Home Survey Guide

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.