Pre-empt and Expropriate

By virtue of their municipal pre-emption right [droit de préemption urbain (DPU)] local authorities have the right to acquire real estate put up for sale by private individuals or companies, in preference to any other buyer.

Collective sanitation and non-collective sanitation systems are important for local elected officials for their environmental consequences. They often deal with these issues through intermunicipal structures.

Expropriation and pre-emption are complex procedures. When the owner's payment raises obstacles, it may be necessary to use the deposit system for the price of the expropriated or pre-empted property.

For selling property in France, the Declaration of Intent to Waive must be completed by any owner that wishes to sell property located in a pre-emption area.

Expropriation is a procedure that allows the administration, for purposes of public interest, to compel a person to assign property for compensation, or to transfer it to another person.

The release procedure is an administrative procedure. It allows the owner of a property subject to planning regulations preventing it from enjoying it, to induce the recipient of the easement to acquire the property.