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What documents are required for the sale of a property?

Published at May 1, 2024 by Bernard Charlotin
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What documents are required for the sale of a property?

The sale of a property is a complex and tedious process, requiring the submission of a wide range of documents. In addition to the practical aspects of the transaction, it is crucial to assemble all the supporting documents required to ensure that the sale complies with current regulations and that the transaction is secure for all parties involved. To help you with this process, here is a detailed guide to the essential documents you need to assemble in order to successfully sell your property.

Sommaire
1. What are the mandatory technical diagnostics?
     1.1. Energy performance diagnosis (DPE)
     1.2. Le diagnostic amiante
     1.3. Lead diagnostics/Electricity and gas diagnostics
2. What administrative and financial documents are required?
3. What documents are required for specific situations?

What are the mandatory technical diagnostics?

When selling a property in France, a number of technical inspections are required to inform the buyer about the condition of the property and prevent future disputes. These diagnostics must be carried out by certified professionals to guarantee their validity and compliance with current regulations.

Energy performance diagnosis (DPE) 

This diagnosis assesses the property's energy consumption and environmental impact. It is compulsory for all property transactions, and must be updated every ten years. The DPE ranks the property on a scale from A to G, where A represents excellent energy performance and G poor performance. Since 2023, an energy audit has been required for properties classified as F or G, in order to propose solutions for improvement.

Asbestos diagnosis

Mandatory for buildings for which planning permission was issued before 1 July 1997, this diagnosis identifies the presence of asbestos in building materials. If the result is negative, it is permanently valid. If the result is positive, measures must be taken to ensure the safety of occupants.

Lead diagnostics/Electricity and gas diagnostics

Required for homes built before 1949, lead testing detects the presence of lead in paintwork. If the diagnosis is positive, it must be renewed every year, but a negative result is permanently valid. Electricity and gas diagnostics are required for electrical and gas installations more than 15 years old. These are designed to check the safety of the installations and are valid for three years.

Termite diagnostics, energy audits and risk and pollution assessments are also important documents. All of these diagnostics must be included in the DDT (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique - Technical Diagnostic File) and given to the buyer when the promise to sell or the deed of sale is signed.

What administrative and financial documents are required?

In addition to technical diagnoses, a number of administrative and financial documents are required for the sale of a property. To obtain or authenticate certain documents, the birth certificate is an essential key document. If you can't find yours, visit this site to simplify your birth certificate search.

When selling a property, administrative and financial documents ensure that the transaction is carried out in accordance with the legal and tax rules in force. These documents include the following:

title deed ;

  • damage to building insurance ;
  • planning permission and certificate of conformity;
  • the latest property tax and council tax notices;
  • electricity, gas and water meter readings;
  • co-ownership regulations and descriptive statement of division, etc.

In the case of co-ownerships, the minutes of the general meetings held over the last three years may also be included. Each of these administrative and financial documents is essential to ensure the transparency and legality of the property transaction.

What documents are required for specific situations?

In addition to the various diagnoses and documents already listed, certain specific situations require additional documents to ensure that all the necessary information is available to the buyer. In addition to the common documents, the sale of co-owned property, for example, requires :

  • the co-ownership summary sheet ;
  • the building maintenance booklet ;
  • the dated statement ;
  • and the pre-dated statement.

These documents provide crucial financial and technical information on the co-ownership, such as: charges paid, any outstanding payments and the share of the works fund. In addition, if the property is being sold with an existing tenant, the seller must provide :

  • a copy of the lease ;
  • an inventory of fixtures at the start of the lease
  • rent receipts ;
  • and any correspondence relating to unpaid rent.

In this case, the buyer must be fully informed of the rental situation.