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7. Sole Ownership of French Property

7.2. Living Together and Sole Ownership of French Property

If you are living together in 'free union' and you purchase a French property in a sole name then, prima facia, French law grants no automatic rights of permanent occupation or ownership to the other party.

In the event of death of one of the parties the inheritance rights are granted to the next of kin of the deceased.

So, if you are buying in France, and you are not married, it is imperative you buy on a joint basis.

If you do so, it is possible to buy in unequal parts, to reflect the contribution of each party to the purchase (see next section on en indivision).

Alternatively, if you buy the French property in your sole name, you should consider grants specific rights over the property to your partner eg right for your partner to occupy the property on your death.

Another consideration relates to any potential requirement you may have for obtaining a loan on the property.

If the property is held in only one name, then it is quite possible that a lender will only lend against the income of the owner and not the income of the whole household.

Next: Subsequent Marriage

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