Mandatory Property Diagnostics: Everything You Need to Know to Rent or Sell

Mandatory property surveys and inspections in France are designed to inform buyers and tenants about a property's condition, energy performance and potential health, safety or environmental risks. When selling or renting out a property, landlords and sellers must provide a technical diagnostic file (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique or DDT) containing the documents required by French law. The exact list depends on the property's age, installations, location and whether it is being sold or rented. The main documents include the Energy Performance Certificate (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique or DPE), the lead exposure risk assessment (CREP), the asbestos survey, gas and electrical safety inspections, the statement of risks (ERP), the termite inspection and, in certain cases, the non-collective sanitation inspection or airport noise exposure report. Measurements under the Loi Carrez for the sale of condominium units and the Loi Boutin for residential rentals are also subject to specific requirements. Validity periods vary considerably: the DPE is generally valid for ten years, gas and electrical inspections for three years when selling and six years when renting, a positive lead assessment for one year when selling and six years when renting, while the ERP and termite inspection are generally valid for six months. Certain asbestos surveys may remain valid indefinitely under specific conditions. Property owners must use certified surveyors whenever required, check document expiry dates and provide all mandatory information before signing the relevant agreement. Preparing these documents in advance helps secure real estate transactions, prevent disputes and ensure compliance with French property regulations.

When selling or renting out a property, mandatory property surveys and inspections are an essential step for every property owner. These assessments provide information about the condition of a property, its energy performance, the presence of potentially hazardous materials such as lead or asbestos, and the risks associated with the building and its surroundings.

Governed by French law, these inspections must comply with strict requirements concerning their content, validity and technical standards. Where required, they must be carried out by a certified professional to ensure the reliability of the documents provided and help secure the transaction, whether it concerns a detached house, an apartment in a condominium building or another type of property.

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Why are property surveys and inspections essential?

The French Construction and Housing Code (Code de la construction et de l'habitation), together with other applicable regulations, requires specific property assessments to be carried out before certain real estate transactions.

Each document serves a particular purpose:

• Inform buyers and tenants about the property's technical condition;
• Prevent health risks associated with lead, asbestos or termites, as well as safety risks related to gas and electrical installations;
• Assess energy performance through the DPE and identify possible improvements in insulation and energy-efficient equipment.

These documents form part of the technical diagnostic file (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique or DDT), which contains the assessments required according to the type of transaction and the property's characteristics.

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List of mandatory property surveys and inspections in France

Depending on the construction date, type of building or house, and nature of the transaction (sale or rental), property owners must provide a number of specific documents.

1. Energy Performance Certificate (DPE)

• Assesses the property's energy performance and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Mandatory for most property sales and rentals, subject to regulatory exemptions.
• Validity period: 10 years for DPE assessments covered by the current rules, with transitional provisions for older certificates.

The DPE assigns an energy rating ranging from A to G. It is particularly important for landlords because of the increasingly strict energy efficiency requirements applying to rental accommodation in France.

2. Lead Exposure Risk Assessment (CREP)

• Required for residential properties built before January 1, 1949.
• Identifies the potential presence of lead in paint and other surface coatings.
• Unlimited validity when lead concentrations do not exceed the regulatory threshold.
• When lead is detected above the threshold: 1 year for a sale and 6 years for a rental.

3. Asbestos Survey

• Identifies materials or products containing asbestos.
• Applies to buildings whose construction permit was issued before July 1, 1997.
• Asbestos assessments carried out since April 1, 2013 may remain valid indefinitely, subject to applicable regulations.
• Where asbestos is detected, monitoring, additional testing or remedial work may be required depending on the type and condition of the materials.

For rental properties, asbestos-related information must be made available to tenants in accordance with French regulations. The asbestos survey does not necessarily have to be attached to the rental agreement.

4. Termite Inspection

• Checks for the possible presence of termites in a building.
• Required when selling properties located in areas designated by prefectural order.
• Validity period: 6 months.

5. Gas Safety Inspection

• Assesses the condition and safety of the property's internal gas installation.
• Required when the relevant installation is more than 15 years old, subject to applicable regulatory provisions.
• Validity period: 3 years for a sale and 6 years for a rental.

6. Electrical Safety Inspection

• Checks the safety of the property's internal electrical installation.
• Required when the electrical installation is more than 15 years old, subject to regulatory exemptions.
• Validity period: 3 years for a sale and 6 years for a rental.

7. Statement of Risks (ERP)

• Provides information about natural, mining, technological and environmental risks affecting the property.
• Required for properties located in designated risk areas or zones, for both sales and rentals.
• Validity period: 6 months.
• Must be updated if the relevant risk information changes before the transaction is completed.

8. Non-Collective Sanitation Inspection

• Primarily concerns houses with an independent wastewater treatment system that is not connected to the public sewerage network.
• Assesses the condition and operation of the installation.
• Validity period: 3 years for a sale.

9. Loi Carrez and Loi Boutin Floor Area Measurements

• Loi Carrez: concerns the measurement of the private floor area of condominium units subject to this requirement when sold.
• Loi Boutin: concerns the declaration of habitable floor area in residential rental agreements covered by this obligation.
• These measurements may be reused as long as the relevant floor area and characteristics of the property have not changed.

Loi Carrez and Loi Boutin measurements are calculated according to different rules and should not be confused.

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Validity periods of mandatory property surveys

Each property survey or inspection has a specific validity period. For example, a DPE is generally valid for ten years, while a termite inspection is valid for only six months.

To avoid paying for unnecessary repeat inspections, property owners should check the dates of their existing reports and keep all documents carefully.

It is also important to appoint a certified property surveyor whenever this qualification is legally required. However, certain documents, such as the statement of risks (ERP), may be prepared directly by the property owner when permitted by law.

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Summary tables of mandatory property surveys and inspections

The following tables summarize the main documents required when selling or renting out a property in France, including their usual validity periods and the types of properties concerned.

When selling a property

Please note that selling certain energy-inefficient properties may also require a regulatory energy audit, which is separate from the DPE. Additional obligations, such as the property information logbook (carnet d'information du logement), may apply depending on the property's characteristics or renovation history.

When renting out a property

The exact list of required documents depends on the type of property, its installations, construction date and location. Therefore, not every survey or inspection listed above is mandatory for every property.

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Practical advice for property owners

To prepare your property sale or rental under the best possible conditions, consider the following recommendations:

• Plan your property surveys and inspections in advance before advertising your property for sale or rent.
• Group inspections together whenever possible to reduce their overall cost.
• Keep all relevant documents to avoid paying for unnecessary repeat inspections.
• Check validity periods before every real estate transaction.
• Choose a certified surveyor for inspections requiring professional certification.

It is also advisable to check whether any additional legal requirements apply to your property before signing the rental agreement or deed of sale.

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In summary

Mandatory property surveys and inspections are much more than an administrative formality: they ensure transparency, protect buyers and tenants, and help secure real estate transactions.

Whether the property is a condominium apartment, a detached house or an entire residential building, owners must comply with the applicable regulations and provide all required documents, complete and up to date.

Understanding the property's condition, identifying potential risks and keeping track of document validity periods is essential for selling or renting out a property with peace of mind.

Would you like to entrust your property to Lodgis? Feel free to contact us. Our teams are available to advise you and support you throughout your rental project.

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