Who Pays for a Sale Notice in France for Tenants
If your landlord notifies you of a sale notice, you naturally wonder who bears the costs and what protections you have as a tenant in France. The sale notice ends the lease to allow the sale of the property and is governed by the 1989 law and its updates. The landlord must respect legal form and deadlines, and the tenant may have rights of priority or compensation in some cases. This guide explains costs usually borne by the seller, obligations for visits and notice, how to check the notice's validity and possible remedies with the departmental conciliation commission or the competent court.
Who pays what?
Generally, costs related to marketing and selling the property (agency fees hired by the owner, diagnostics, advertising) are borne by the seller, i.e., the landlord. Legal procedures related to the sale notice and its notification follow rules set by law and applicable decrees.[1]
Practical consequences for the tenant
Even if the landlord pays the sale costs, the tenant can face practical burdens: visits, scheduling appointments, possible relocations. These burdens do not automatically entitle compensation, unless specific provisions or an agreement exists.
Visits and right to privacy
Visits must respect your peace and reasonable hours. You can ask that visits be grouped and limited to set time slots to reduce inconvenience.
- Arrange reasonable time slots for visits to protect your privacy.
- Require notice for each visit and refuse unannounced intrusions.
- Keep a visit log with dates and visitor names as proof.
Procedures and remedies
If you believe the notice is not compliant (incorrect form, missed deadlines, defective consent), you can contact the departmental conciliation commission and, if needed, the judicial court. The 1989 law and its amendments set applicable rules and deadlines.[2]
FAQ
- Who pays agency fees when the owner sells?
- Agency fees hired by the owner are normally paid by the seller, unless otherwise agreed in writing between parties.
- Can the tenant refuse visits for sale?
- The tenant must allow reasonably organized visits; however, they can refuse visits outside reasonable hours or without prior notice.
- What to do if the notice is irregular?
- Check the notification and deadlines, then contact the departmental conciliation commission; if needed, take legal action before the judicial court.
How to
- Check the notice: written form, reasons and notice period in accordance with the law.
- Gather evidence: letters, written exchanges, photos, and a visit log.
- Contact the landlord to request adjustments to visits or compensation if justified.
- Contact the departmental conciliation commission if amicable agreement fails.
- If necessary, bring the matter before the judicial court to enforce your rights and seek remedy.
Help and resources
- Service-public.fr - Practical housing information
- Legifrance.gouv.fr - Official texts
- Justice.fr - Information and procedures
