GLOSSARY OF FRENCH PROPERTY TERMS

FRENCH PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS

In France the size of apartments and houses is calculated according to the number of rooms (pièces), excluding the kitchen and bathrooms or water closets. Apartments are often described in ads as an F1, F2, and so on. A deux-pièces, or F2, is a one-bedroom apartment. Surface area is measured in square metres (mètres carrés).

cuisine aménagée: a kitchen with cabinets and counters
cuisine américaine: a small kitchen included in living room
cuisine équipée: a kitchen fitted with appliances
décoration à revoir/rafraîchissement à prévoir: anything from replacing the wallpaper to major, costly repairs
dépendences: any additional structures, such as a barn or garage
dressing: a walk-in closet
duplex: an apartment on two floors
gardien: caretaker
pierre de taille (PdT): is often used in Paris to indicate an apartment built during the Haussmann period
plain-pied: a single-story house
prestations: the overall appearance or aesthetics
rez-de-chaussée: ground floor

USEFUL FRENCH TERMS FOR BUYING A PROPERTY

acompte: deposit
acte authentique de vente: deed of sale
agent immobilier: estate agent
clés en main: vacant possession
compromis de vente: sale agreement
condition suspensive: let-out clause
contrat de réservation: reservation contract
co-propriété : co-ownership
dédit: deposit
échange de lettres: exchange of letters
état des lieux : inspection checklist
expertise: survey
frais de dossier: mortgage arrangement fee
frais de notaire: notary's fees
hypothèque: mortgage
notaire: notary
offre de vente: offer of sale
offre d'achat: offer of purchase
promoteur: property developer
promesse de vente: preliminary contract
taxe foncière: land tax
taxe d'habitation: local services tax
taxes assimilées: sundry taxes
vente en l'état futur d'achèvement: purchase of property not yet constructed