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Inspections
In France, you are protected by the law when purchasing a property since the seller has the obligation to provide various inspection reports regarding the condition of the property. The best way to realise these inspections is to call in a specialist. In case the seller does not provide inspections attached to sales agreement. It is possible to turn against him and get to damages. Only the energy performance inspection avoid to this sanction. There are 10 main inspections:
1-Asbestos
Asbestos has been used for many years for its insulating qualities but it was revealed like harmful substance. It was prohibited for use in the real estate industry since 1997. It’s possible that housing built before these dates present traces of this materiel; as a consequence it will be a risk to the health of these occupants. If you buy a property, the seller must also provide the purchase of an apartment with comprehensive asbestos report pertaining to the communal parts of the building that he has obtained from the building management company.
2-Leap
The law of July 1998 requires sellers of real state to establish an expert a statement of risk to lead poisoning. At the end of this expertise, the expect issue a certificate. The certificate must be attached to preliminary sell agreement. And this inspection is obligatory if the property was built before 1948 or is located in a zone at risk of lead exposure. This inspection lead must have been established for less than one year from the date of signing the sale agreement.
3-Termites
This is the sole survey that is required only at the signature of the final deed of sale. It must be less than six months old. This regulation applies to all buildings, houses or apartments, situated in a contaminated area. To know if the property is located in a contaminated area, it’s possible to check with the town hall or the prefecture.
4-The natural and technological inspection report
The seller must append to the agreement for sale a report on natural and technological hazards established less than six month prior, if the property sold is located in an area subjected to such risks. This document allows you to know if the property is located in an area flooding for example.
5-Energy performance inspection
The inspection is for information purpose only. The aim of this inspection is to inform the buyer on the quantity of energy consumed or estimated for the normal use of the property. This diagnosis is identified with the energy label habitat, note that the consumption of heating and hot water to your property, in the classification of A (more efficient) to G (consumer) or following example.
6-The law Carrez
Since December 1996, when a property in an ownership is sale, the property will be examined by a specialist in the context of the law Carrez. The aim is to guarantee buyers that the purchaser does not give a wrong size for surface house. Any owner of property, whose area is greater than 8 square metres, has to provide a diagnosis Carrez law. This law applies to all types of property such apartments, office or shops.
7-Gas inspection
Since November 2007, when the seller of a property is equipped with a gas installation older than 15 years, he has to provide a diagnosis of the property before the sale of property (house, apartment, studio, etc.) in order to assess the potential risks to health and safety of future occupants. The diagnostic gas must be less than 3 years when signing the sales agreement.
8-Electrical inspection
Since 1 January 2009, the diagnostic power joined the list of diagnoses estate must make when selling property. Like the previous diagnosis, it deals exclusively with assets that are equipped with an electrical installation older than 15 years and should be attached to the sales agreement. Regarding a property submitted to condominium status, the diagnosis will only apply to power the units.
9-Conformity Pool
To fight against the risk of drowning, the legislation imposed a number of pool safety standards. The first was in January 2004, new swimming pools private or public must have a protection system as much to meet the new regulations for pool safety standards and to respect the comfort and quality of use. The second in May 2004, the existing pools of rentals will also be provided with such a device for safety. And finally, in January 2006, the pool safety standards will have to equip all other existing pools. Therefore, four types of security process exist; the barrier (to prevent a child under 5 years can access the pool without adult help), the sheet or blanket (to avoid dumping a child), shelter (proceeds from the pool safety by making the pool inaccessible to children under age 5.) and the alarm.
10-Sanitization inspection
For the certificate of sanitation, sanitation Diagnosis The obligations in terms of water treatment are, first, connect the property to the network of sewage collection and the connection must be made up to two years after depending on the collection system. With regard to housing are not connected, but they will be equipped with a sewage treatment facility regularly maintained by a certified auditor. The diagnosis of the installation of sewerage pre-sales will be compulsory from 1 January 2013.
