Why this is a separate review

Market evidence helps answer what comparable properties sold for in the past. The legal pack answers a different question: what the buyer is acquiring, which obligations come with it, and when the buyer may leave the transaction if an agreed condition is not met.

For a French Riviera apartment, comparing an asking price with DVF data is not enough. Before signing a preliminary agreement — a promesse unilatérale or compromis de vente — the property description, ownership record, building documents and physical layout should agree.

The pre-signing pack

Area	Documents to request	Risk addressed
Title	seller’s title, cadastral references, mortgages, easements and lot boundaries	the seller and property match the agreement
Co-ownership	building rules (règlement), summary record (fiche synthétique), three years of general meeting minutes, maintenance log, general technical survey (DTG) and works plan where applicable, pré-état daté financial information	future works, disputes and building liabilities
Technical condition	valid diagnostics, including the energy performance report (DPE), electricity, gas, risks, asbestos or termites where applicable	known technical and environmental risks
Alterations	plans, co-ownership and planning approvals, evidence of completion	unauthorised area or unverified changes
Occupation and use	leases, third-party occupation, short-let rules and permitted use of the lot	whether the buyer’s intended use is possible
Financing	a precise loan condition covering amount, rate, term and required bank applications	return of funds if compliant finance is refused

The official Service Public page on promesses and compromis lists title, easement information, co-ownership records and valid technical diagnostics among the relevant documents. It also says material information — such as expensive planned works, structural defects or flood exposure — must be disclosed to the other party.

Ten days do not replace due diligence

Pré-état daté describes financial information needed before the preliminary contract; it does not mean that a separate paid document must always be ordered from the building manager (syndic). Establish what the seller has supplied and what the notary still needs.

The notary checks the legal documents and contractual consequences; diagnosticians and technical specialists assess the condition within their assignment. For a purchase from abroad, agree translations and the acceptable form of power of attorney with the notary in advance. An offer, compromis/promesse and final deed create different commitments: discuss the documents and mortgage condition before signing.

A non-professional residential buyer has 10 calendar days to withdraw following proper notification, starting the day after the registered letter is first presented. Non-working final days are subject to extension rules. Missing required co-ownership documents can affect the starting date; have the notary confirm it for the actual file.

This protection matters, but it should not become the main due-diligence window. Reviewing the documents before signature allows loan conditions, seller’s works or missing approvals to be written into the agreement rather than negotiated after the fact.

What to examine in a co-ownership

General meeting minutes should be read alongside the financial documents. Look for:

approved, discussed and postponed works;
litigation, co-owner arrears and changes of managing agent;
facade, roof, lift, heating and waterproofing issues;
restrictions on air conditioning, glazing, unit combinations and letting;
any difference between the physical layout and the registered lot.

A low asking price may be offset by a major facade programme. The reverse can also be true: a properly funded building plan may reduce uncertainty.

A buyer’s sequence

Obtain the complete digital pack and list missing records.
Reconcile the listing, plans, title and physical layout.
Send questions on easements, the lot, approvals and draft wording to the notary.
Review the co-ownership for future liabilities, not only current service charges.
Agree the loan condition and other conditions that must be met for the purchase to proceed (conditions suspensives) before signature.
Record seller’s works and included movable items in the agreement.

This article is not legal advice. A notary should confirm the wording of the agreement and the documents applicable to the specific property and buyer.

How can you arrange these checks from abroad?

The guide to buying a property found online separates questions to resolve before travelling from specialist inspections. Start with the listing and tell us whether you have contacted the selling agency, so we can agree requests and next steps without duplicating completed work.