Protect Your Property from Squatters with Temporary Occupancy

Author :
TOITCHEZMOI

Leaving a vacant property today can quickly become risky: damage, intrusion or even illegal squatting. For property owners, securing an unoccupied home has become a major concern, especially as illegal occupations can be long and complex to resolve.

In response, a solution is emerging: temporary occupancy. It allows you to effectively protect an empty property while giving it a social purpose and preventing it from deteriorating over time.

Through housing in exchange for services, occupants provide regular presence in return for accommodation. A practical, human and secure solution that meets both the needs of property owners and those looking for affordable housing.

Why do vacant properties attract squatters?

An unoccupied property quickly becomes a target. The absence of human presence creates an environment conducive to intrusions and damage. Several factors explain this vulnerability:

  • Visibility of an empty property (closed shutters, long absence)
  • Lack of daily supervision
  • Delayed detection of incidents (water damage, breakdowns…)
  • Lack of regular maintenance

A vacant property is also more exposed to burglaries. To reduce these risks, it is essential to adopt effective preventive measures. You can consult these tips to prevent burglaries during holidays to strengthen your property's security.

In this context, temporarily occupying your property significantly reduces risks by reintroducing a regular and deterrent presence.

A legal framework governing temporary occupancy

In France, the temporary occupation of vacant properties is regulated by law to ensure a balance between property protection and occupants’ rights.

Decree No. 2019-497 of May 22, 2019 defines the terms of this system, which you can consult directly on the official Legifrance website.

This legal framework allows:

  • To protect properties from illegal occupation
  • To organise structured temporary occupancy
  • To provide housing solutions for people in need

Depending on the situation (particularly for organisations), prefectural approval may be required.

ToitChezMoi: a practical solution to secure your property

ToitChezMoi simplifies access to temporary occupancy by connecting:

  • Hosts (owners or occupants with available property)
  • Guests (people looking for housing in exchange for services)

This model is based on a simple principle: creating a win-win relationship.

In practice, the presence of a guest allows:

  • To ensure a deterrent presence against squatting
  • To keep the property in good condition
  • To detect issues quickly
  • To provide occasional daily assistance (maintenance, monitoring, etc.)

Learn more about how housing in exchange for services works.

Benefits for property owners

Using temporary occupancy through ToitChezMoi offers many advantages:

  • Enhanced security: regular human presence
  • Squat prevention: natural deterrence
  • Property value preservation: an occupied and maintained home retains its value better
  • Flexibility: conditions adapted to your needs
  • Cost-effective solution: reduces vacancy-related costs
  • Administrative simplicity: ToitChezMoi supports property owners with administrative steps and provides a temporary occupancy contract adapted to this setup

To go further, consult the safety guide to follow best practices.

The importance of a temporary occupancy agreement

Setting up a temporary occupancy agreement is essential to secure the relationship between both parties.

This agreement defines:

  • The duration of the stay (usually limited and renewable)
  • The obligations of the guest (presence, maintenance, respect of the property)
  • The commitments of the owner (safe and decent housing)
  • The termination conditions

To learn more, you can consult detailed terms of temporary occupancy agreements as well as a complete guide on temporary use of vacant properties.

You can also rely on a contract provided by ToitChezMoi.

How to set up temporary occupancy?

  • Publish your property on the platform
  • Define your expectations (presence, services, duration)
  • Connect with potential guests
  • Formalise the agreement with a contract

To get started, you can list your property.

Conclusion

Temporary occupancy is now a practical and effective response to vacant property issues.

It not only helps protect your property from squatting and damage, but also gives it a useful social purpose.

With ToitChezMoi, you turn a risk into an opportunity: securing your property while contributing to a human, responsible and accessible solution.