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WORTH KNOWING WHEN BUYING, SELLING OR RENTING
IN FRANCE !

Mandatory Certificates to Sell a House

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  1. Energy-saving Efficiency (''DPE'').

  2. Risks of Natural Disaster [sismic, flood, fire] and Pollutions (''ERP'')  (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

  3. Inhouse Natural Gas pipes and devices if installed before 01.01.2006.

  4. Inhouse Electricity grid and appliances if installed before 01.01.2006.

  5. Presence of Abestos              (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance). 

  6. Presence of Lead                     (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance). 

  7. Presence of Termites             (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

  8. Presence of Dry rot                 (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

  9. Treatment of Sewage, in the case of an independant  sewer system.

Mandatory Certificates to Sell an appartment

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  1. Energy-saving Efficiency (''DPE'').

  2. Risks of Natural [Disaster - sismic, flood, fire] and Pollutions (''ERP'')  (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

  3. Inhouse Natural Gas pipes and devices if installed before 01.01.2006.

  4. Inhouse Electricity grid and appliances if installed before 01.01.2006.

  5. Presence of Abestos              (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance). 

  6. Presence of Lead                     (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance). 

  7. Presence of Termites             (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

  8. Presence of Dry rot                 (Under specific conditions  - See section on Compliance).

Mandatory Certificates to Rent

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  1. Energy-saving Efficiency (DPE), except for short term lease (<1year).

  2. Risks of Natural Disaster [Sismic, flood, fire] and Pollutions (''ERP'') (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

  3. Inhouse Natural Gas pipes and devices if installed before 01.01.2006.

  4. Inhouse Electricity grid and appliances if installed before 01.01.2006.

  5. Presence of Abestos              (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance). 

  6. Presence of Lead                     (Under specific conditions - See section on Compliance).

Compliance             

Certificate : Natural Disaster and Pollutions

(Diagnostic :  Risques Naturels, Pollutions diverses -ERRIAL)

  • Mandatory for Selling and Renting House, Appartment and Land; located in areas subject to the Plan de Prévention des Risques - PPR, which is a nation wide Risk-Prevention Scheeme against Natural Disasters and Pollutions, including Noise .

  • Valid for 6 month for Selling and Renting.

  • The list of areas subject to the PPR Risk-Prevention Scheeme is available on : www.errial.georisques.gouv.fr . You may also contact your Mairie (City hall) or Préfecture  (Government representative).

Certificates: Natural Gas and Electricity

Diagnostics : Gaz et Électricité

  • Natural Gas: Valid 1 year for Selling years for Renting. 

  • Electricity:    Valid 1 year for Selling years for Renting. 

Certificates: Abestos, Lead, Termites, Dry rot

Diagnostics : Amiante, Plomb, Termites, Mérules

  • Abestos: Mandatory for Selling and Renting a House, an Appartment built before 01.07.1997. Certificates issued after 01.04.2013 are valid for an indefinite period of time. Certificates issued before that date are no longer valid. 

  • Lead: Mandatory for Selling and Renting a House, an Appartment built before 01.01.1949. The Lead Certificate or Constat de Risques d'Exposition au Plomb (CREP) is valid for 1 year in case of Selling, 6 year for Renting. Valid for an indefinite period of time in the case of the common areas of a Residential building.

  • Termites: Mandatory in specific areas defined by Prefectural decree. Mandatory for Houses and appartments, excluding the common areas of a Residential building. Valid for 6 months. 

  • Dry rot : Not mandatory but recommended in areas defined by Prefectural decree. This communication is left to the appreciation of the Seller. The Seller should inform the Buyer of the risk of Dry rot.

Compliance

The validity period of Certificates (''les Diagnostics''), their legal status [mandatory or optional] differs: (1) if you are Selling/ Renting your property, (2) whether your property is a House/ Appartment, and (3) the date when the Certificate (''le Diagnostic'') was issued.

Certificate for Energy-saving Efficiency (''Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique -DPE'')

  • DPE issued since 01.07.2021 are valid for 10 yrs and are enforcable to owners whether they intend to Sell or Rent their House/ Flat.

  • DPE issued since 01.07.2021 are valid for 10 years.

  • DPE issued before 01.07.2021 are given to Buyers and Tenants for information purpuses only. Although mandatory, they are not enforcable to third parties.

  • DPE issued between 01.01.2018 and 31.06.2021 are valid until 31.12.2024. 

  • DPE issued between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2017  are valid until 31.12.2022. 

Legal risks in case of not complying with mandatory certificates

Legal consequences of breaching to comply with mandatory certificates can be : The Seller  can be forced to reduce the Selling price after the disposal is enacted, or the Rent; the  judge can cancel the Property deed of sale; the criminal liability of the Seller/Landlord can be engaged.

  • DPE : Energy-saving certificates issued since 01.07.2021 -DPE 3CL 2021- are enforcable. In case of compliance failure of a DPE 3CL 2021, the Buyer/ Tenant can force the Seller/ Landlord to reduce the Selling price of the property sold, or the rent. 

  • ERRIAL : Not declaring the risk of Natural Disaster or Pollution in listed areas can bear for the Seller/Landlord the same consequences as in the previous case of DPE.

  • Natural Gaz:   The Seller/ Landlord is liable of hidden defects with the risk of criminal prosecution.

  • Electricity:     The Seller/ Landlord is liable of hidden defects with the risk of criminal prosecution.

  • Abestos:         The Seller/ Landlord is liable of hidden defects with the risk of criminal prosecution. 

  • Lead:               The Seller/ Landlord is liable of hidden defects with the risk of criminal prosecution.

  • Termites: The Seller/ Landlord is liable of hidden defects with the risk of criminal prosecution.

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