the smells of a restaurant at the heart of a neighborhood conflict… “it smells throughout the building”

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A persistent smell of fat is the subject of all the tensions in a wealthy residence in Montesson (Yvelines). For several months, residents have been fighting against a restaurant, open in March 2024 at the foot of their building. His activity would be the cause of “numerous nuisances” for the co-ownership and the one next door.

Some residents, “at their wits’ end”, even go take legal action to try to close this establishment specializing in Lebanese flavors. The latter's boss, maintaining that “everything is in order” with her, says she is the victim of “relentlessness” and is also considering going to court.

A smell of cooking hung in the air as we passed.

It was in fact floating in the air of this charming residence a strong cooking smell during our visit on site, Wednesday November 13, 2024 at the end of the morning. The cause: the evacuation of the hood. Installed on a window of the restaurant owner's premises, it spews fumes from the kitchen directly into the backyard.

These smells of fried food also spread into the corridors of the residence, where one of the doors opens to this commercial premises which previously housed a mechanical parts store.

The exhaust of the hood installed too close to the neighborhood windows

“According to the health regulations departmental, the extraction must be located more than eight meters from the other windows… We are not there at all”, deplores Benjamin Bardet, president of the union councill at 90, avenue Paul-Doumer, address at which this restaurant with around ten tables is located.

“It smells throughout the building, it takes to the heartit's horrible! », adds Philippe Sgard, resident of 88, whose courtyard is shared with the neighboring building. The whole represents around twenty accommodations.

The noise of the extractor is also a problem

The rather loud purring of extractor motor“several hours a day”, is also singled out in the neighborhood. “When we open in the summer, we have all the smells coming up and we hear this noise,” says Michel Rollé, who has lived here for twelve years.

Of the arrangements carried out by the restaurateur in her cellar, parking problems linked to customers or even water consumption billed at the rate are all additional reasons for grievances for these angry owners who, after having requested in vain prefecture et city ​​hallput together a thick file to plead their case before a judge.

According to them, this activity is in violation of the co-ownership regulations and the owner of the premises would do “nothing” to call her tenant to order about the controversial activity.

“An apartment is difficult to rent because of the nuisance. Even selling is complicated. Our possessions have lost their value », affirms Philippe Sgard, supporting exchanges of messages.

The restaurateur, Saada Nassar Hanna, claims to have undertaken to €50,000 of work in order to meet the demands of its neighbors. She also indicates that her establishment received the approval of the health and safety commission on October 31.

Intimidations?

“Exhausted” by everyone these conflictsbut convinced that she is in her right, this woman does not intend to give up her apron: “They spread the rumor that I was cooking in the cellar in questionable hygienic conditions. Neighbors also come to intimidate me in front of the window or question customers. I do everything according to the rules and I am wrongly accused. »

Considering herself to be the victim of a certain form of harassmentshe would have contacted a lawyer to initiate proceedings.

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