Buying a Ski Home in France? Then you need to Know About the DDT Surveys!
If you are buying a re-sale ski apartment or chalet, there are a couple of surveys that the seller must provide to you so you know your new chalet is safe, comfortable and ready for you to move into. All of these surveys are given to you in one report known as the DDT (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique) which is always attached to the Compromis de Vente.
The surveys in a DDT include:
Diagnostic Performance Energetique (DPE).
This is a report into the energy efficiency of a home – it includes details on insulation, average heating bills, carbon emission statistics and even suggestions on how energy efficiency can be improved. DPE’s in the French Alps are often quite low, so don’t be surprised if your new home has a rating of D or E, it’s quite typical for older chalet properties or farms in need of renovation. New-build homes will generally always have a high DPE rating.
Waste Drainage
This generally applies to ski properties in more remote locations with septic tanks. It certifies that the waste drainage conforms to regulations laid out by the SPANC (Services Publics d’Assainissement Non Collectif).
Etat Parasitaire
If the ski apartment of chalet you are buying is older than 25 years old, in an area that suffers from termites or is predominantly made from wood, a survey for termite and fungal damage is advised!
Gas and Electricity (Un etat de l'installation interieure de gaz naturel)
Sellers are legally obliged to provide electrical and gas safety information to buyers for homes that are more than 15 years old.
Structural Survey
Surveyors don’t practice in France, so if you would like a structural survey done, you may have to employ someone from England to do it. The norm in France is to assume that a property is structurally sound if it looks like it is. Geometric experts and architects will look at the land on which a ski home sits, but they won’t look into the structural integrity of a building in much detail. If you do get a survey done and problems are found, your notaire can include a “clause suspensive” in your contract which stipulates that certain repairs must be made before the purchase can be completed.
Loi Carrez
This shows the exact habitable surface size in m2 of the ski apartment you are buying. In France, the loi carrez only includes the floor space which has a ceiling height of greater than 1.8m. This report isn’t required for a stand-alone ski chalet.
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