Our overall costs for a purchase or sale of a French property
1. Our fees are based on the time spent at Mrs Trousset’s hourly charging rate of £440 plus VAT of 20%.
2. For each purchase or sale we will provide at the outset a fee estimate with a breakdown of the
work involved. This will be based on the information available at the time, which may be revised
should circumstances or requirements change. Our normal fees range from £4,400 to £8,800
plus VAT of 20%.
3. The fees involved and time spent may vary from matter to matter due to the type of property
concerned, survey results, local planning issues, drainage and rights of way, as well as more
general French tax implications and estate planning.
4. We may also incur expenses on behalf of our clients in relation to a purchase or a sale.
Expenses are added to our overall fees above and are costs payable to another
organization, which are incurred by Trousset Fawcett Ltd. Examples, might be the costs of a
legal translator. If we consider that an expense is necessary, we will notify our client
beforehand and seek their prior consent to incur the estimated costs concerned. Alternatively,
we may advise our clients to deal directly with third parties, such as surveyors.
Stages and timescales involved in a typical purchase or sale of French property
5. We usually receive a preliminary contract regarding a sale or purchase two to three weeks after
we are provided with initial instructions. We review the French preliminary contract including
the various searches and surveys, making sure that our clients’ interests are recorded correctly
and that they are fully of aware of their rights and obligations.
6. Before the preliminary contract is concluded, we advise our clients regarding different forms of
ownership under French law and where appropriate consider the French tax consequences upon
a sale or purchase of a French property. At this stage, we may also advise regarding estate
planning and the application of forced heirship provisions under French law.
7. Once the preliminary contract is concluded, we assist our clients to prepare for the final deed,
which is usually signed two months after the preliminary contract.