| Abonnement |
The standing charge for supplying a utility/subscription. |
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| Achèvement des fondations |
Foundations laid for a new property. |
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| Achèvement des travaux |
Works completed on a new building. |
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| Acte authentique |
The final contract, completion contract. |
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| Acte de vente |
Another term used for the final contract, completion contract. |
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| Agent immobilier |
An estate agent. |
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| Apostille |
Legal stamp from Foreign Office; it is normally required if power of attorney for acte is signed. |
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| Attestation |
Confirmation that a transaction has taken place/certificate. |
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| Bail |
A lease. |
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| Barème |
A scale of fees or costs (i.e. agency's fees.) |
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| Bastide |
Imposing stone property, usually double-fronted, in Provence. |
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| Bâtiments de France |
Organisation that checks refurbishments or building works to or near to a listed building. |
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| Bon de visite |
A form signed by the person viewing a property to confirm that they have visted it with a specific agent. |
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| Bon pour achat |
OK to buy. |
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| Carte de séjour |
French resident permit. (No longer required for E.U. Nationals.) |
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| Carte professionnelle |
A licence to work within a profession that is regulated e.g. French estate agents. |
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| Certificat d'urbanisme |
Permission for change of use of a property or outbuildings. |
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| Chambres d'hôte |
Bed and breakfast accommodation |
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| Château |
A castle, which can be small or immense. The architectural styles vary depending on the area and age of the building. |
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| Clause suspensive |
A condition which a contract is subject to; unless and until this is satisfied the contract is not firm or irrevocable. |
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| Co-indivisaire |
Co-owner. |
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| Colombage |
A traditional house style in Normandy and parts of Aquitaine. (Half-timbered house.) |
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| Commune |
An administrative division of a département. |
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| Compromis |
The first contract of reservation on a property. |
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| Conseil Général |
A regional council. |
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| Conseil Syndical |
The management committee of co-owners of the apartments within a block or complex. |
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| Copropriétaires |
The co-owners who are freeholders in a complex or block of apartments and make up a tenants' association. |
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| Copropriété |
A residence, compex or buiding which is split up into separate and physically distinct apartments, i.e. a block of flats or development of houses in which all the owners own a share of the freehold. A co-ownership. |
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| Déclaration d'intention d'aliéner |
A notification sent to the Mairie to establish pre-emption rights. |
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| Départements |
The 95 administrative divisions in France and départements d'outre mer. |
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| Dépôt de garantie |
A deposit. |
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| Dommage ouvrage |
Buildings defects liability insurance, taken out by a developer on a building site. |
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| Droit de pré-emption |
The right to pre-empt, i.e. of the authorities to purchase a property in priority to the proposed purchaser.
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| Droit n'existe pas |
The right to pre-empt does not exist. |
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| Droit non-exercé |
Right of pre-emption not exercised. |
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| Etat civil |
Personal information provided by the buyer of a property for inclusion within the compromis. |
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| Facture |
A bill, e.g. a utility bill. |
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| Fermette |
A small farmhouse in Northern France. |
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| Gaz |
Butane or propane gas supplied in canisters or by tanker. |
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| Gîte |
A self-contained unit which can be rented out as a holiday let. |
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| HT or Hors taxes |
Tax not included. |
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| Hôtel de ville |
The town hall - usually in a larger town. |
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| Huissier de justice |
A bailiff or court official. |
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| Hypothèque |
A mortgage. |
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| Indivision |
Co-ownership of assets. |
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| Leaseback purchase |
The purchase of a freehold property and granting of a 9-12 year lease to a holiday company which will pay a guaranteed rental. |
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| Longère |
A long, low house, often in Northern France. |
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| Lotissement |
A group of plots of land with building permission situated together and sold separately to enable purchasers to build their own houses. |
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| Lu et approuvé |
Read and approved. |
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| Mairie |
The town hall - in small towns. |
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| Maison de maître |
Double-fronted property, usually of nineteeenth-century origin. |
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| Maison de tourisme |
A tourist office. |
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| Mas |
A rectangular stone property which is found in Southern France, especially Provence. |
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| Menuiserie extérieures posées |
Second fixing on a new building. |
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| Mise hors d'eau |
The stage at which the roof is put on a new property. |
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| Notaire |
Legally qualified person and government representative; the only person empowered to convey property in France and collect taxes on conveyed properties. Deals with property and family law but not litigation. |
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| Notice descriptive |
A list of materials and finishes which is always attached to a contract to purchase a new off-plan property. |
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| Off-plan purchase |
To buy a property which is not yet built from plans. |
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| Ouverture de chantier |
Start of building work. |
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| Plan de masse |
A plan of the site. |
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| Plancher bas rez-de-chausée |
Ground floor stage. |
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| Préfecture |
The headquarters of the administration, found in the main town of each département. Details like ID cards, driving licnces and passports. |
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| Procuration |
Power of attorney or proxy. |
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| Projet d'acte |
Draft completion document. |
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| Raccordement |
Connection, e.g. to utilities. |
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| Remise des clés |
Handing over the keys of an off-plan property. |
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| Société civile immobilière (SCI) |
A French property holding company in whose name a property may be purchased. |
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| Syndic |
A managing agent. |
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| Taxe foncière |
Land or property tax payable by owner. |
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| Taxe d'habitation |
Tax on a residential dwelling payable by the occupier. |
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| TTC or Toutes Taxes Comprises |
Tax Included |
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| TVA |
French equivalent of VAT (Value Added Tax). Presently 19.6%. |
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| Vente à terme |
Sale at the end of construction of a property. |
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