Summary
A retired couple in Western France must demolish part of their house due to a land registry mistake that dates back decades. The error means a section of their home legally belongs to a neighboring property, and a court has ordered the couple to remove it within six months.
Key Facts
- Didier and Maryline Gautier are the couple affected by this court order in Trélazé, France.
- They have lived in their house since the early 1980s.
- A land registry error from the past makes part of their property legally belong to a neighboring plot.
- In 1994, the couple built an extension after getting a local building permit, but the land registry did not update this section.
- The issue came to light when the neighboring property's owner died in 2015, and the new owner raised concerns.
- Legal action began in 2018, and in December 2025, a court ruled that the couple must demolish the disputed part of their home.
- If they do not comply within six months, they may face daily fines.
- The couple also has to pay around €17,000 in legal costs and damages.
