Landscaper22

Thanks for the replies. We are going over to France in a few weeks so I guess we will go to DDE with my drawings and calculations for a chat. Just hope someone will speak a little English as my French is not that good at present.

I am in the process of drawing up the plans for converting a barn into a holiday home. The SHON is just under the 170 sq m limit. The local maire has no problems with what we are proposing although we understand that the plans have to be approved at the DDE. My question is this - Do they check up on surface area calculations? I am pretty sure of my measurements and calculations. Also, are there any checks on the work carried out to the drawings as in England with the building control inspectors? We are not planning to try to hide anything - just that we may want to make some alterations to the original plans as we go along - nothing major- positions of windows/ roof lights/ doorways etc. and we do not want to cause any problems. We have another outbuilding/garage of approx. 60 sq m that we may want to convert in 4/5 years time which would take us over the 170 sq m limit. Would it mean using a French Architec for that work ?

Thanks everybody for your input. I have asked solicitor to contact Notaire and send draft of contract for her opinion (and approval) before sending me a copy. The vendor is quite happy to pay the solicitors fees - he has, I gather, dealt with all of her legal affairs and was involved in the original purchase. It will not cost us anything. The vendor fully understands that we are responsible for the Notaires fees etc but she wants to use her man. Mr Ice-ni : There were two other people interested in the property and we had first refusal when it went on the market. We managed to negotiate a reasonable price and the plot even includes about 2000sq m of 'constructable' land with CU - methinks opportunities like this are 'as rare as hens teeth'. Nomos : The barn is right next to my brother's farmhouse - he has been there for about 10 years. It is an idylic rural spot close to good road,rail and air links, two villages nearby with shops, 15 minutes to several good supermarkets and a cuple of large builders merchants. The view from terrace is to die for. the woodland has been fairly well managed over the years and my experience as a builder says it is a good prospect. Sorry you had a bad experience.

Hi All, I am new to this Forum and just started the process of buying a property in France - a great barn with a parcel of land and woodland. A perfect retirement project. However, first problem -the vendor, an English lady, insists on using an English solicitor to draw up the Compromis de Vente. On our last visit to look at the property we visited the local Notaire (speaks good English) who said just send her details of the deal and she would take it from there. My questions are: 1) Is it acceptable for the English soliciter (apparently fluent in French and French Law) to draw up the CdV ? 2) He wants us to go to his office to sign the CdV - I thought the Notaire had to oversee this ? 3) Is it acceptable for me to pay the deposit to him ? I thought the Notaire held all monies. I would value some advice on this. Many thanks