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Glossary of French Property Terms and Vocabulary
Welcome to Our French Property Terms Glossary
Are you navigating the intricate world of French real estate? Our comprehensive glossary of French property terms is your key to understanding the terminology that surrounds buying, selling, or investing in property in France. With clear and concise explanations, we demystify the jargon, making your property transactions simpler and more informed. Whether you're a first-time buyer, a seasoned investor, or a seller looking for clarity, this glossary is your indispensable guide. Explore and empower your real estate journey with us.
Definitive guide to legal process of buying property in France
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
abonnement - standing charge
acompte - deposit, sum paid in advance
acte authentique - legal paper drawn up by a public officer empowered by law
acte sous seing privé - private agreement in writing with no witnesses
acte de vente - a conveyance or transfer of land
accueil - reception
acquéreur - purchaser
acquérir - to buy
affaire - bargain
agence - agency
agence immobilière - estate agent
agent immobilier - real estate agent
agios - bank charges after an overdraft
alimentation - supply (water, electricity etc.)
aménager - to convert
aménagé - converted
ancien - old
à rénover - to renovate
à restaurer - to restore
arrondissement - administrative district of Paris
artisan carreleur - tiling expert
artisan maçon - builder
ascenseur - lift
Assurance habitation – Household insurance : this insurance is mandatory for any property rented in France, not only for the tenants and also for the owners in the event of a commonhold (it is therefore generally the case for residential property in Paris). It protects the tenant in the event of damage (burglary, water damage, etc).
assurance décès - life insurance
assurance décès, invalidité, incapacité - covers death, invalidity, incapacity
atelier - workshop
attenant - contiguous
attestation d'acquisition - certificate that the property purchase was completed
attestation de propriété - proof of ownership of a property
attribution de juridiction - formal signing of a purchase contract
autorisation de prélèvement automatique - direct debit
B
bail - lease to tenant : a rental contract under which the landlord undertakes to allow a tenant to enjoy the use of a property in exchange for a previously agreed amount and for a set period of time.
bailleur - landlord
balcon - balcony
banque de consignation - the bank where the notaire places the deposits
bâtiment - building
béton - concrete
bilan (de santé immobilier) - survey (house)
boiserie - woodwork
bon état - good condition
"bon pour achat" - following signature of contract ("good for acquisition")
bord de mer - by the sea
bord de rivière - by the river
C
cadastre - local town planning register recording details of land-holdings
campagne - country
carrelage - ceramic tiles
carte professionnelle - granted to estate agents to carry out business
carte d'identité - identity card
caution - security deposit/guarantee
Cave - cellar
cellier - store for wine and food
centre commercial - shopping centre
centre des impôts - tax office
certificat d'urbanisme - zoning certificate (equivalent to a local authority search)
cession - transfer of ownership or rights
chai - wine cellar
chambre - bedroom
charges comprises - service charges included
Charges de copropriété – Co-ownership fees : This term covers all the charges and expenses that enable the commonhold to be correctly maintained (maintenance of the common areas, collective services, etc). The joint owners of the commonhold, the co-owners, must pay these fees.
charpentier - carpenter
chartreuse - chartreuse or charterhouse (former religious building)
chasseur immobilier - real estate hunter
château - castle
chantier - building site
chaudière - water heater
chauffage - heating
chauffage collectif - communal or shared heating
chauffe-eau - hot water tank
chaumière - thatched cottage
chaux - lime
chèque - cheque
cheminée - chimney
chêne - oak
clause particulière - special condition
clause pénale - penalty clause governing performance of an agreement
clause suspensive - conditional clause needed for the sale to reach completion
climatisation - air conditioning
cloison - partition
clôture - fence
colombage - half timbering
colombier - dovecote / pigeon house
comble - attic
commission comprise (C/C) - agency commission included
commission non comprise - agency commission not included
communauté - joint estate of a husband and wife
compromis de vente - contract for sale and purchase of land
comptant - cash purchase
compte séquestre - deposit in an escrow account pending certain conditions
compteur - meter for water, gas, electricity
conditions particulières - special conditions
conditions suspensives - conditional terms stated in the pre-sale agreement
conseiller fiscal - tax advisor
conservation des hypothèques - mortgage / land registry
constat d'huissier - factual statement by a bailiff which is irrefutable in court
constructible - land which is designated for building under local planning scheme
construire - to construct
contrat de réservation - the purchase contract used for purchase "on plan"
contrat préliminaire - preliminary contract (see contrat de réservation)
convention - agreement
copropriété - co-ownership
Coup de cœur - Literally a ‘blow of the heart’. This is a french term used to describe a must-see property.
cour - courtyard or yard
couvert - covered
couloir - corridor
crédit immobilier - mortgage
crépi - rendering
cuisine - kitchen
cuisine équipée - fitted kitchen
cuisine meublée - fully equipped kitchen
D
dallage - paving
dalle - flag stone
date de livraison prévue - expected date of completion
débarras - box room
décennale - 10 year warranty provided by artisan
délabré - dilapidated
Délai de rétractation – Cooling-off period : the period of time during which the purchaser, after having signed the preliminary sales agreement, can withdraw from the purchase without having to justify their decision or pay any compensation to the seller. In France this period is 10 days.
déménagement - moving house
demeure - building, prestigious property
dépendance - outbuilding
dépôt de garantie - deposit paid when renting or buying a property
devis - bill estimate
Diagnostics - The diagnostics are a full survey report of the property which provide information regarding electricity installations, surface area, gas installations, presence and levels of lead, asbestos, termites, and natural and technological risks .
disjoncteur - electric trip switch
Douche à l'italienne - Walk-in shower
droit de passage - right of way
droit de préemption - pre-emptive right to acquire the property instead of purchaser
droit de succession / donation - inheritance / gift tax
droits d'enregistrement - stamp duty paid by the purchaser
E
éclairage - lighting
écurie - stable
emoluments - the scale of charges of the notaire
encadrement - framing
enregistrement (droits d') - registration of the title of ownership
ensoleillement - in sunshine
entretien - maintenance
équipé - equipped
escalier - stair
espace - space
étage - storey
état des lieux - inventory of fixtures (and conditions) in beginning or end of a lease
évier - kitchen sink
expert comptable - chartered accountant
expert foncier - professional to check on the state and value of the property
Exposition - The position of a property or room in relation to its direction; north, east, south, or west.
F
fer - iron
ferme - farm
finitions - finishings
FNAIM - national association of estate agents
fonds de roulement - capital supplied by flat-owners to meet unexpected liabilities
fôret - drill bit
fosse septique - septic tank
foyer – fireplace
Frais d’agence – Agency fees : fees to be paid to the estate agency when they find a property for you to rent. Since the Alur law came into force, the amount paid by the tenant is capped and depends on the geographical area in which the property is located (whether demand is much higher than supply, or not). Since April 2017, the agency has an obligation to mention these fees in their adverts.
Frais de notaire - total to be paid to the notaire on top of the sale price
G
géomètre - surveyor appointed by the notaire to certify the dimensions of the property
gouttière - gutter
grange - barn
grenier - attic
H
haie - hedge
honoraires - fees
hors taxe (HT) - not including sales tax
huissier - bailiff or process server used to record evidence during legal proceedings
hypothèque - mortgage - where the property is used as security for the loan
I
indivision - joint-ownership
inter horaire - time switch
interrupteur - switch
Investissement locatif – Buy-to-let : a property that is purchased for the purpose of being rented out.
isolation - insulation
J
jardin - garden
jouissance - right of possession occurring with the transfer of ownership
K
L
lavabo - wash basin
lave-mains - hand basin
laverie - laundry
lingerie - washing room
location - rental
location - renting (tenancy)
logement - accommodation
loi scrivener - protects borrowers from lenders and sellers on property purchases
lotissement – housing estate
"lu et approuvé" - phrase accompanying signature of contract ("read and approved")
M
maçon - builder
mairie - town hall
maison de campagne - country house
maison de maitre - gentleman's house
mandat de recherche - agreement giving power to estate agent to look for property
manoir - manor house
marchand de biens - property dealer
mazout - heating oil (domestic use)
menuiserie - woodwork factory
meubles - furniture
moquette - carpet
monument historique - listed building
mur - wall
N
neuf - new
niveau - level
notaire - notary
O
occupation - occupant of the premises (either tenant or occupant without good title)
offre d'achat /de vente - offer to buy or sell property which is not a binding contract
P
paiment comptant - cash payment
papier peint - wallpaper
parquet - wood floor
parties communes - common parts of buildings
parties privatives - parts of the building restricted to the private use of the owner
peinture - paint
pelouse - lawn
permis de construire - planning permission
pièce - room
pierre - stone
pilier - pillar
piscine - swimming pool
placard - cabinet
plafond - ceiling
plain-pied - single storey
plâtre - plaster
plomberie - plumbing
plus-value - capital gain realised on the sale of the property
portail - garden gate
poutre - wooden beam
prélèvement - direct debit
prêt immobilier - mortgage
prieuré - priory
prise - electric socket
propriétaire - owner
propriété - property
Q
R
raccord - connection
radiateur soufflant - fan heater
rénové - renovation
réservation - the deposit paid in a contract de réservation
réservation, contrat de - contract for the purchase of property
Résidence principale – Primary residence : the property that is your home for most of the year.
Résidence secondaire – Secondary residence : any home that is not your primary residence and which you use as a second home on an occasional basis.
résiliation - cancellation of a contract
restauré - renovated
S
SAFER - national agricultural land agency with pre-emptive rights to buy land
salle de bain - bathroom
salon - living room
SCI (Société Civile Immobilière) – Non-trading property investment company : this is a company contract that enables a minimum of two people to jointly purchase one or several properties with the aim of sharing the profits generated. An SCI presents advantages in terms of estate and inheritance tax planning.
securité sociale - French national health system
séjour - living room
sol - ground
sous-sol - underground / basement
Surface habitable – Habitable surface area : this is the total floor area of the property; it includes all the rooms but excludes the areas occupied by walls and any steps, stairwell or balcony, and any area where the ceiling height is less than 1.8 metres.
T
T1/T2/T3/F1/F2/F3 : these terms designate furnished or non-furnished accommodation and refer to the number of bedrooms :
-
T1 / F1 : 1 main room (living room/bedroom) + 1 kitchen + WC, shower or bathroom
-
T2 / F2 : 1 bedroom + 1 main room + 1 kitchen + WC, shower or bathroom
-
T3 / F3 : 2 bedrooms + 1 main room + 1 kitchen + WC, shower or bathroom
TTC - toutes taxes comprise - including sales tax
TVA - taxe sur la valeur ajoutée - value added tax
tantiéme - common areas of a co-propriété owned with other apartment owners
tapis - carpet
taxe d'habitation - rate levied on the occupation of property
taxe fonciére - local tax on the ownership of property
terrain - grounds
testament - a will
toit - roof
tontine - joint ownership
tout a l'égout - main drainage system
U
V
VEFA (Vente en l’Etat Futur d’Achèvement) – Sale of property for future completion : a purchase contract used for property under construction or being bought off plan. For this type of sale, the buyer benefits from lower transfer duties as compared to a classic property purchase.
verger - orchard
vestibule - entrance hall
Viager immobilier – Lifetime annuity property purchase : this term designates a sale by which the purchaser undertakes to buy a property from an elderly person (often at a discounted price) by paying them a regular amount in the form of a rent (monthly/quarterly/annually) until their death.
vitre - glass
volet - shutter