Diagnosis termites and other xylophagous insects

Termites and other xylophagous insects can cause damage by degrading wood and its derivatives used in construction. They can even cause the construction to collapse.

When selling a dwelling located in a risk area or already infested, the seller must give a termites diagnosis to the future buyer so that he is informed of the presence or not of xylophagous insects.

Diagnosis termites should be performed for single-family homes and units of condominium lots collective buildings.

The dwellings concerned are those located in areas declared by a prefectural decree as being infested with termites or which may be infested in the short term.

To find out if your home is located in an area subject to a prefectural decree, you can consult a map:

Consult departments infested with termites or at risk

You can also contact the prefecture or the town hall (or consult its website).

The termites diagnosis must be carried out by a diagnoser meeting certain criteria, including certification.

The list of certified diagnosers can be consulted on the directory of the website of the Ministry in charge of housing:

Search for a certified real estate diagnoser or check the certificates of its diagnoser

Although the listed diagnosers are certified, it is recommended to verify that their professional indemnity insurance is valid at the time of the intervention. Impartiality (lack of bias) and independence (absence of any link of interest or influence) of the diagnoser vis-à-vis yourself also fall under the essential criteria to be respected.

The diagnoser must comply with the following rules:

• Identify the customer (yourself, the owner), collect useful information on housing and get the necessary authorizations before any intervention, i.e. your agreement or that of the authorized person (agency, notary, trustee…)
• Implement all means available to identify the possible presence of termites
• Examine all levels, rooms and accessible volumes of the accommodation during the visit
• Realize a thorough visual examination of all the elements and structures that make up the housing
• Perform soundings in the wooden parts.

The termite diagnosis should include the following:

• Accommodation concerned
• Parties visited and those that could not be visited
• Elements infested with the presence of termites and those that are not.

The termite diagnosis must be dated and signed.

In addition, the termites diagnosis must result in the writing of a visit report drawn up in French by the diagnoser and in accordance with a regulatory model.

In case of presence of termites, action must be taken to eradicate them.

Anti-termite treatments may not eradicate termites permanently, so it may be necessary to renew treatments if termites reappear.

Diagnosis termites is valid at most 6 months.

At the time of signing the promise to sell or the authentic deed of sale, any diagnosis whose seniority exceeds 6 months needs to be redone.

It must be integrated into the Technical Diagnostic File (DDT).

NoHowever, the future buyer must be aware of this before buying.

As a result, the buyer, informed of the presence of termites and who buys the property as it is, will not be able to apply to the court for the cancelation of the sale on this ground.

Penalties vary depending on who is involved: