Once upon a time, you could buy and sell a French property on the back of an envelope, but those rollicking rumbustious days are over. If you thought that a British Home Information Pack was over the top, you ain’t seen nothing yet. And if you thought that carrying out a diagnosis was something a doctor does, you are about as green as the kind of person who thinks that 'cool' is something to do with temperature. In France, you have to ‘diagnose’ your house if you want to sell it. Your dossier of diagnostics (diagnostic immobilier) must be compiled by you, the vendor, at your own expense. You will have to call in a specialist who must have all the right qualifications. The diagnostic immobilier must cover the following matters:
Termites: This report is required if the property is located within an area where such a report is compulsory. Note that if the report says that there are traces of termites that are not active, the report is, for the purposes of the law, satisfactory. If the report finds that there are active termites then normally the purchaser can rescind, depending on the precise terms of the contract. The report is valid for six months from the issue date.
Lead poisoning: This report is required if the property was built before 1 January 1948. The permitted threshold is 1 mg/m². If the reading is above that, the purchaser will need to consider whether the substrate is degraded. If the answer to that is ‘yes’, the matter should be dealt with. Usually, this involves rubbing down old paintwork and repainting. The report is valid for one year from when it is issued.
Energy: Always required if the property has central heating. This report will say how much the energy costs per year, how much energy the property consumes per m² per year and how much CO² per m² per year the property emits. The energy report is for information purposes only; the purchaser cannot use it as a get-out clause. This report is valid for 10 years from when it is issued.
Gas installations: This report is required if the property has any gas installations that are more than 15 years old. The report details any item that needs to be repaired at once, and will also say what remedial actions, if any, should be taken within the very near future. This report is valid for 10 years from when it is issued.
Electrical installations: This report will only appertain to electrical installations more than 15 years old. It will be for the information of the purchasers only, and will not require the vendor to carry out any improvements.
Asbestos: If the building permission was issued before 1 July 1997, the vendor must produce an asbestos report, which will state whether the substrate concerned is or is not in good condition. If the substrate is in good condition, normally the purchaser need not take any action. The asbestos report is not subject to a time limit.
Habitable surface area: This report is required for apartments. The surface area is calculated in a manner laid down by the law. This report is valid for one year from the date on which it is issued. It follows from all this that the vendor may have to produce seven reports on the property. Note, however, that a structural survey is not included and is not legally required In addition, the notaire will obtain information on whether the property is located within an area covered by a plan for protection against foreseeable natural risks, and whether it is within an area designated for protection against technological risks.