Real estate notary: renting, buying, selling real estate

Updated on Friday 21 August 2026

Inquire

Buying and selling : the various stages

Buying a property

Selling a property

Building up a real estate portfolio

Rent

Build and develop on a daily basis

A question ? Need help ?

We want to buy a property with my partner and his/her grandmother. My partner and I would acquire the bare ownership of the property and the latter’s grandmother the usufruct. In order to determine the rights of each on the propety(...)

... are we bound by the tax scale of article 669 of the general tax code ? No. The purpose of this scale is to determine the respective values of usufruct and bare ownership for the calculation of the duties due in regard to the tax authorities. It does not…
See more
I am in joint possession with my sister on a house. We signed a sales agreement with a buyer. My sister wants me to collect the full price. Is she still required to come and sign the deed of sale?

Yes. The notary responsible for drawing up the deed of sale must obtain the consent to the sale of all the joint owners. As regards the breakdown of the sale price by the notary, it is made in proportion to your respective joint rights. Note : if your sister decides…
See more
I acquired an apartment located in a co-ownership 1 year ago. My seller had been using the adjoining garden, which is a common part, for 29 years. Can I argue for this 30-year-old use (29 years for my seller and 1 year for me) to become the owner ...

... of the garden? Non. Les juges autorisent l’acquisition par un copropriétaire d’une partie commune par l'effet de sa possession lorsque toutes les conditions sont réunies, notamment le fait de se comporter comme le propriétaire du bien depuis au moins 30 ans ( Cass. Civ.3e, 11 juill. 2019, n°18-17-771). En…
See more
I own an apartment that is currently rented out. The lease is about to expire: can I take back the property to use it as a pied-à-terre?

No. The property must necessarily become your principal residence (French Supreme Court, 3rd Civil Chamber, 31 January 2001, No. 99-11.956). This means you must occupy the property effectively and permanently, and it must be the center of your family interests. The tenant may hold you liable and seek the annulment…
See more
I wish to purchase a property in joint ownership with my father. I will buy the bare ownership, and he will buy the usufruct. However, my father proposes to pay the entire price. Is he allowed to do so?

No. If you are buying the bare ownership, you must pay for it. Therefore, if you do not have the finances, two separate operations are necessary. First, your father must make a monetary gift to you. Then, you can use the gifted money to purchase the bare ownership.
See more