Winter Housing Truce 2026: End on March 31st and What It Means

The Winter Housing Truce (Trêve Hivernale): End of March 31, 2026

Every year in France, a legal protection known as the trêve hivernale — the winter housing truce — suspends evictions and certain utility disconnections during the coldest months of the year. In 2026, this period runs from November 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. When the truce ends, landlords holding valid eviction court orders may request enforcement to resume. Here's everything you need to know if you're a tenant, a landlord, or someone trying to understand the French housing protection system. Explore our insurance section for housing-related coverage information.

What Exactly Is the Winter Truce?

The trêve hivernale is enshrined in French law under Article L412-6 of the Code des procédures civiles d'exécution. It was introduced to prevent families and individuals from being made homeless during winter, a period when exposure to cold poses a genuine risk to life.

The protection applies broadly: it covers residential tenants — whether in the private rental sector, social housing (HLM), or even hotel rooms used as a principal residence — regardless of the reason for the eviction proceedings against them.

During the truce period (November 1 to March 31):

**No physical eviction can be carried out**, even if a court order exists and has been notified
**Gas and electricity cannot be cut off for non-payment** by residential customers, thanks to complementary provisions (the obligation of energy continuity during winter)
Bailiffs (huissiers de justice) cannot execute expulsion orders

The truce does not stop legal proceedings from continuing — landlords can still go to court, obtain judgments, and have orders served during winter. It simply suspends physical enforcement.

Who Is Protected?

The winter truce covers:

**All residential tenants** with a rental contract (contrat de bail)
**Occupants without a title** in certain circumstances
**People living in designated mobile homes** (résidences mobiles) used as a primary home
**Residents of social housing** facing eviction for non-payment

Important exceptions — who is NOT protected:

Squatters who have unlawfully entered a property (the law was modified to allow faster evictions for illegal squatting)
Occupants of buildings declared uninhabitable (péril imminent)
Tenants where the owner needs the property for their own or a close family member's residence (under certain strict conditions)

What Happens After March 31, 2026?

From April 1, 2026, enforcement can resume — but it is not automatic or immediate. The process works as follows:

The landlord must contact the prefecture to request a date for enforcement (commandement de quitter les lieux). The prefecture coordinates with the police or gendarmerie.
A bailiff serves a formal notice on the tenant specifying the eviction date.
On the scheduled date, the bailiff returns with a locksmith and, if requested, a police officer to carry out the eviction.

In practice, the backlog of cases and administrative scheduling means that very few evictions happen on April 1 itself. The process typically takes several weeks from the end of the truce to actual enforcement. However, tenants should not rely on this delay and must act promptly.

Utility Disconnections After the Truce

The energy continuity obligation (obligation de maintien des fournitures d'énergie) that runs alongside the winter truce also ends on March 31. From April 1:

Electricity and gas suppliers may again disconnect customers who have not paid their bills
However, suppliers are required to give advance notice and follow a formal process before disconnecting
Disconnection is not instantaneous: providers must notify the customer, offer a payment plan, and respect minimum notice periods

If you're struggling with energy bills, it's worth contacting your supplier immediately to discuss a payment plan (échelonnement de paiement). You can also read about the energy check amounts in 2026 and financial assistance options.

If You're Facing Eviction After March 31

Step 1: Don't Wait — Act Now

The most common and costly mistake tenants make is ignoring correspondence from landlords, bailiffs, or courts. Every notice you receive has a legal deadline attached to it. Missing a deadline can cause you to lose rights you would otherwise have. Read everything you receive carefully and, if you don't understand it, seek help immediately.

Step 2: Contact Your CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale)

Every French municipality has a CCAS — a local social action center staffed by social workers. The CCAS can:

Assess your situation and refer you to the right services
Help you apply for emergency housing assistance (FSL)
Connect you with legal aid services
Assist with paperwork for housing applications

You don't need to be in immediate crisis to contact them. In fact, contacting them early — ideally before the truce ends — gives you more options.

Step 3: Apply for Emergency Housing Assistance (FSL)

The Fonds de Solidarité pour le Logement (FSL) is administered by your département (county). It provides financial assistance for people facing housing difficulties, including:

Payment of rent arrears to avoid eviction
Assistance with utility bills
Help with deposits for new accommodation

Each department sets its own conditions, but generally you need to demonstrate that your situation is temporary and that you have some capacity to pay going forward. Applications go through your social worker or CCAS.

Step 4: Explore Legal Options

French tenants have several procedural rights that can extend the timeline:

**Application for additional delays**: A court can grant additional time (délais de grâce) to a tenant in difficulty, even after a judgment has been issued, under Article L412-4 of the Code des procédures civiles d'exécution. Courts typically grant 3 to 36 months depending on circumstances.
**DALO application (Droit au Logement Opposable)**: If you are in a priority situation (homeless, overcrowded, facing imminent eviction), you can apply to your prefecture's DALO commission for priority social housing.

Step 5: Emergency Housing — 115 and SAMU Social

If you are at immediate risk of homelessness:

**Call 115**: This is the national emergency housing number, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Operators can direct you to emergency shelter (hébergement d'urgence) in your area.
**SAMU Social**: In major cities, SAMU Social teams do outreach at night. They can provide immediate support and connect people to shelter.
**SIAO (Service Intégré d'Accueil et d'Orientation)**: This is the system that coordinates emergency and transitional housing at the département level. Your CCAS or 115 can connect you.

Information for Landlords

If you hold a valid eviction order and wish to resume enforcement after March 31:

Contact the bailiff who managed your case to request scheduling
Ensure all required notices have been served on the tenant in accordance with procedural rules
Be aware that certain protected categories (elderly, disabled, those with no rehousing solution) may be granted additional delays by a court even after the truce
Mediation services are available and can sometimes resolve disputes more quickly than enforcement

How to Prevent Reaching This Point

The best outcomes happen when problems are addressed early. For tenants:

If you're falling behind on rent, contact your landlord in writing immediately. Many landlords prefer a payment plan over a lengthy legal process.
Apply for APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement) or ALF (Allocation de Logement Familiale) through CAF if you haven't already. These housing allowances are often paid directly to landlords and reduce arrears risk.
Notify your CAF or MSA if your income situation changes, as your allowance amounts may need to be updated.
Ask your social worker about the Accompagnement Vers et Dans le Logement (AVDL) program, which provides sustained support for people at risk of losing their housing.

Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I be evicted on April 1st itself?**

Not practically. Eviction enforcement requires scheduling with the prefecture and bailiff, which takes time. However, the legal right to enforce resumes on April 1, so don't delay seeking help.

**Are there exceptions to the truce?**

Yes. Squatters in unlawfully occupied properties can be evicted more quickly under recent legislative changes. Properties declared dangerous (péril imminent) are also exempt.

**What if my landlord tries to pressure me to leave during winter?**

Any physical attempt to force a tenant to leave without a court-ordered eviction carried out by a bailiff is illegal. This includes changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting off utilities. If this happens, contact the police and a legal aid service immediately.

**What about utility cuts from April 1?**

Suppliers must follow formal procedures and give notice before disconnecting. Contact your supplier right away to arrange a payment plan. The chèque énergie may also help — see our guide on energy assistance in 2026.

Sources

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personal advice. We recommend consulting a professional for any important decisions.