Land Registry in France

 

Properties bought in France need to be registered at the French Land Registry. Our lawyers in France can provide detailed information about the registration process and the necessary documents. We can also assist foreign investors who want to buy land in France and request legal advice for formalities imposed. Below is information about the legal services we provide to local and foreign citizens in this endeavor.

 

Legal services offered for the purchase of land in France

• Checking the property - It is very important to check the history of the respective land, before buying it. There may be certain legal issues and litigations that are hidden or that have not been properly resolved. Therefore, we recommend the services of our French lawyer in this case.
• Cadastral plans – These documents can be obtained from the real estate agent and contain information about the location and size of the property, nearby buildings, and geographical factors. Planning permissions are also important in a transaction of this kind because in this way you can know for sure if you have the right to renovations and extensions or if the respective land can be used for agricultural purposes, for example.
• Property surveys – A property survey implies a specific inspection. Such inspection might reveal if there are any damages. Also, with the help of specialists in the field, septic tanks, electricity, risks to natural disasters, energy efficiency, gas installations, etc. can be checked. This kind of reporting is done with the help of the Diagnostic Technique Dossier, an important document that can be analyzed by an expert. Our lawyers collaborate with such specialists and ensure that the respective property can be purchased without problems.
• Sale-purchase contract – Another document that comes to the attention of our French lawyers is of course the sale-purchase contract. It must include all the important information about the property in question, including its history, verified in advance. This document is signed in front of the notary, and one of our attorneys in France can represent you from a legal point of view.

Representing clients with a power of attorney in France

We collaborate with the local authorities

 

 

The cadastre is the official system for land registration in France. Cadastre plans for land and parcels in France are also available at the local mayor or a local notary but the French Government has implemented a system that makes it even easier to view land and building plots by using the official website of the French Cadastre. 

 

The computerised land registry ensures an efficient and secure land registration service. The online version of the French Cadastre allows the user to view land and building plots, measure their area, print the plans or order hard-copy versions. Feel free to get in touch with our French lawyers if you want to buy land in France.

 

Interested in buying a property in France? Our specialists can offer you specialized legal advice to benefit from a simple and fast process. There are no restrictions regarding the acquisition of residential properties, lands, houses, villas, or hotels, as long as they are not owned by the state. The sale-purchase contract is the most important document in this real estate transaction and can be drawn up by one of our French lawyers. All documents will be analyzed to guarantee that you will buy a property without problems.

 

 

The French Land Register, also known as the French Cadastre, falls under the supervision of the tax authorities (the French Public Finances Department). The Land Register has several functions, among which we name the following:

 

If you need assistance in accessing the Land Register, our lawyers in France can help you obtain the necessary information. We are here to help you buy land in France.

 

 

 

As mentioned earlier, one of the most important roles of the French Cadastre is to maintain all information on property titles updated. This implies for those buying residential and commercial real estate to register the properties with the Land Register after the purchase is completed. Those who want to buy real estate in France will first need to verify the property to be purchased. The search can be completed with the Cadastre when it comes to property title verifications and with the tax authorities for encumbrances.

 

Once the pre-sale agreement has been signed, the parties must convene the terms of the final transaction and sign the sale-purchase contract. It is important to know that the transaction must be completed before a public notary in France. The notary will verify the legality of the transaction and approve it. Once the property is bought, it is the new owner’s responsibility to register it with the Land Register. Our law firm in France can help foreign citizens purchasing properties here to register them with the Land Registry.

 

 

The registration of a property in France implies completing a few steps. The first one refers to the registration of the sale-purchase agreement after the parties have signed it. This stage of the procedure is completed by the public notary in front of whom the contract was signed. Before filing the contract, the notary will be required to:

 

At the same time, the new owner must pay the fees related to the registration of the property. When it comes to the fees and taxes which need to be considered when buying real estate in France, one should know that the buyer must pay the property registration fee which is now set at 3.6% of the value of the property. Then, the notary fees must be considered which range between 3% and 8%, depending on how old the property is. Other tax which need to be considered is the value added tax which is imposed only on the sale of new buildings at the rate of 20%. There are no VAT charges on properties older than 5 years.

 

A 1.20% tax of the value of the property must also be paid to the commune in which the real estate was registered. Our attorneys in France can offer more information on the steps which need to be completed when buying real estate, the taxes and fees to pay and the registration with the Land Register. It should be noted that it may take a few months for the property title in its final form to be issued by the Land Registry in France. Would you like to buy land in France? Please get in touch with our specialists.

 

Buy land in France as a foreigner

• The presence of a foreign investor is not necessary for the purchase of land in France. Our French lawyers can handle the formalities instead, with the help of power of attorney.
• Until the purchase of the land, it is necessary to check the existing offers on the market. This can be done by collaborating with a real estate agency and our lawyers.
• Once the land is chosen, the documents held by the seller are checked. Real estate due diligence will reveal if there are legal issues or litigation.
• The seller must provide the buyer with all the history of the land, and if certain documents do not exist, they will be requested from the archives of local institutions.
• The sale-purchase contract will be drawn up after a price offer is made.
• Compromis de vente is a preliminary agreement, a document by which both the buyer and the seller agree on the transaction. The final price will be specified, and the deed will be made at the notary's office.
• It is passed on to the payment of an advance, normally of 10% of the final price of the respective land.
• All the documents of the respective land are sent to the notary who must make extra checks before the actual transaction.
• Deed Authentique is the same as his contract or more precisely the final deed that the buyer will receive. Once signed, the land is paid in full.
• The last step is to register the land purchased to Cadastre or Land Registry in France.

Avoiding property scams as a foreign buyer in France

• Ask from the beginning about the prices of the land and make comparisons with those around you, so you can get an idea from the start. If you think the asking price is too high, maybe you should go for another offer.
• Beware of fake owners! This practice is common in the real estate sector and those involved list properties that do not belong to them and do not have access.
• Do not pay a real estate agent in advance and do not offer money to ensure that the property or land you choose will come into your possession. All documents and payments are made only after a notary has given his consent on the respective documents.
• Request a complete report on the condition of the land, risks, litigation, etc. Together with a lawyer in France, you will have the guarantee that the acquisition you are going to make is legally valid.

 

 

France is one of the most appreciated tourist destinations in Europe which is why it attracts large numbers of foreigners interested in purchasing vacation homes here. Below are some statistical data about the real estate market direction in France in 2022:

 

Please contact our law firm in France for any issues regarding real estate.