seasonal / holiday lets
- Airbnb-type short-term rentals
- Mobility leases
- Sublets
- Secondary residences
Only primary-residence tenants (locataires de résidence principale) are protected.
How does the Trêve Hivernale work?
Even if the tenant has:
- stopped paying rent
- violated the lease
- received a court eviction judgment
…a bailiff cannot physically remove them until after 31 March.
But eviction is still possible during the truce in specific cases:
- Unsafe buildings declared dangerous
- Alternative accommodation offered and accepted
- Court-ordered exceptions (e.g., severe violence toward neighbours or landlord)
Squatter eviction rules have changed
Under the Kasbarian–Billon law, squatters no longer benefit from the Winter Truce.
Now:
- Squatters in primary or secondary residences can be evicted at any time of year, including winter.
- The prefect must act within 72 hours of the owner’s request.
This is one of the strongest anti-squatting frameworks in Europe.
What about social housing (HLM)?
Public-housing tenants (HLM) benefit from even stronger eviction protections. Authorities must:
- prioritise rehousing
- assess the tenant’s situation
- use eviction only as a last resort
You do not need these details unless investing in HLM property, but the key idea is:
➡️ Eviction is slower and more heavily regulated in HLM housing.
Utility protections during the Winter Truce
Energy suppliers cannot cut electricity, gas, or heat between November and March, even if bills are unpaid. However power may be reduced
Providers can legally apply limitation de puissance, reducing electricity to a minimal level (often around 1 kVA). This allows essential use but limits heating or appliances.
Why the Trêve Hivernale matters for foreign property buyers
For many foreign investors, France’s tenant protections are stricter, and longer, than expected.
Eviction already takes 8-18 months
Even without the truce, the eviction timeline involves:
- Commandement de payer (formal notice to pay)
- Two-month grace period
- Court hearing and judgment
- Bailiff scheduling
- Possible delays for tenant hardship
The trêve adds another 5 months of pause.
Expect at least 8–18 months from the first missed rent to physical eviction.
The truce applies only if a tenant is in place
Foreign buyers often assume they can renegotiate or end leases after purchasing a property.
Important:
- Buying a property does not cancel the lease.
- A new owner inherits all tenant protections, including the truce.
- Eviction (even for personal use) must follow strict notice and timing rules.
Cash-flow planning is essential
Because arrears cannot be enforced during winter, foreign landlords should maintain:
- a financial buffer
- landlord insurance (GLI) when eligible
- a professional property manager, especially if overseas
Tenant screening is critical
Because removing a problematic tenant is slow, thorough vetting matters more than in many other countries.
Short-term rentals are not protected
If your strategy involves seasonal or mobility rentals, you are not subject to the Winter Truce eviction constraints.
How the Trêve Hivernale affects foreigners searching for long-term rentals
Landlords become more cautious in autumn
Because eviction is impossible during the truce, many landlords are more selective with:
- foreign renters
- people without French income
- newcomers without guarantors
Fewer long-term rentals hit the market in winter
Some owners delay listing until spring to minimise risk.
Foreigners without a French guarantor face higher barriers
Tools like Visale, Garantme, or a relocation agency become essential.
Competition increases
With fewer rentals available, demand rises in cities like Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nice.
Final notes
La Trêve Hivernale is a cornerstone of French tenant protection:
✔ No enforced evictions during winter
✔ Utilities maintained (with possible reduced power)
✔ Strong protections for vulnerable tenants
✔ Faster eviction only for squatters or dangerous situations
For foreign buyers, this means planning financially, understanding strict eviction procedures, and choosing tenants carefully. For expats looking for long-term rentals, it explains why winter can feel more competitive, not legally, but practically.
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