What to look for when buying a French Property

The following is a check list of points you should investigate for your intended purchase:

 Rights over Property

• Are there any formal or informal rights of way over the property?
• Are there any rights, restrictions or informal arrangements that adversely the property ?
• Are there any pipes or cables or drains belonging to others that run over or under the property?

Access to Property

• Is there direct access to the property from a public highway?
• If  not, what agreements are in place to obtain access?
• Who owns the access road and who has maintenance responsibility for it?

Access to Neighbouring Land

• Is there likely to be a need to obtain access to neighbouring land in order to carry out repairs to the property?
• Has access to neighbouring land for such repairs ever been refused?

Boundaries

• What are the property boundaries?
• How are they shown on the site?
• Are the actual boundaries on the site the same as those shown on the plan cadastral ?
• Who do the boundaries belong to?
• Who maintains the boundaries?
• Is there any agreement governing the maintenance of boundaries?
• If the boundaries are jointly maintained what are the arrangements?
• Is there any dispute with the neighbours over the boundaries?
• Do the neighbours consider there is a dispute?

Party Walls

• Are there any party walls?
• If so, have there been or are there any disputes or agreements regarding the walls?
• Do the neighbours consider there is any dispute or agreement?

Physical Condition

• Are bills available for repairs, servicing and improvements carried out to the property?
• What warranties are available for repairs and improvements and new installations ?
• Are there any construction or planning drawings available for the property?
• What are the basic construction characteristics of the property?

Structure

• Are there any internal or external cracks in the property?
• If so, has the property suffered from any structural movement?
• Has any work been carried out to remedy structural defects?
• If so, are the bills available?
• What warranties are still in existence?
• Is there any evidence of rising damp?

Roof

• What is the condition of the timber roofing structure in the attic space?
• Does the roof covering look as though it needs replacing?
• Is there evidence of roof leaks in the attic or elsewhere on the property?
• What is the condition of the chimney stacks?

Electrics

• How old is the wiring in the property?
• Do the outlets actually work?
• What is the capacity of the system?
• Are there a sufficient number of sockets and outlets?
• How old is the boiler? Is there a maintenance certificate?

Plumbing

• What is condition of pipework?
• Do the plumbing services actually operate?
• Is there any evidence of leaks?
• Is there mains water? If not, are the statutory authorities willing to connect to the property?

Rainwater Goods

• Are there gutters and downpipes?
• Is there evidence of leaks?
• Are rainwater drains installed and where do they run to?

Flooding

• Is the property liable to flooding?

Termites

• Has timber treatment been carried out?

Heating System

• What type of heating system is provided?
• How old is it and in what sort of condition?

Floors/Windows/Doors

• What is the condition of the woodwork?

Contents

• What items that are attached to the property will remain?
• What items not attached to the property will remain?

Utilities and Services

• Is the property connected to a mains electricity supply?
• If not, are EDF (electricity supplier) willing to provide a supply to the property and at what cost?
• Is the property connected to mains drainage?
• If not what is the provision for foul drainage?
• Does the septic tank meet current regulations (certificat de conformité)?
• If not, what is the view of the local council about the septic tank?

Alterations

• Have any major internal alterations been carried out to the property?
• Have there been any alterations to the openings of the property?
• If so, are there planning certificates available for external alterations?
• Has planning permission for any alterations ever been refused?
• Are there any disputes currently with the planning authority?
• Is the property a registered historic property?
• Does the property have residential use?
• If so, is a copy of the planning certificate available?
• Have any grants been made in respect of the property?

Environment

• Are there any building or infrastructure proposals in the vicinity of the property or the immediate neighbourhood?
• Are there any nuisances arising from commercial, industrial or agricultural activities in the vicinity of the property?
• Are there any disputes with neighbours concerning nuisance?
• What will the surrounding area look like at different times of the year, notably in agricultural areas?

Rates, Taxes and Charges

• What is the annual amount of the taxe d’habitation?
• What is the annual amount of the taxe foncier?
• Has the rateable value of the property been revised as a result of alterations?
• What annual service charges are payable?

Disputes

• Are there any other neighbour disputes, which relate to the right enjoyed by the property, or rights enjoyed by neighbouring properties?
• Are there any other disputes with statutory authorities, which relate to the rights enjoyed by the property, or those enjoyed by neighbouring properties?
• Have there been such disputes in the past? How have they been resolved?