5. Property Surveys in France

1. 5.1. Statutory Surveys
   5.2. Building Surveys
   5.3. Land Surveys

5.3. Land Surveys in France

It may well be that the boundaries of the property you are proposing to buy are not clearly shown on the land registry plan, the plan cadastral.

Alternatively, you may be spilting an existing registered plot of land.

In either case, you will need to get a land survey carried out by a land surveyor, called a géomètre.

The costs of this survey are normally shared between the seller and the buyer.

The land area shown on the land registry plan is approximative only, carried out mainly for taxation purposes, not for the sale and purchase of property.

Accordingly, if you are in any doubt, you need to measure the land yourself, or arrange for a surveyor to carry out a survey.

If you do later find that the surface area of the land is smaller than stated by the estate agent (or owner), then it is possible to obtain legal recourse, provided you have not purchased on a completely unconditional basis ('as seen'), and that there is a difference of at least 5% between the stated and actual surface area.