"Les Diagnostiques" Le Dossier de Diagnostic Technique - DDT
The House-seller's Reports - as in the UK, these are required by law before the sale of a property.
They are usually paid for by the vendor. Each report has its own date of validity and requirements. This is a very short outline of what is required when selling a private property, not a business or properties for rental.
At the latest, these must be done just before the compromis, otherwise the purchaser could change their minds when the see a report and activate the cooling off period withdrawal. Ideally you should get these reports done when you put your house on the market. Your estate agent will be able to help you get these reports done.
The prices vary according to the size of your property and the number of reports being done, but to give you an idea a 2 bedroomed house with 2 reception rooms will cost around 500 euros. If you need to have a report re-done make sure you negotiate before you have any reports done, that should any of them run out that the diagnostiqueur will come back either for free, or for a very reduced fee, say 50 euros.
You can listen to Philippa Weitz, MD of PWT Normandy and Brittany Houses for Sale talking about "les diagnostics" on expats radio. Interview carried out on 5th March 2010.
Report | Detail | Validity |
Asbestos | Required for any private building built before 1/7/1996 | Valid for between 3 and 30 years depending on the type of asbestos found |
| Lead Plomb | Required for any private building built before 1/1/1949 | Valid for 30 years if negative |
| Termites Etat Parasitaire | Although called "parasitaire" this appears only to be relevant to termites, which is present in around 60 departements. There is current no report for general wood-worm, but you can ask for one. If you are the purchaser, you may be asked to pay for this if it is not a mandatory report. | 6 months |
| Electricity Eléctricité | All electrical installations which are more than 15 years old. If you have done any electrical work yourself in your house we would advise you to get this signed off by a French qualified electrician before getting the reports done | 3 years |
| Gas Gaz | All gas installations which are more than 15 years old. This includes any installation with hard fixed piping, and does not include gas bottles where only soft piping goes to the cooker. If in doubt check with the Diagnostiqueur. | 3 years |
| Loi Carrez | This involves the measurement of new builds, particularly where there are communal areas | 30 years |
| Natural & Technogocial Risks ERNT | This covers all manner of natural and technological risks and the | 6 months |
PWT would like to thank JFL Diag for their help in writing this article and the radio programme. JFL Diag is a small company based in southern Manche. We would be delighted to introduce you to them if you wish to have your house reports done. Please just email us at info@normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.com saying you would like us to put you in touch with JFL Diag.
Please note this list is for guidance only and in no way constitutes any legal advice, which should only be provided by a company qualified and registered for the carrying out of the Dossier de Diagonstic Technique in France. PWT has made every effort to ensure this list is update to date but will take no responsibility should it fail in any way to be accurate.