Laws and regulations
Important Legal Differences
There are major legal differences between buying a property in Sweden and in France. If you buy
a second-hand property, you acquire it in its existing condition, i.e. it is your responsibility to
carefully examine its standard before signing the purchase documents. Afterwards, it is too late.
The seller does not have to inform you of any faults or defects that may be attached to the property.
Guarantee and Fiduciary Rules
When buying a newly built house or apartment, there is a 10-year guarantee for the construction itself. In addition, there is a 2-year guarantee for the equipment in the property. The guarantees must be covered by insurance. No builder can start production without the guarantees/insurance cover in place.
When you buy a floor, you become the owner of it; it is not a question of a right to use a certain area, as is the case with Swedish housing cooperatives. We can therefore call it ownership.
Community associations are almost always present. In France they are called coproprieté. They can exist both in connection with the purchase of a villa and an apartment. It is common for owners to entrust the practical management and maintenance of common areas to a manager. It is important to know that if a co-ownership exists, several meetings will be held each year. If you live outside the locality, you should authorize a suitable person to represent your interests.
Legal aspects
It may be a good idea to think about survival issues at an early stage. French law may apply in the event of death. In many cases, the notary can help with a will, otherwise there are several Swedish lawyers living in France who can help.
When rebuilding or extending in France, the rules are broadly the same. There are some simplified procedures. A building permit can be expected to take around 2-6 months. Once the building permit has been obtained, it must be clearly posted on the property so that any interested parties can submit their comments. Thus, during a certain shorter period, works may not be started.