How to avoid being scammed on your French property deal

With Brexit looming, more Britons are rushing to get their hands on a property in France, but one common real estate scam can turn the dream into a nightmare.

In the UK, ‘location, location, location’, may still be the most important part of finding the right property, but France isn’t the UK and property scams are far more common across the Channel than they are at home. Discovering a run-down wreck of a home in a glorious setting is every DIY-inclined expat’s dream, but French law can make nonsense of your plans and your estate agent won’t warn you off the idea as it’s the buyer who pay his commission.

French real estate agents are obliged by law to present you with an up-to-date diagnostic on the condition of your chosen property. The report is paid for by you and is necessary for assessing the true value as well as the condition of the house. The scam is that many agents won’t let you see the full report until after you’ve signed the contract, leaving you to buy blind and find out after it’s too late that your French haven has asbestos, termites, lead or, worse of all, a dodgy, illegal septic tank. Also in the report are details concerning risks of natural disasters such as flooding and the occasional earthquake. If this essential tool isn’t forthcoming in full before you sign up, walk away.

Asbestos was pronounced illegal in 1997 after being used as insulation in walls, ceilings and roof tiles in a huge number of older homes. If it’s found, it must be removed at a huge cost using specialised methods and handling. For example, should a violent storm damage the roof and asbestos is found, the entire roof must be replaced. In addition, buyers must by law be told of any of the water pipes contain lead, and old paintwork should be redone as it also contains the dangerous substance.

Termites aren’t a problem in the vast majority of UK homes, although woodworms can cause a great deal of damage, but French homes are at risk from both these horrors. Buyers must be made aware if the property has either or has been treated for infestations. Again, eradication is as expensive necessity, Post 2102, all homes with private sanitation, (septic tanks) must comply with a new law forcing upgrading to an eco-friendly system. The law protects householders from contracting dread diseases, with new owners having a year to replace the existing, traditional septic tank with the new model. Average costs are around €8,000.