PROPERTY GLOSSARY

Abri - Acceuil - Acompte -	A shed or lean-to - a small outbuilding - From the French for Shelter Reception area - from the French for Welcome Deposit
Acte de Vente -	Deed of Sale. This can take place anything from 2 to 4 months after signature of the Compromis de Vente, you must sign this Acte de Vente. Drafted by the notaire and signed at his/her office, this sets out the status of the owner and a definitive description of the property, its boundaries and so on. Upon signature of the Acte de Vente, the buyer pays the legal fees to the notaire with the balance of the purchase price. The vendor usually pays the agency's commission. If this is not the case, it must be made clear to the buyer from the beginning.
Agence Immobilière - Agent Immobilier - Agglomere - Aménagée - A aménager - Ardoise - Atelier - Attenant -	Estate agent's office The estate agent (person) Chipboard Converted or fitted To convert Slate tile Workshop or factory Attached as in attached garage or land
Attestation d'acquisition -	Written certificate from the Notaire sent to you after to state the sale is completed
Batiment - Batir - Bergerie -	Building To build Sheep farm or manger
Bon de visite -	Form signed by prospective buyer before viewing a house with a French immobilier to prevent you sunsequently buying it through another agent or privately
Bricolage - Cadastre - Carreleur - Carte de Séjour - Cellier - Certificat d'Urbanisme - Chambre - Charpentier - Chauffage - Chauffage Central -	DIY Local town planning register Tiler Resident's permit, obtained from the Préfecture of the department Pantry or store Land use certificate Bedroom Carpenter Heating Central heating
Conditions Suspensives - Or Clause Suspensive -	Subject-To Clauses. Contained in a preliminary contract (unilateral commitment to sell or compromise), those suspend the execution of the contract to the occurence of an event. The contract will take all effect only when the event envisaged is carried out. For example, condition precedent of obtaining a loan, a permit building... To be valid, a condition precedent should not depend on the chance or only will on a part.
Combles -	Attic
Compromis de Vente -	A promise to purchase. A preliminary contract signed by the salesman and the purchaser of a real estate either under private signature, or in front of a professional. The compromis De Vente engages the two parties and the purchaser pays a deposit (in general 10% of the selling price) during the establishment of this act.
Couverture - Cuisine - Cuisine Equipée - Devis - Expert Comptable - FNAIM - Fosse Septique -	Can be a blanket but when relating to property it means the roof Kitchen Fitted kitchen Estimate for work chartered accountant Federation Nationale des Agents Immobilier septic tank
Frais de Notaire -	Total amount of money paid to the notaire on top of the sale price (includes, notaire fees, registration duty, land registration duty and other charges)
Fuelle (pronouced 'Fule') - Garage Attenant - Grange - Grenier -	Heating oil Garage attached to the house Barn Attic
Hameau -	Hamlet or small village - usually with no shops
Hectare -	A hectare is 10,000 m² [107639 ft²] or 100 X 100 meters - 1000 m² [10764 ft²] is approx. of an acre - an acre being approx. 4000 m² [43056 ft²] (to be precise, an acre is 4,046.95 m²) As a guide to property sizes the average 3 bedroomed semi-detached property in the UK is 100 m² [1076 ft²] .
Hypothèque -	A Mortgage. The 'Hypothèque' is used to guarantee the payment of a debt contracted on a real estate. It makes it possible for the lender to legally sell the real estate of its debtor if this one would have no possibility to refund the sums due.
Immobilier - Impot - Lu et approuvé - Maçon - Maison de plain-pied - Maison de Maitre - Maison des Amis - Mairie - Mandat - Menuiserie - Meubles -	Property or real estate agent Tax Phrases written accompanying signature of contract "read and approved" Mason - builder House on one level or Bungalow More formal, grander style of house Anything from an outbuilding to a separate apartment or cottage - Literal: Friend's House Town hall See bon de visite Joinery Furniture
Notaire -	Solicitor. When deciding to purchase a property, you will inevitably be using the services of a French Estate Agent (Agent Immobiler) and a Notaire. The Notaire can, and usually dooes act on behalf of both the buyer and the vendor. He or she is a public official who ensures that the transaction is carried out legally and accurately. There is therefore no need for each party to appoint a separate notaire. The notaire does not give legal advice. The Notaire's fees are not usually included in the property price that you get from the Estate Agent. The Notaire's fees, together with Land Registry charges, local and regional taxes, VAT etc. are approximately 7 to 8% of the purchase price of the property.
Parpaing - Permis de Construire - Plan Cadastral - Plomberie - Plombier - Remise - Salle de Bain - salle d'eau - Salon - Salle a Manger - Séjour - Sous Sol -	Rendered Block Planning permission The town plan showing properties and parcelles of land Plumbing Plumber Barn or shed or external storage - from the French to Put Away Bathroom Shower room Lounge Dining room Living room or lounge Cellar or basement
Société Civile Immobilière (SCI)-	Acompany which can be set up exclusively to purchase property
Surface Habitable - Surface Terrain -	Habitable space, usually excludes bathrooms and garage - shown in square metres (m²) Land size
Taxe d'Habitation -	A local tax, partly means-tested, payable only from the December of the year in which you were the owner. Due on the 1st January in advance
Taxe Foncière -	A government tax on property, payable pro-rata from date of completion to the end of December
Toiture - TVA (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée) - Vidange Curage -	Roof French VAT Fosse septique emptying & treatment
Tontine (en)-	Inheritance arrangement whereby the surviving spouse takes full ownership of joint assets
Traducteur Agrée -	Translator (official) - any documents in English will need to be translated into French by an official translator

acquereur	purchaser

accompte	a percentage of the price paid in advance

acte authentique	legal contract drawn up by a notaire or a public officer

acte de substitution	written agreement substituting one purchaser or lessee for another

acte sous-seing privé	written agreement (pre-sale agreement to the Acte Authentique)

acte de vente	transfer or conveyance of land

affirmation de sincerite	clause staing that the price declared is accurate.

agence immobilière	estate agency

agent immobilier	estate agent

amiante	asbestos

arrhes	sum paid in advance by purchaser or lessee

assurance	insurance

attestation d'acquisition	notarial certificate of purchase

attestation pararsitaire	insect infestation report

b
bail	lease

banque de consignation	the bank used by a notaire for the depost of money

bon pour achat	good for purchase

bon pour vente	good for sale

c
cadastre	registry

carte professionnelle	estate agents card

carte de séjour	residence permit

certificat d'urbanisme	certificate of zoning (local authority search)

certification d'identite	identity document

clause pénale	penalty clause

compromis de vente	contract of sale or purchase of land

condition suspensive	clause in the contract which is conditional on certain terms being obtained

constructible	land designated for construction under local planning

co-propriété	co-ownership

d
delai de reflexion	the period within which you may withdraw

dépôt garantie	deposit

designation

droit de préemption	right of pre-emption
e
EDF	electricity department of France

enregistrement	the registration of ownership

états des lieux	description or schedule of the condition of the premises

expert comptable	chartered accountant

expert foncier	an agreed professional such as an architect who may report of the value or condition of a property

f
frais d'agence	agency fees or commission

frais de notaire	notaires fees

g

géomètre	surveyor

GDF	gas department of France

h
HT	hors tax - without tax

hussier de justice	bailiff

hypothèque	mortgage

l
location	rental

loi scrivener	french law protecting borrowers from French lenders and sellers on French property purchases in all cases other than a purchase on plan

lu et approuve	read and approved
m
maire	the mayor

mairie	the village or town hall

mandat de recherche	a private agreement giving an estate agent power to search for a property

mandat simple de vente	simple mandate without exclusivity

mandat de vente avec exclusivité	mandate to sell a property with exclusivity

marchand de biens	a realtor who deals in property themselves

monuments historiques	listed building
n
notaire	the notary
o

occupation	occupant of the premises

offre d'achat	offer to purchase aproperty - this is not a binding contract

offre de vente	an offer to sell a property - this is not a binding contract

p
permis de conduire	driving licence

permis de construire	planning permission
plan de financement	project of financing or mortgage

plomb	lead

plus-value	capital gains on the sale of the property

prélèvement	debit order
r
regime matrimoniaux	matrimonial regime i.e. whether married in contract or not

resiliation	cancellation

s
SAFER	this is a governmental organisation which governs proper usage of agricultural land. They are able to pre-empt certain sales

saturnisme

securite social	this is the French national health system

servitudes	rights of way

societe	a registered company
t
TTC	all taxes (including sales tax or vat) included

TVA	value added tax

taxe d'habitation	local rates on property occupation

taxe fonciere	local tax on the property ownership

termites	white ants

testament	will

timbres fiscal	revenue stamps - certain official documents require these

tontine	joint ownership

u
usufruitier	right of usage of the property
v