these residents were evacuated due to imminent danger

They were urgently evacuated on October 21, after the collapse of part of the retaining wall adjoining two buildings in the historic center of Limoges. The fourteen residents of these apartments have not yet been able to return to their homes. Some are rehoused in furnished accommodation while waiting, others plan to never be able to return.

The two adjoining buildings located at numbers 6 and 8 rue du Pont Saint-Martial in the historic district of Limoges, evacuated on October 21 after the collapse of part of the retaining wall, belong to the same family and are divided into ten rental apartments.

The fourteen residents, six students, two employed couples, a retiree and a family of three, were initially welcomed into their respective families.

It will take time to know the origin of the collapse of this wall adjoining two buildings. The site, now secure, is subject to an “ordinary security procedure”.

Also read: Dangerous housing and buildings in danger: we explain the “ordinary safety procedure” triggered by town halls

While awaiting the results of the assessments and the completion of any work, prior to their return home, the owners have entrusted a real estate agency in Limoges with the mission of offering them temporary rehousing solutions. “I still have two to rehouse this week, explains Chrystel Hétier, director of the real estate agency Transact 87. There are two students who stay with their families, two others who are already relocated to furnished accommodation, a third whose insurance has paid for hotel nights and who will move to furnished accommodation this week. The lady who is retired was staying with her daughter and will move to a furnished apartment on Wednesday. I'm doing it as quickly as possible, so that they have solutions until they can return to the building.”

Caterina has lived since 2017 at number 6, with her partner, in an apartment under the roof of this beautiful, very well maintained half-timbered building. “The roof was redone two or three years ago” she specifies.

On October 21, when the collapse occurred, she was away. “When I got home, I saw the police, the firefighters, the security perimeter, I was a little scared. And then I found my darling, with the neighbors, under the weeping willow. They had been evacuated urgently“, she remembers. “At first, we were a little disoriented. It's a bit abrupt. Now we have some information, it's clearer, we're trying to organize ourselves so that the rest of our lives can continue“, she says.

Having left their apartment with their cats, their computers and some clothes, Caterina and her darling have since been welcomed in Flavignac, with his mother. For the moment, no satisfactory rehousing solution has been offered to them: “When the person from the real estate agency contacted us, they only had 18m left^2.. For two, it's not livable“, explains Caterina.

For me, the best thing to do is to leave.

Caterina

Tenant of one of the two buildings evacuated in the historic center of Limoges

The couple began looking for another housing solution on their own, considering a new rental in the private sector or applying for social housing.

The tenant is not optimistic about a possible return to her attic apartment: “I tell myself we won't see this apartment again. I don't think we can come back. For me, the best thing to do is to leave. But where, and how, I don't know” she confides.

And if she were indeed not to return to live at number 6 rue du Pont Saint-Martial, it would be with regret, because she says she is attached to this building which is part of the heritage and identity of the city of Limoges .