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Property Energy Efficiency Rating and Waste Water System Check

Property Energy Efficiency Rating

From January 1st 2011 France introduced a new legal requirement when selling property.  When advertising a property for sale or for rent, Estate Agents are legally bound to include the property’s energy efficiency by adding a coloured chart with a scale from A to G, A being the most efficient and G the lowest.  This is called in French DPE (Diagnostic De Performance Energétique). 

 

 

 

Waste Water System Check

Also from January 2011, owners of homes with a septic tank in place must supply potential buyers with a certificate showing they conform to high standards, this is called Diagnostic Assainissement, (waste water system check) this is now added to the list of property checks that owners have to complete.

Testimonial for FPC

” The thought of buying a property in France is something that many people contemplate after enjoying great holidays in the country. It is an opportunity to enjoy more time in the country and also somewhere that you can share with friends and family. However, finding and buying a property in another country is perhaps a daunting and seemingly complicated process which, if not properly handled, may cause many people to never realise their dream.
 
Having recently achieved my own house purchase in the Charente, I can honestly say that with the support of Emma at French Connection I have found the whole process much easier than I had expected. More importantly, I found that I could check every step in the process with someone who could provide advice and could ensure that there was excellent communication in both English and French with the seller, and all the necessay agencies involved with the transaction.
 
The fact that Emma was living in France ensured that my own limited french language knowledge was never an problem in understanding key legal issues and various detailed transactions and that provided me with a high level of confidence.  She was always only a phone call away and was a key link who was always ready and willing to be at key meetings to view property, and with the officials such as the Notaire.
 
The service from Emma and French Connection is certainly one that I can recommend and I am sure that other clients will find real benefit of having not only such a high standard of attention to their requirements, but also a very friendly and pleasant personality who takes a keen personal interest in ensuring that the whole process of buying or selling a home in France is achieved with the minimum of stress and anxiety. Thanks Emma and the team at French Connection – Peter Hammersley “  

November 2010

Testimonial for FPC

 

Our house in France has been sold three months ago thanks to French Property Connection.

We have been surprised by the professionalism of Emma Clancy. She was calling us every months in order to give any information about the progression of the sale : new potential customer, new contact, new diffusion of a new web site, etc …. For each visit, Emma called us before to describe her customer, his waitings and after to give the reaction. During this period, the contact with Emma was really friendly and she answered very quickly to all our questions. What a good example for French agencies!

Mr Mme V Puybaudet  October 2010

View All Our Properties on Google Maps

All of French Property Connect’s properties are now featured on Google Maps. On the sidebar on each page of this website you will see a small version of the map. Click on the link ‘View French Property Connect Properties for Sale in Poitou Charentes’ and a larger map will appear, with all the full features of Google Maps including views of street maps and satellite images, the ability to zoom into the area and route planners to get detailed instructions on how to get to the property. You can also save this map to your own maps, really useful if you’re planning a house hunting trip in the region. All of our properties have their own reference number (for instance FPC01, FPC02, etc), so if you’re interested in any of the properties please contact us info@frenchpropertyconnect.com  We hope this will be a helpful addition to finding your dream home in the Poitou-Charentes region of France.

Roadside Breakdown in France

In France, rather than having a contract with a company such as AA, etc, a roadside assistance (garantie assistance auto) is typically included in your car insurance policy, although in some cases it is an option.  An emergency number to call is supplied, however it’s a good idea to check their policy with regards to attending breakdowns.  Some companies have a Franchise kilométrique, which is a number of kilometres around your home where breakdowns are not covered and you must contact a garage/car mechanic yourself.

 Also it is now law that you must carry in the car at all times a red triangle and a yellow visor jacket. If you are stopped by the police without these 2 items, you could be liable to pay a fine.  In case of breakdown, put the triangle sign out, and put on a yellow visor jacket.

Pest Control

Pests in the home or outdoors can be a nuisance.  Here are some helpful tips to deal and avoid them. Ticks love long grass, and are very common in the East of France.  They burrow their legs into the skin and suck blood.  Make sure that the whole body and legs are removed, the easiest way to remove them whole is with a small thin plastic type fork (tire-tiques), which can be bought at chemists. Then use it anti-clockwise to pull it off.

Wasps – To get rid of wasps, make a trap out of a plastic bottle by cutting off the top part and put either beer or honey mixed with water in it.  Make sure the bottle is not too close to your home. Or you can buy repellent at any garden centres. If you happen to see a wasps nest, contact the fire Brigade.

Cockroaches –love dark, dirty areas, to eliminate them, put down balls made from boric acid, which you can buy at a chemist, mixed with condensed milk.

 Jellyfish – Clean the sting with seawater and carefully remove any debris with something firm like a credit card.  Scatter it with sand to absorb the venom, do not rub it.  Use an antiseptic liquid, and an anti-flammatory gel.

Decrock Art

Welcome to Decrock Art, a website devoted mainly to the style of Surrealist Artist Nadia Decrock.  You can discover other passions of the artist as portraits in tribute to people who are recognized, near or far. And a gallery retrospective that includes different styles that Nadia has practiced over the years.

http://www.decrock-art.com/

 

Charente-Maritime

                                                    

Charente-Maritime is the department to the southeast of Poitou-Charentes, and is the most visited part of the region.

La Rochelle is a lovely coastal town just east of Ile de Ré, and unmissable if you are in the region

The Atlantic coast here includes some attractive (and very popular) islands such as Ile de Ré (and it’s major town at St-Martin-de-Ré) and Ile d’Oleron.

The classified ‘beautiful villages’ of Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte-en-Ré are among the many villages on the island. The small island of Ile d’Aix, the fortified island where Napoleon stayed, is also found just offshore.

Inland from La Rochelle the nearby towns at Marans and Surgeres also have some interesting features to explore.Continuing south along the coast in Charente-Maritime, visit Royan, a popular seaside resort and 4* ville fleurie; the lovely resort and zoo at La Palmyre, a little north from Royan; and also Meschers-sur-Gironde.

Inland a little are Rochefort, a 17th century grand new town around an important naval base; the ‘most beautiful village’ at Talmont-sur-Gironde; the town of Saintes; and the fortifications at Brouage.

The Charente River can be explored, as it passes through miles of rolling countryside between Angouleme and Rochefort, and is popular with visitors wanting to see the landscapes of the region. For a different water based experience head north to the marshy world of the Marais Poitevin around Marans in the northeast of Charente-Maritime.

What Poitou-Charentes has to Offer.

With its sandy beaches, pretty marinas, and bustling seaside resorts, Poitou-Charentes offers lots of outdoor activities such as sailing, sand yachting, surfing and walking.  There are a number of beautiful islands including Ile d’Oléron, renowned for its oysters, and Ile de Ré, which is linked to La Rochelle by a road bridge.

Divided into 4 departments, Deux Sèvres, Vienne, Charente and Charente-Maritime, it is also the home of the world’s best-known brandy, and Cognac.

 Inland the region has woods and fields, and the Marais Poitevin marshes.  Poitou-Charentes is a leading holiday destination, claiming to be one of the sunniest regions in France, and is popular with the British.

 Style of Property

Traditional Charentaise houses are large with a cellar and garden and tend to be laid out in a symmetrical pattern.  Half-timbered properties can be found in towns such as Niort, Cognac, and Parthenay.  There are also lots of stone farmhouses with sloping roofs.

 What you can get for your money

 As would be expected, properties are more expensive on the coast than inland.  A two bedroom Townhouse with an attic (that could be converted into 2 bedrooms) cellar and garden costs €115,000.

 A large 4 bedroom Charentaise house with gardens in the region of €265,000.

 Travel

 The region is 4 – 6 hours drive from the channel ports and has motorway connections to Paris (4 hours).  The TGV from Paris is 2.5 hours; the main airports are at La Rochelle, Poitiers, and Angoulème.

Home Survey Guide

 

 

When selling a property in France, it is up to the seller to ensure that a survey is carried out before the final transaction is made.  This survey called Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT) must be undertaken and include asbestos, lead, energy efficiency, termites, gas, natural or technological risks, and electrics, and costs about 500 euros to complete.

 

Only the report on energy efficiency is required in all cases.  Obligatory reports on termites and risks are restricted to certain parts of the country.  An asbestos survey is required for a property granted planning permission before July 1997.  A lead survey is required for properties built before 1949.  Gas and electric surveys must be done for properties at least 15 years old.

From 2013, owners of septic tanks will also be required to report on the condition of the installation as part of the sale process. 

 To carry out the above surveys must be undertaken by people who have been accredited by the agency Cofrac (Comité français d’Accreditation) with the exception of reports on natural and technological risks, which comes from the Préfecture.

 Unfortunately there is much confusion with the period of validity as the above reports have different time spans, please see below details of validity.

 

Natural risks – up to six months.

Termites – up to six months.

Lead – up to one year (if found)

Gas and electricity – up to three years.

Energy efficiency – up to 10 years.

Asbestos – unlimited.

 

As a result of their limited life, most sellers wait until they have found a buyer before they pay out the surveys needed. The reports are then annexed to the sale contract, or attached to the deed of sale.

 

The Notaire will insist that the survey is completed, however omission of the reports does not necessarily invalidate the sale, but is worth bearing in mind to complete nevertheless.

 

The energy efficiency report is purely informative, and there are no implications if it is missing.  In all other cases, with one exception the seller merely loses their exoneration from legal action for hidden defects (vices caches).  For example, if the electrics survey was not undertaken, and a major electrical problem was later discovered, the seller might find it difficult to offer a suitable legal defence. 

 

Only in the case of a missing report on Natural and Technological risks (in areas where it is obligatory) could the buyer get the sale annulled, or obtain a reduction in the purchase price, for which a court ruling would be needed.

 

In no case is the owner of the property required by law to remedy any defects found as a result of the surveys. 

 

 

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