Author: Matthew Cameron

Date: 22 February 2011

Many people will hear that there is no need to commission a survey when buying a house in France. Indeed it is often suggested that they are not necessary, given the pre-contract diagnostic reports carried out by necessity and at the expense of the seller, or even that they are ‘just not done’. In our view, if you would have commissioned a survey on a purchase in the UK, then you should be able to do so in France.

The pre-contract searches the seller must pay for are strictly limited in their scope. What they cover depends largely on the age, location and type of property. If a house is built before 1997, then an asbestos inspection is required; before 1948 then the paintwork will be analysed to measure the level of lead it contains. If the property is in a more southern area a termite inspection is necessary. The internal habitable surface area of apartments must be measured. Septic tanks will be checked for conformity. Electrical and gas installations more than fifteen years old are certified for compliance. If the property has a pool, then confirmation is required that one of the three approved methods of protection against drowning is in place.

These inspections may appear quite detailed. They do not, however, necessarily extend beyond the strict remit set out. The termite inspection, for example, may not reveal the extent of damage that may have been caused by any previous infestation, rather it will simply state whether there is any evidence of active presence of the insects. Nor will it necessarily clarify what damage may have been caused by other media, such as rot, death-watch beetle and so on.
The presence of termites, as revealed by this survey, could allow one to treat the woodwork against attack, and this possibly at the seller’s expense. The buyer may yet have little knowledge, though, of the extent of any structural damage that the termites may kindly have left as a legacy.

A structural survey would allow you to obtain a full understanding of the overall condition and integrity of the property you are buying. If you have any specific development plans, the surveyor may be able to offer some initial guidance as to the potential viability of your ideas. Carried out after the compromis de vente is signed, the survey may be worth little more than an indication in detail of what you have let yourself in for. Carried out before, it may be a negotiating tool for agreeing a suitable price.
We list below links to a number of surveyors who may be able to assist. Please note that some will have specific regional limits that you should check first – these will normally be set out on their websites. Do consider having a survey, and before the contract is signed.

For further information please contact Matthew Cameron