"The 67-year-old landlord was found guilty by the Marseille Criminal Court of subjecting a vulnerable person to unfit living conditions after residents and the property manager of a building on Rue Curiol, in a run-down area of central Marseille, had reported the rental of a 9 square metre basement room with a 2.5 square metre bathroom. The basement had no windows and was covered in mould, the court heard."
"Under French law, it is illegal for landlords to rent out apartments with less than nine square metres of habitable space. The ceiling must be at least 2m 20cm from the floor and the apartment must have a window in the main living area, as well as an area to cook, something to heat the apartment as well as a separate shower/bath and toilet."
"Landlords are also obliged to maintain the property in habitable condition, meaning they have to foot the bill of any repairs are needed, including urgent work - such as a water boiler bursting in cold weather, as well as improvements to the building's common areas or façade, normal maintenance of the property and even insulation or improvements to the property's energy efficiency."
A 67-year-old landlord was convicted and received a two-year suspended prison term plus a €20,000 fine for renting a 9-square-metre basement room that lacked windows and was covered in mould. The basement included a 2.5-square-metre bathroom and was accessible via a dark staircase below an iron trapdoor. The occupant paid €300 per month and worked in precarious restaurant jobs, accepting the lease to avoid homelessness. French law sets minimum size, ceiling height and window requirements and obliges landlords to maintain properties in habitable condition, covering repairs and safety or energy-efficiency improvements. Marseille faces an affordable housing shortage.
Read at The Local France
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