Buying, step by step
The 10-day cooling-off period, day by day.
French law gives a private buyer ten days to change their mind after signing for a home. Here is how it works in practice.
Contents
The cooling-off period (délai de rétractation) is one of the strongest protections for buyers in France. It applies to private buyers of a home, new or old, whether the contract is signed at an agency, between individuals or at the notaire's office.
When the ten days start
The ten days start the day after the signed contract is delivered to you: the day after the first presentation of the registered letter, or after the contract is handed to you when it is signed at the notaire's. If the last day falls on a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday, the period runs until the next working day (La finance pour tous).
How to withdraw
You send a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt before the end of the period, or use the electronic registered method offered by the notaire or the agency. You do not have to give a reason. Keep the proof of sending.
Your deposit
If you withdraw within the ten days, the money you paid is returned to you, within 21 days of the withdrawal under the Construction and Housing Code. No one may receive money from a private buyer before the end of the period, except a notaire or a professional allowed to hold funds.
Who can use it
- Private buyers of a home, whatever their nationality or country of residence.
- Not the seller: once the contract is signed, the seller is committed.
- Not the buyer of a business or commercial premises bought for professional use.
The final deed cannot be signed during the ten days.
My advice
Use these ten days well: read the surveys again, call your bank or broker, check the costs of the works. If you live abroad, plan them with me before the signature, so that a question does not arrive on day nine. I work in English and French every day. I also speak Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi fluently, Persian (Farsi) very well, and good Greek and Arabic.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cooling-off period apply to foreign buyers?
Yes. It applies to every private buyer of a home in France, whatever their nationality.
Can the seller withdraw during the ten days?
No. Only the buyer has this right.
Do I lose money if I withdraw?
No. The sums paid are returned to you, within 21 days of the withdrawal.
Does it apply when I buy a restaurant or a shop?
No, not for a business or commercial premises bought for professional use.