A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

a

Abri : a small outbuilding, or shed
Acajou : mahogany
Accueil : reception desk, welcome
Acheteur : buyer
Acompte : deposit; where the sum is paid by the buyer to the builder, the acompte not to exceed 5% of the total price
Acquérir : to buy
Acte Sous Seing Privé : private agreement in writing with no witnesses (pre-sale agreement). See Acte Authentique.
Acte de Vente : a conveyance or transfer of land (confusingly, sometimes referred to as acte d'achat)
Acte (de Vente) Authentique : Deed of Sale. In France, it is compulsory that the sale of real property be signed in the presence of a public notary (notaire). The deed of conveyance must specify the identities of the seller and buyer, the description and origin of the property subject to transfer, certain provisions related to urban planning and the means by which the buyer financed the acquisition.
Action : share
ADII (Assurance Décès Invalidité Incapacité) : life and incapacity insurance
Adosser : to secure a loan with a life insurance policy
Affaire : bargain
Agence Immobilière : estate agent
Aménagé : converted
Aménager : to convert (eg Dépendances à aménager, outbuildings suitable for conversion)
Amortissement : repayment schedule
Année de la Construction : year property was built
Annuité Périodique : payment, usually annually
Apporteur : Someone who expects to be paid a "Ristourne" (see Ristourne below)
Approvisionner : to credit an account
Ardoise : slate
Are : land area 100sq m
A Rénover : in need of renovation
Argent Liquide : cash
Armoire : cupboard
Arrhes : sum paid in advance by the purchaser, forfeited if purchaser withdraws or double the amount refunded if the vendor withdraws
Ascenseur : lift
Assurance Perte d’Emploi : unemployment insurance
Atelier : workshop or studio
Attenant : attached
Attestation d'Acquisition : a written certificate from the notaire sent once the property purchase paperwork is completed
Attestation de Propriété : proof of ownership of a property
Avis À Tiers Détenteur : notice to third party holder

b

Baignoire : bath
Bail : lease
Banlieue : suburb
Banque de Consignation : the bank where the notaire places clients’ funds (in France, no interest accrues to either party or the notaire)
Barème des honoraires : scale of fees
en Bon État : in good condition
Bâtiment : building
Bénéficiaire : beneficiary
Bergerie : sheepfold, or barn
Boiseries : woodwork
Bon pour Achat "good for acquisition" : phrase written accompanying signature of contract. See lu et apprové
Bon de Visite : a form the French estate agent requires you to sign before viewing a property. You are agreeing that you will not approach the owner directly if you want to make an offer on the house.
Bord de Mer : on the coast
Bordereau d'Inscription : a document describing the mortgage which the notaire completes
Bouquet : the capital paid by the buyer in a viager transaction
Bourg : small town / village centre
Buanderie : laundry/ utility room
Bureau : office

c

Cabanon : small stone building
Cabinet/WC : Toilets
Cadastre : local town planning register recording details of land-holdings
Campagne : country
CAP : cap (maximum) rate of interest on a loan
Capacité d’Endettement : borrowing “headroom”, taking into account present income and existing repayments
Carrelage : tiled floor
Carte Professionnelle : granted by the Préfecture to estate agents to carry out business
Caution : guarantee or the guarantor of a mortgage. In French, un caution can also mean a deposit (on renting) or an excess (in insurance)
Cave : cellar
Cave Voûtée : vaulted cellar
Cellier : pantry
Centre Commercial : shopping centre
Certificat d'Urbanisme : land use certificate
Cession : conveyance
Chambre : bedroom
Charges Comprises : service charges included
Charpente : structure
Chauffage : heating (eg chauffage à fioul = oil-fired central heating)
Chauffage Collective- (shared) heating included in building charges Chaudière : boiler
Chaumière : thatched cottage
Cheminée : fireplace
Chèque De Banque : banker’s draft
Chèque sans Provision : cheque issued without sufficient funds on the account
Clause Pénale : penalty clause governing performance of an agreement
Clause Suspensive : condition suspensive
Climatisation : air-conditioning
Code Confidentiel : PIN number
Coin Cuisine : kitchen corner in living room
Colombier : dovecote
Combles : attic or loft
Commerces : shops
Commission de Rapatriement : commission levied upon receipt of an international currency transfer
Commodités : toilet / WC
Commune : town/village/district
Compensable : the clearing of a cheque
Compromis de Vente : provisional contract used for the acquisition of real estate or building land. The contract lists the names and addresses of the seller and buyer, description of the property, its surface area and price. It must also list the conditions which make it possible to terminate the agreement, notably the buyer's failure to obtain a loan (or planning permission in the case of the acquisition of building land). If these conditions cannot be met, the agreement will be declared null and void. When the provisional sales agreement is signed, the buyer will be asked to pay a deposit (see arrhes) by the seller. If the buyer withdraws from the agreement before signing the legal deed of conveyance, the seller is entitled to retain the deposit. If the seller wishes to withdraw from the agreement, he must pay the prospective buyer twice the sum of the deposit. The compromis de vente should include arrangements for inspection of lead, asbestos and termites, details of the estate agent’s fees and provision for legal fees and a target completion date.
Comptable : accountant
Compte Courant : current account
Compte Débiteur : overdrawn account Compte à Terme : deposit account
Compteur : meter
Concubinage : status of living together but not being married
Condition Suspensive (also, clause suspensive) : conditional terms in the compromis de vente (eg the acquiring of a loan, the gaining of a positive zoning certificate).
Conservation des Hypothèques : mortgage/land registry
Constructible : land which is designated for building under local planning scheme
Contrat de Réservation (also, contrat préliminaire) : the purchase contract used for purchase "on plan". This provisional real-estate sales agreement is the legal equivalent of a compromis de vente.
Convention : agreement
Copropriété : co-ownership
Couloir : corridor
Cour : courtyard
Cour De Ferme : farmyard
Crédit Hypothécaire : mortgage
Cuisine Aménagée : fitted kitchen
Cuisine Américaine : open-plan kitchen
Cuisine Équipée : equipped kitchen

d

DAB (Distributeur Automatique de Billets) : cash dispenser
Date d'Expiration : expiry date
Débarras : box room
Déclaration de Sincérité : compulsory formula providing that the purchase price has not been increased by a counter-deed
Découvert : overdraft
Délai Scrivener : an 11-day cooling-off period before accepting a mortgage offer
Demandé : required
Dépendance : outbuilding
Déposer (de l'agent) : to credit an account
Dépôt : deposit
Dernier Étage : top floor
en Deux (2) Niveaux : 2-storey
Devise : (foreign) currency
Devis : estimate for work
Différé d’Amortissement : deferred capital repayments, giving the possibility of starting to repay a mortgage with lower (interest-only) payments.
Différé Total : deferred capital and interest repayments, giving the possibility of zero repayments for an initial period.
Digicode : security door
Divers : various
Double Vitrage : double-glazing
Douche : shower
Droit de Donation : gift tax
Droit de Passage : right of way
Droit de Préemption : pre-emptive right to acquire the property Droit de Succession : inheritance tax

e

Ecuries : stables
EDF/GDF : the state utilities- Electricité de France, Gaz de France
En Bon État : In Good Condition
Endosser : sign (eg the reverse of a cheque to be credited to your account)
Emoluments : the scale of charges of the notaire
Ensoleillé : sunny
Enregistrement (Droits d') : registration of the title of ownership
En Tontine : inheritance arrangement whereby the surviving spouse takes full ownership of joint assets
Entrée : hallway
Entretien : maintenance
Environ : approximately
EONIA (Euro Overnight Interest Average) : European Central Bank mid-rate
Etats des Lieux : for a rental property, schedule of condition or schedule of dilapidations depending on whether it applies to the beginning or end of a lease
Escalier : stairs
Espèces : cash
Est : east
Etage : storey
Expédition : the certified copy of a notarial document showing the date of its registration and the registration duty paid
Expert de Bâtiment : surveyor
Expert Comptable : chartered accountant
Expert Foncier : professional (usually an architect) who checks the state and value of a property
Expert Géomètre : land surveyor
Expertise : valuation
Expertiser : to value a property
Exposé Nord : north-facing
Exposition : aspect
Euribor : interbank 1-12-month interest rate

f

Facture : invoice
FAI (Frais Agence Inclus) : price including estate agency fees
Fenêtre : window
Ferme : farm
Feuille de Paie : payslip
Fioul : heating oil
FNAIM (Fédération Nationale des Agents Immobilier) : national association of estate agents
Fonds de Roulement : capital supplied by all flat-owners, in an apartment block, on top of service charges to meet unexpected liabilities
Fosse Septique : septic tank
Four : oven
Frais : fees
Frais de Dossier : mortgage arrangement fee
Frais d’Hypothèque : taxes and fees due to the Notaire on a mortgage deed
Frais de Notaire : notaire fees, total amount paid to the notaire on top of the sale price (includes notaire charges, search fees, mortgage fees, fiscal stamps, registration duty, land registration duty and other charges)
FICP (Fichier National des Incidents de remboursement des Crédits aux Particuliers) : the Banque de France register of mortgages

g

Le Garant : company which insures builder against faulty construction claims
Garantie Extrinsèque d'Achèvement : third-party guarantee (bank or insurance company) against a builder failing to complete a new build property
Garantie Intrinsèque d'Achèvement : builder’s own guarantee when a property is sold off-plan
Gardien : caretaker
Gare : train station
Gare Routière : bus station
Géomètre : surveyor appointed by the notaire to certify the dimensions of the property according to the cadastrevGrand : large
Grange : barn
Grenier : attic

h

HT (Hors Taxe) : not including (sales) tax
Huissier : bailiff and process server; a huissier is used to record evidence (for example on the state of property) where legal proceedings are considered
Hypothèque : legal charge (Mortgage deed) on property

i

Immeuble : block of flats
Immobilier : property or real estate
Immobilière : estate agent
Impôt : tax
Indivision : joint-ownership
Intérêts Intercalaires : interest which accrues between the mortgage funds being released and the first repayment

j

Jardin : garden
Jouissance : right of possession which must occur simultaneously with the transfer of ownership
Jumelé : semi-detached
Juriste : lawyer

k

No terms

l

Lavabo : sink
Laverie : laundry
Lingerie : linen room
Local : premises
Location : renting (tenancy)
Logement : accommodation
Loi Scrivener : the law protecting borrowers from French lenders and sellers on French property purchases in all cases other than a purchase on plan (see délai Scrivener)
Longère : agglomeration of buildings in a line, normally six metres deep (typical to Brittany)
Lotissement : housing estate
Lots : land registry plots applied in apartment blocks
Lu et Approuvé : "read and approved" : phrase written accompanying signature of contract. See bon pour achat

m

Mainlevé : release from a mortgage deed, on the sale of a property
Mairie : town hall
Maison des Amis : anything from an outbuilding to a separate apartment or cottage
Maison de Campagne : country house
Maison de Maître : formal, grander style of house
Maison Mitoyenne : semi detached, or terraced house
Maître d'Oeuvre : project manager, the person who manages and supervises the execution of construction work
Mandat : see bon de visite
Mandat : power of attorney; when a private individual grants this power to an estate agent, they grant full or limited power of attorney, for example to sign the Acte Authentique on completion day.
Mandat de Recherche : private agreement giving power to estate agent to look for property
Mandat de Vente : contract to sell
Marchand de Biens : real estate dealer
Mas : farmhouse in the Provence area
Mazet (or Maset) : separate cottage
Menuiserie : joinery
Meubles : furniture
Monument Historique : listed building
Moquette : fitted carpet
Moulin : mill/watermill
Multirisques Habitation : buildings & contents insurance policy
Mur : wall
Mur Mitoyen : party wall

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Nantissement : loan security other than property, such as life assurance, valuables
Niveau : level
Nombreux : many
Nord : north
Notaire : French Notary (Solicitor/Lawyer); a public and legal officer (on oath) responsible for legalising the various judicial documents passing through his/her hands. They are addressed as “Maître …”
Neuf : new
Nue-Propriété : reversionary interest where the purchaser has no occupational rights over the property until the death or prior surrender of the life tenant

o

Occupation : occupant of the premises (either tenant or occupant without good title)
Offre d'Achat/de Vente : an offer to buy or sell property which is not itself a binding contract
Offre de Prêt : loan offer; a contract in which the lender grants a property loan to a borrower who accepts the conditions. This offer is valid for 11 days before acceptance. It must specify the identity of the borrower, the address of the real estate financed, and all the terms and conditions of the loan to be arranged.
Opposition : cancellation of payment
Ouest : west

p

Paiement Comptant : cash payment
Parfait : perfect (eg Etat parfait = in excellent condition)
Parking : car parking space
Parquet : wooden floor
Part Sociale : share in a cooperative
Particulier : individual
Parties Communes : common parts of buildings
Parties Privatives : parts of the building restricted to the private use of the owner
Pavillon : detached house
Pelouse : lawn
Penderie : wardrobe
Période d'Anticipation : pre-completion period
Permis de Construire : planning permission
Perron : flight of steps in front of a property
Pièce : room, bedroom or reception room
Piscine : swimming pool
Placard : cupboard
Placement : investment
Plafond : ceiling
de Plain-pied : single storey
Plan Cadastral : the town plan showing properties and parcelles of land
Plan d'Eau : water feature/pond
Plan de Financement : financing scheme
Plomberie : plumbingvPlus Value : capital gain
Portail : gate
Porte : door
Possesseur : owner
Potager : kitchen garden
Poubelles : rubbish bins
Pour : for (eg bon pour achat)
Poutre : beam
Préfecture : the administrative HQ of the département, found in the main town
Prélèvement (automatique) : direct debit
Prêt : loan
Prêt Amortissable : loan with equal repayments
Prêt Cautionné : loan for property purchase guaranteed by third party, without a charge on the property
Prêt in Fine : interest only mortgage
Prêt Garanti : secured loan
Prêt Immobilier : mortgage
Prêt Modulable : flexible mortgage
Prêt Relais : bridging loan for personal contribution
Prêteur : lender
Principal : main
Prise Électrique : electric socket
Privilège du Prêteur de Deniers : first charge on a property
Procuration : power of attorney
Promesse Unilatérale de Vente : Unilateral agreement to sell; a legal document whereby the seller undertakes to sell while the buyer simply enjoys an option to buy, i.e. he is free to buy or not during a certain period. The sale will be completed the day the buyer takes up the option. In exchange for this option, the buyer must pay a deposit, usually 10% of the selling price, which the seller retains if the buyer does not proceed with the acquisition
Promoteur : property developer
Propriétaire : owner
Propriété : property
Puits : well

q

Quotité : share of capital guaranteed by each party to a mortgage

r

a Rafraîchir : in need of decoration
Rangements : built-in cupboards
Refait : restored
Rejeter : to bounce a cheque
Relevé de Compte : bank statement
Remboursement : redemption, reimbursement, repayment.
Remboursement anticipé : early repayment; under the loi Scrivener, early repayment penalties cannot exceed 3% of the outstanding capital
Remise : shed
Rénové : renovated
a Rénover : in need of renovation
Renseignements : information/enquiries
Rentabilité : profitability
Réservation : the deposit paid in a contract de réservation
Réservoir : water tank
Résidence Principale : main home
Résidence Secondaire : holiday home, for personal or family use or holiday rental
Résiliation : cancellation or failure to renew a contract or lease
Restanques : terraced land, often with drystone walls
Retirer (de l'argent) : withdrawal of funds from an account
Rétraction : to withdraw from a preliminary agreement; under the loi Niertz buyers have a 7-day cooling off period
Revêtement : covering (walls or floors)
Rez-de-Chaussée : ground floor
RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire) : bank account details; needed to send funds to the account and set up direct debits
Ristourne : Commonly known as a "kick back" or a "back hander". It is quite common for an estate agent or other intermediary to be paid around 1% of a mortgage's value just for passing your name to a broker or lender. If you go direct, try negotiating this 1% as a discount : after all, you have introduced yourself!

s

SAFER : (Société d’Aménagement Foncier et d’Etablissement Rural) local government organisation supposed to ensure the proper use of agricultural land; sometimes they will hold pre-emptive rights to buy land
Saisie Attribution : seizure of funds
Salon : reception room
SAM (salle à manger) : dining room
Sans : without (eg sans vis-à-vis = not overlooked)
SCI (Société Civile Immobilière) : a company which can be set up exclusively to purchase property; often used when several families are purchasing jointly.
SdB (salle de bain) : bathroom
SdE (salle d'eau) : shower room
Séjour : living room, lounge
Sol : ground
Solde : balance
Sous-Sol : basement (Garage/Storage)
Standing : high quality (eg Résidence de Standing = prestigious block)
Sur Deux (2) Niveaux : two-storey
Sur Terrain de... : property size
Surendettement : excess indebtedness; the lender can propose a different repayment schedule
Surface Habitable : living space, usually excludes bathrooms and garage : expressed in square metres (sq m)

t

T : Type (T3, T4) classification of property type and size. The number is usually the number of main rooms including bedrooms, so a T4 will invariably have 3 bedrooms and a living room
Tableau D'amortissement : monthly repayment schedule; calculated and produced by the lender at the time of the offer
Tantième : a proportion (an xth part e.g 1/100) of the common parts of a co-propriété owned jointly with other apartment owners
Taux : (Interest) rate
Taux de Change : exchange rate
Taux Effectif Global (TEG) : Annualised Percentage Rate (APR)
An interest rate calculated on all the sums paid by the borrower during the life of the loan. It therefore includes the repayment instalments, initial loan administrative fees, expenses related to the surety agreement and insurance premiums.
Taux Fixe : fixed interest rate
Taux Révisable : variable interest rate
Taux d’Usure : Bank of France maximum interest rate chargeable on different types of credit
Taxe Foncière : local annual tax on the ownership of property; in the year of completion, the tax is usually payable pro-rata from date of completion to the end of December.
Taxe d'Habitation : a local annual tax, levied on the owner as at 1st January. Includes television license fee.
TBE (Très Bon État) : very good condition
Terrain : grounds/land
Terrasse : terrace
Testament : will
Timbres Fiscal : revenue stamp, still required on some official documents
TME (Taux Mensuel de rendement des emprunts d'Etat) : long-term secondary market interest rate
TMO (Taux Moyen de rendement des emprunts Obligataires) : mid-market wholesale interest rate
Toit / Toiture : roof
Tontine : joint ownership
Tout à l'Égout : with mains drainage
Travaux : building works (eg travaux prévus = needing work)
Troisième age : senior citizens (old age pensioners)
TTC (Toutes Taxes Comprise) : including all taxes
TVA : (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée) : value added tax

u

Urbanisme : town planning
Usufruit : usufruct, the right to use property

v

Valable : valid
Valeur Locative : market rental rate
VEFA (Vente en l'Etat Futur d'Achèvement) : purchase of property not yet complete = homes purchased from plan
Vendeur : seller
Vente aux Enchères : sale by auction
Verger : orchard
Vestibule : entrance hall
Viabilisé : pre-equipped with main services
Viager : method of property sale where the buyer pays rent to the seller until they die, and then takes over the property completely. The initial deposit (see bouquet) and rental rates are determined by actuarial calculations based on the seller’s age.
Virement : transfer, standing order
Volets : shutters
Vue : view

w

No terms

x

No terms

y

York (système d’) : payment by piece-work

z

ZAC (Zone d’Aménagement Concerté) : development zone supported by central government
ZAD (Zone d’Aménagement Différé) : a zone where the public sector has the option of compulsory purchase
ZIF (Zone d’Intervention Foncière) : a zone where the local commune has the option of compulsory purchase
ZRR (Zone de Revitalisation Rurale) : a development zone in the countryside with reduced property tax on holiday homes

Notes :

The glossary (above) is intended as a general guide only and should not be relied on as definitive. If you feel we have omitted any useful term(s) or have our translation wrong please contact the webmaster via CAFPI Fastrack Messaging