9 Check before you sign the final agreement of sale

When you sign the official deed at the solicitor's you will pay the purchase price plus the "solicitor's fee". In many cases, the vendor already has a solicitor, but you can ask yours to assist you. In this case, the two solicitors share the fee... and the work. On the day you sign the solicitor will give you a single copy of the deed of conveyance. You will not receive the "certified copy of the official deed" until six months later, once the official deed has been published at the land registry. This "certified copy" is your title of ownership. Keep it in a safe place.
 

  10 Now that you have bought your land it's time to build...

You have two solutions. You can either get in touch with a builder specialising in individual houses, who will arrange everything from drawing up the plans to completing the building work. Or you can contract several different companies and, optionally, ask an architect to assist. This is compulsory in order to obtain a building permit if the surface area of your house (known as the net area) is 170 m2 or more. Both of these possibilities involve very specific rules, rights and duties and have advantages and disadvantages. Make sure you know all the facts.
 

  11. What about afterwards?

You haven't done everything yet... Don't forget to insure your home by taking out a comprehensive home insurance policy (this provides the most complete cover and is the best value), inform everyone of your change of address, have your telephone line transferred, and transfer to your name - or have installed at your cost - the water, gas and electricity meters. Also notify the Mairie that you have moved in and where applicable register with the electoral register. Also, don’t forget to remind your solicitor, about six months after you have signed the sale agreement, that you are still waiting for the breakdown of fees for the sale and the refund of any sum overcharged... because the provision to cover the various costs is often overestimated.
 

  The zoning certificate

This contains all the arrangements governing urban planning which are applicable to the site (building density, the nature and layout of buildings, the external appearance, dimensions, layout of the surroundings, etc.), describes the public easements affecting it and the public facilities (roads) serving it. This document also provides information on whether or not it will be possible for you to carry out your building project and lists the legal, technical and financial conditions governing the allocation of the land for building. It is available free of charge from the Mairie during the two months following the filing of your application and in principle is valid for one year from the date issued. Please note: the zoning certificate is not a building permit. It tells you what you are permitted to do but does not give you permission to start the work. That is another story!
 

  For more information...

Check out the telematic services of consumer organisations such as the Institut National de la Consommation, an independent public body which has teams of specialist legal experts and publishes the magazine "60 Millions de consommateurs". Minitel: 3615 INC or 3615 60 Millions. In 1999, the INC plans to publish special issues on neighbourhood issues and property co-ownership. You can also get information from: 3615 Que Choisir, run by the Union Fédérale des Consommateurs.