selling french house to a friend?
 

Hi, i have a house over in france that i really want to sell as we are emigrating to Oz. i have contacted french immoblier and sent them the key 6 weeks ago but have not heard a thing from them. whenever i phone the person i want to speak to is out of the office and doesnt return my calls. The thing is i have a friend in England that is really interested and has made an offer. can i just sell it to him or does it have to be sold through an immoblier? I know that the laws have now changed but dont quite know what the rules are. please help! thanks

Re: selling french house to a friend?
 

As far as I know, you have no obligation towards the estate agent. The only thing is, you will have to contact someone and ask them to return the key - you can explain that you are now selling your house privately - presumably you have nothing in writing from them from what you say? Do you even know if they have your key, did they acknowledge it? You don't have to speak to the same person, anyone in their office would do. Failing that, you could send them a registered letter in which you state you are making a private sale and asking for your key.
It is very usual for them NOT to return phone calls, I had this happen to me numerous times, when we were actually cash buyers and yet they did not seem to be interested at all, could not have care less, so much that you wondered whether they were in business at all!!! I'm sure you are better off selling to a friend: no agents fees for anyone for a start! But you will still have to go through a notaire here in France...

Re: selling french house to a friend?
 

Have you signed a contract with them?
If you have, you need to check if it's exclusive or not, if it's "contrat sans exclusivité", you can just sell it to anyone, otherwise, you might be stuck with them!

Re: selling french house to a friend?
 

They are probably renting it out ;)
Take it off the market and get your key back, then sell it yourself later.

Re: selling french house to a friend?
 

hi, thanks for all the replies. no we have not signed anything just received an email to say they have the key and thats it!! will goahead and sell it privately then. do i just contact the local notaire?