Which questions should you ask before signing the compromis?
Ask three sets of questions before the compromis: the seller about the history of the house and the works, the notary about the title, the easements and the timetable, and the mairie about the PLU and nearby projects. Written answers count for more than spoken ones: ask for the documents and, if a point remains open, have it written into the compromis.
Why written questions
The seller must tell the buyer anything that may be decisive for their consent, such as costly planned works in the co-ownership or major cracks; failing to do so can lead to the contract being annulled. But it is simpler to ask the question and keep the answer in writing, by email or as an annex to the compromis, than to prove later what was said during a viewing.
Before you sign, other checks matter too, such as what the diagnostics file leaves out and who provides what before buying. For one address, the free ScanAdresse preview shows for free what the registers say.
For the seller
- How long have you owned the house, and why are you selling?
- What works were done, when, by whom, with which permission (works declaration, permit) and which invoices or ten-year builder’s guarantees?
- Has there been any damage: water damage, flooding, cracks, compensation under a natural-disaster order?
- What were last year’s property tax, service charges and energy bills?
- Has a neighbour mentioned a project, or is there an ongoing neighbour dispute?
- In a co-ownership building: which works have been voted or discussed at the general meeting, and who will pay for them after the sale?
- Which fittings stay in the house (kitchen, heating, furniture), and are they listed in the compromis?
For the notary
- Does the seller’s title mention easements, a party wall or a mortgage?
- Is the property in a pre-emption zone, and how much time does that add?
- Which conditions precedent should be included: mortgage, certificat d’urbanisme, another document?
- How much is the deposit, who holds it, and when is completion planned?
- How much are the purchase costs at this price?
The buyer and the seller may each have their own notary at no extra cost: the fees are shared between them.
For the mairie
- Which PLU zone is the parcel in, and is an amendment or review of the PLU under way?
- Have permits been granted or applied for recently around the address?
- Does reserved land, a road project or a development zone affect the plot?
- Is the house connected to mains drainage, or does it rely on non-mains drainage?
The planning department answers general questions and lets you consult the files; it does not give an advance ruling on a project you have not submitted.
After the answers
If an answer worries you, you have three options before signing: ask for a document, renegotiate the price or have a condition precedent added. After signing, the 10-day cooling-off period remains. For the yearly cost of the house, compare the property tax quoted with the commune’s rate.
To prepare your questions for the mairie, ScanAdresse shows for one address the PLU zone and regulations, the public easements and the permits in the cadastral section, with the status of each register; €29 including VAT, free preview.
Frequently asked questions
Must the seller answer every question?
They must disclose anything that may be decisive for your decision. Beyond that, a missing answer is itself information.
Can the estate agent answer instead of the seller?
They pass on information, but the documents come from the seller. Ask for the papers, not just a summary.
Do you need to visit the mairie in person?
Not always: most communes' PLU is online on the Géoportail de l’urbanisme. For permit files and projects under way, the planning department remains the best source.
How much time should you allow for these questions?
Allow one to two weeks between the viewing and the compromis to obtain the seller’s documents and the mairie’s answers. If the timetable is tighter, have a condition covering the open point written into the compromis.
Sources
- Service-public: promesse de vente and compromis
- Service-public: property information
- Service-public: certificat d’urbanisme
- Géoportail de l’urbanisme
ScanAdresse is a private service by SRI Group BV (VAT BE1037052239), not connected to any public authority: it brings together public data, with the source and date of every item.
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