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DDT, the compulsory reports when selling or renting property |
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Thursday, 14 August 2008 |
New requirements have been put in place regarding
selling or renting property. When selling a house or
apartment, there are now certain statutory checks to be
made concerning the presence or absence of termites,
lead in paint, asbestos and so on. And as of August 8,
2008, landlords will need a lead certificate before renting
out property.
In addition to these checks, the energy efficiency
certificate is now compulsory, as are the checks on the
fixed gas installation of a property over 15 years old, and
a certificate stating whether the property is in a zone of
natural or technological risks, such as flooding, a nuclear
power station etc. Apartments in blocks require a surface
area measurement certificate (superficie loi Carrez) and
properties on septic tank drainage require a certificate
stating whether they conform to modern standards
(SPANC). Checks to electricity systems over 15 years old
will become compulsory in January 2009.
Some of these certificates are only required on
properties over a certain age. Others (termites) are
obligatory for properties in certain areas, where there
are by-laws to this effect. The reports, other than the
sewage system and the surface area measurement
certificate, are all put together in a single document
called a Dossier de Diagnostic Technique’ (DDT).
All technicians who carry out the checks for these
reports must be individually certified to do so, ie, not just
the firm where they work, but each operator. The firms
must have professional third-party liability insurance.
Always ask to see the certificates for this insurance and
the certifications. Bona fide firms will willingly give you
them. Those that won’t may not have them, so choose
another one.
Most people wait to sell their house before
commissioning the reports. However, it is better to get
them all done before you put the house on the market.
This way, the price can be fixed according to the results,
and if there are any defects (termite infestation etc) you
have time to treat or remedy them so you can present
your property under the best possible light. The reports
with a short shelf life, such as the termite report, are
usually renewed without further charge by the operators
if you do not sell straight away.
Finally, some of these reports are compulsory when
renting a house. As landlord, you need to supply an
Energy Efficiency and a Natural and Technological Risks
certificate to your tenants when signing the lease, plus
as of this month, a lead certificate. If lead is found in
flaky paintwork, it will be compulsory to carry out the
remedial work.
Glossary
CREP Constat des Risques d’Exposition au Plomb - Lead certificate
ERNT Etat des Risques Naturels et Technologiques - Natural and technological risks certificate
DPE Diagnostic de Performance Energétique - Energy efficiency certificate
SPANC Service Public d’Assainissement Non-Collectif - Report on individual drainage (septic tanks etc)
LOI CARREZ Certificate of surface area measurement in flats and other multiple ownership properties.
Name of certificate
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Sales/Rentals |
Property concerned |
Length of validity
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| Asbestos |
Sales |
Dwellings whose building licence
was granted before 1/7/1997 |
3 to 30 years depending on the presence or absence of asbestos |
| Lead in paint |
Sales and rentals |
Dwellings built before 1/1/1949
(obligatory for rentals as of 12/8/2008) |
30 years if negative, 1 year if
positive (6 years rental) |
| Termites |
Sales |
Buildings in zones designated by by-laws
(including all of Dordogne) |
6 months |
| Energy efficiency |
Sales and rentals |
All buildings (some exceptions) |
10 years
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| Gas |
Sales |
Fixed installations over 15 years old |
3 years |
Natural and
technological risks |
Sales and rentals |
All property in zones covered by a Plan
of Prevention of Natural and
Technological Risks |
6 months, unless a new zone is
decreed in the meantime |
| Electricity (1/1/2009) |
Sales |
Installations over 15 years old |
Awaiting decree |
| Surface (Loi Carrez) |
Sales |
Apartments in blocks of flats |
30 years if no modifications |
| Sewerage (SPANC) |
Sales |
Properties on septic tank drainage |
4 years
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