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Looking for materials containing asbestos - 05/08/09

Asbestos is a material of mineral origin very widely used in housing construction during the 20th century, mainly for its significant thermal insulation properties.
This material, which presents serious health risks, was banned in France in 1997.
In order to properly inform property purchasers of the risks incurred, the French legislature obliges vendors to carry out a diagnosis that identifies and locates materials and products containing asbestos for all buildings for which planning permission was granted before July 1st, 1997.

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Looking for lead in paint - 05/08/09

Paint containing lead was used widely in French housing before it was banned in 1949.
These lead paints can be dangerous if ingested, particularly for children under 6 years of age who can suffer lead poisoning at a critical stage of their brain’s development.
A diagnosis is required to detect, using an X-ray fluorescence device, the components that coat such paints. This obligation applies to all buildings constructed before January 1st, 1949.

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“Carrez Law” surface area measurement - 05/08/09

Within the framework of the sale of a co-owned property, the vendor must show evidence of its surface area. This surface area will be indicated in the official sales documents.
The measurement is determined in accordance with the rules laid down by the Carrez Law.

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Diagnosis of interior electrical wiring - 05/08/09

During the sale of a property, if the electrical wiring is over 15 years old, an electrical safety diagnosis must be carried out.
The aim of this is to check that all electrical components comply with the standards in force.

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Looking for termites - 05/08/09

Termites are insects that live in colonies and feed on wood cellulose.
These parasites can infest elements of a building’s structure and cause sufficient degradation to weaken it.
A diagnosis is compulsory for all buildings situated in infested départements.

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Diagnosis of interior gas installation - 05/08/09

To assess the risks to the safety of residents, a diagnosis of gas installations must be carried out during the sale of a property.
This obligation relates to all gas installations aged 15 years or more.

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Diagnosis of energy performance - 05/08/09

This diagnosis was introduced in all European countries following the signing of the Kyoto Protocol aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
France was the first European country to put in place the energy performance diagnosis.
It consists in assessing energy consumption and estimating the quantity of greenhouse gases it emits in producing heating and hot water.
It is displayed in the form of two labels indicating the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on a scale from A to G, A being the best score.

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