Some gendarmes took positions in front of the real estate agency Puyo, in Hasparren, this Saturday morning. About seventy people quickly gathered in front of them, at the call of the collective Arberoa Lurra Fadanza (1). For six months they have denounced the “speculative sale” of the Etxexuria house in Ayherre.
A property entrusted by its owner to the local estate agent and for which a buyer…
Some gendarmes took positions in front of the real estate agency Puyo, in Hasparren, this Saturday morning. About seventy people quickly gathered in front of them, at the call of the collective Arberoa Lurra Fadanza (1). For six months they have denounced the “speculative sale” of the Etxexuria house in Ayherre.
A property entrusted by its owner to the local real estate agent and for which a buyer made an offer of around one million euros. It is not the first time that activists for affordable land and housing have expressed their anger at the intermediary. He also filed a complaint against them, after an initial confrontation.
It was in January. Sixty protesters had “peacefully invaded the offices” of the real estate agency, according to their description of the episode. They brought their complaint to the professionals responsible for selling Etxexuria. The building, “purchased in 2017 for 250,000 euros, losing its agricultural vocation during its renovation, was put up for sale in 2023 at a price of 1.6 million euros (2).” Before negotiation, therefore.
Irony and anger
They criticize an “exorbitant” amount, which helps drive the market higher. And complicate access to housing for common families. Arberoa Lurra Fadanza designates in the figure of the real estate agent one of the “responsible for the real estate and land crisis”, alongside “speculative sellers” and “rich buyers”.
We make a value proposition but the owners don’t necessarily follow us. Finally, they decide the price
After the protesters passed through his real estate agency, Jean-Michel Puyo filed a complaint for trespassing and “fraudulent occupation” of the business, “intentional degradation or deterioration” and “theft during a meeting.” “Remote control rot”, engages members of the collective who joke about “very serious events”. Reaching “Sud Ouest”, the complainant does not want to laugh: “They stole a remote control.” They took down my posters, damaged some. I have 1,500 euros in damages after his passage. I have quotes that prove it. Who is going to pay for this? »
Preliminary investigation
Jean-Michel Puyo describes his opponents who “sit down, serve themselves coffee, write unpleasant things in a seller’s diary…” The manager insists: his profession cannot alone lead the real estate market. “We value properties by looking at what has been sold in the area, we make an opinion of value but the owners do not necessarily follow us. In the end, you decide on the price. And when you are a seller, you do not sell to defend the Country Basque.”
Two people present during the action in January were summoned to the gendarmerie, as part of the preliminary investigation on the events of January. Arberoa Lurra Fadanza sees the complaint as a way of “intimidation” of the collective. But they warn that he will remain “mobilized and determined”.
(1) The land and houses of Arberoue.
(2) An advertisement on the website bellesdemeures.com offers it at 1.49 million euros.