Buying land

[P]

Tried searching but did not succeed, so sorry if this has been raised before.

Thinking that we might buy land and have a house built.

Some of the Immobiliers advertise land as having a CU. However, what problems might we encounter and what would we need to do to ensure that we can actually build on it and what Clause Suspensives should we have in the Acte du Vente.

Many thanks

Paul

[Will]

If the CU says you can build a house on the land, then you will be able to do just that. You will still have to have detailed plans approved though, just as in England.

Make sure that you apply for the permis de construire well before the CU is due to expire. You can renew a CU - I think only once - and that has to be done a couple of months before the expiry date, so don't hang about.

Clauses suspensives go in the compromis de vente, not the acte. You can ask for a clause that makes the sale conditional on the CU for residential use being granted, and in force.

[Harley]

Hi,

There was already a CU on the land we were interested in so this was not a problem although we were advised of the lenght of time remaining on it so we could keep on top of things.   The Notaire dealing with the sale suggested a Clause Suspensive to allow us to withdraw, without penalty, from the sale if the planning consent for the house which we had chosen was not given.  Seemed a very good idea to us.[:)]

Found Land

Checked CU

Signed Compromis with Clause Suspensive

Applied for planning consent

Consent  given

Completed sale on the land

[Athene]

Well done Harley! Where is this land you have bought? Have you got a builder in mind or will you DIY? It has taken us a lot longer than you to negotiate the land we are buying and before the CU was granted the vendor has to complete a road to the plot. Keep us informed how you progress!

[Harley]

Hi Athene,

you can ckeck our progress in the BLOG about the New House Build.  Will be posting on there later with latest developements.

Harley[:)]

[Val_2]

Yes you should check thoroughly in France when buying land to build on even with a CU as the rules are changing all the time and in some areas people who bought land even five years ago are now not allowed to build on there. Always check with the local mairie in which the land is situated, notaires are not infalliable and not always in full possession of all the facts as many people have found out over the years here when buying both property and land. I have two Parisien friends who bought a plot of land on the outskirts of our commune back in the 1980's to build a home for their retirement in the next few years and they have been refused outright permission by both the maire and the DDE and are now left with a useless piece of land only fit to let a farmer use for grazing on.

[P]

Many thanks for your replies.

I have also noted the 'be careful and check' warning.

W intend to employ a solicitor whether we go for land or an existing building as buying in a country with different methods we would not want to get caught out.

Paul