An order on the door, and the feeling that the house is condemned. It is not: it is just waiting for someone who knows how to nurse it back to health.
A letter from the town hall, an order posted on the front of the building, and the feeling that the property is now worth nothing. Yet a property subject to a dangerous building order can still be sold, provided you understand what the order says and approach the right buyers.
What a safety order is
Since 1 January 2021, the former dangerous building order (arrêté de péril) has been called a safety order (arrêté de mise en sécurité). The mayor issues it when a building poses a danger to its occupants or to passers-by (walls, floors, roof, façade). It may come with a ban on living in the property and requires the owner to carry out measures or works within a set time.
The procedure can be urgent, for imminent danger, or ordinary, with a prior exchange with the owner. If the work is not carried out, the municipality can have it done automatically, at the owner's expense.
Can a property under an order be sold?
Yes. The order does not block the sale, but it stays with the property: the buyer must be informed of it, and it is the buyer who will have to carry out the prescribed works if they have not been done beforehand. If the home is rented out, protective rules apply to the tenants (suspension of rent, temporary housing or rehousing depending on the case).
The order does not block the sale, but it stays with the property.
Who buys this type of property?
A private buyer is often put off by an order and structural works. Investors and renovation professionals, on the other hand, know how to cost these works, handle the procedures with the town hall and transform the property. For them, the purchase price takes the cost and time of the works into account.
Sell as it is or do the work first?
Carrying out the works and having the order lifted makes it possible to sell to a wider public and at a better price. But it requires a budget, available contractors and time. Selling as it is immediately frees the owner from the burden and the risk. The right choice depends on your financial situation, the cost of the works and the local market.
- Ask for the details of the prescribed measures and their deadlines.
- Have the works estimated by a professional.
- Compare the two scenarios: selling as it is now, or selling after the order is lifted.
Our approach
We examine the order, the condition of the property and its potential, then present you with the realistic options and the buyers likely to be interested. With no commitment on your part.
Frequently asked questions
Can a property under a dangerous building order be sold?
Yes. The buyer must be informed of the order; the obligation to carry out the works passes with the property.
What is the difference between a dangerous building order and a safety order?
It is the same mechanism: since 2021, the dangerous building order (arrêté de péril) has been called a safety order (arrêté de mise en sécurité).
What happens if the works are not carried out?
The municipality can have them carried out automatically at the owner's expense, and daily penalties may apply.
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