Checklist for purchasing a property in France

If you’re considering emigrating from the UK and purchasing a property in France, it’s best to
research the process before you start the search for your ideal home.

The good news is that you won’t be under any risk of problems with dodgy or non-existent title deeds as have occurred in Cyprus, nor will you lose everything due to invalid planning permission as was common in Spain until recently. The French conveyancing system is safe as houses, but a few potential pitfalls concerning the location, age and type of your chosen property may need to be dealt with.

Firstly, it’s best not to fall in love with a charming little cottage before you’ve walked the boundaries of the land it’s sitting on. Look for walls, hedges and fences used to define the land size, and note any well-worn paths leading across the land which might suggest a right of way. If access to the house is via a made-up road, that’s fine, but an un-made up track might lead to having to establish your own right of way.

Your next task is to find out about the sewage drainage system, especially in country areas where main drains are almost non-existent. If the property isn’t connected to a fixed system, the present owner will need to provide you with a detailed report of how it works. If there’s evidence of recent rebuilding, conversion or additions, it’s essential to check for planning permission and certificates of conformity. If the house was built less than 10 years ago, make sure there’s an insurance guarantee on all part of the construction.

It’s a good idea to establish why it’s being sold, especially if you suspect hidden reasons including noisy neighbours or an acrimonious divorce which might affect title to the property. If the owner has recently died, completing certain formalities might well affect your completion date. If you’re considering an apartment or a property in a complex where there are shared facilities, you should check the co-ownership papers for details such as voting rights, AGMs and suchlike, simply to establish whether the block or complex is correctly managed. The best advice of all is to keep asking questions until you’re totally satisfied before you sign on the dotted line.