On May 5, 2025, the Tribunal de Proximité de Courbevoie reportedly ruled in a dispute involving a couple who rented an apartment in Levallois-Perret. The landlord had sought to evict them over an unpaid locksmith bill. The tenants argued that excessive rent and unsupported charges outweighed the sum they had withheld. Information from the reported decision, their rent and expense claims totaled €7,712.62, compared with the €1,045 locksmith invoice.
The conflict began in January 2022, when the couple moved into an apartment with monthly rent of €1,468. Their lease listed the previous tenant’s rent as €1,367. In April 2023, a locksmith called to inspect a faulty door lock reportedly found no problem. The lock failed again in July, and a second locksmith replaced it for €1,045. When the landlord declined to reimburse them, the tenants withheld that amount from their August rent, prompting an eviction process.
Locksmith Bill Triggers Legal Showdown
The landlord relied on a contract clause and argued that the tenants had defaulted. In the reported decision, the court held them responsible for the €1,045 locksmith bill, finding they had not shown that the lock failed because of age or the landlord’s neglect. The court was also reported to have upheld the landlord’s payment demand for that amount.
Rent and Charges at the Centre of the Dispute
The court reportedly found that the landlord charged €101 more per month than permitted, adding up to €3,758.62 in excess rent from January 2022 through December 2024. It also found that €3,954 in expense provisions lacked the required documentation, bringing the reported rent-and-charge total to €7,712.62.
Eviction Blocked, Tenants Compensated
After deducting the €1,045 locksmith bill, the reported net balance in the tenants’ favour was €6,667.62. The decision was described as settling the rent debt, nullifying the eviction clause and allowing the couple to remain in their home. The ruling was issued at first instance and could be appealed.
Context and Broader Implications
The dispute brings together two recurring points of tension in rental housing: responsibility for repair costs and the documentation of rent and expenses. In Spain, housing rules and property use have also drawn attention, including the risks of mounting a Spanish flag on balconies in Catalonia. The reported French ruling shows how disputed charges can become basic to an eviction case.
