What should the announcement of a real estate sale indicate?

Verified 12 September 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You want to buy a home, you consult the real estate ads and you want to know the information that must be included? Whether it is published on the internet, in the press or posted in the real estate agency, the advertisement must contain information on the property sold and on the real estate agent. The content of the real estate ad is identical for all types of housing. For a property located in condominium, the announcement is completed with information about the condominium. We're taking a look at the regulations.

General case

The real estate announcement presents the main features of the property sold:

  • Type of property (apartment, loft, house...)
  • Selling Price
  • Location
  • Area and composition
  • Condition of the property (work to be planned, new, renovated...)
  • Energy Performance Diagnostic (EPD), which indicates the energy classification of the property
  • Information on natural and technological risks.

With the permission of the seller, a photograph most often accompanies ads. It is recommended to obtain the written agreement of the architect who designed the building and to make its name appear at the bottom of the photograph.

The presentation of prices on the ad differs if the agency fees are paid by the buyer or seller:

Paid by the buyer

The advertisement must specify the following:

  • Price of the property with the amount of fees TTC: titleContent
  • Price of the property without the amount of fees
  • Percentage of fees
  • Who pays the professional fees (seller or buyer).
Paid by the seller

The advertisement must specify the following:

  • Price of the property without the amount of fees TTC: titleContent
  • Who pays the professional fees (seller or buyer).

The Energy Performance Diagnostic (EPD) indicates legibly and in color the energy and climate classifications of the property on reference scales (from A, extremely efficient to G, extremely poor).

It thus makes it possible to estimate the energy consumption of the dwelling and its greenhouse gas emission rate.

The DPE shall indicate the amount of annual notional energy expenditure for standard use. It specifies the base year of the energy prices used to establish this estimate.

Where the dwelling is classified F or G, the advertisement must include the words " housing with excessive energy consumption ».

Real estate listings for enclosed and covered buildings with heating or hot water installations must display the EPD. The buildings to be built are not affected by the display of the DPE if the announcement is made before the end of the work.

The real estate advertisement must include the following statement: “Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Georisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr ».

The Georiques site allows you to know if the property is impacted by natural and technological risks, mining risks, a retreat of coastline, soil pollution or an obligation to brush clearing.

FYI  

At the time of sale, a risk status must be transmitted to the buyer.

The advertisement must also include information about the real estate agency :

  • Number SIREN
  • Mention of the registration of the real estate agent at the one-stop shop for company formalities.

If you find that the real estate listing is incomplete or inaccurate, you should contact the real estate agent. For this, you can reach him by:

  • Letter RAR: titleContent
  • Hand delivered letter against a receipt
  • Letter filed by a commissioner of justice (former bailiff).

If you don't get an answer, you can report the incorrect announcement to the fraud enforcement services, file a complaint with the advertising ethics jury, make an amicable appeal or take legal action.

Deceptive marketing practices are punishable by 2 years' imprisonment and a fine of €300,000.

Report an inaccurate ad

The SignalConso website allows you to report problems related to deceptive marketing practices to the administration:

Conso signal

Filing a complaint

You can file a complaint with the Advertising Ethics Jury:

Filing a complaint about the content of an advertisement

Amicable remedy

You can appeal free of charge to one mediator of consumption for the amicable resolution of the dispute between you and the professional.

Legal recourse

You can file a complaint with the police station or by letter to the public prosecutor.

You can also refer the matter to the judicial court to request the nullity of the contract or damages.

Property in condominium

The real estate announcement presents the main features of the property sold:

  • Type of property (apartment, loft, house...)
  • Selling Price
  • Location
  • Area and composition
  • Condition of the property (work to be planned, new, renovated...)
  • Property sold subject to the status of the condominium
  • Number of condominium lots in the building
  • Average annual amount of charges paid by the seller
  • Procedure in progress due to difficulties encountered by the condominium (preventive measures, backup plan,...)
  • Energy Performance Diagnostic (EPD), which indicates the energy classification of the property
  • Information on natural and technological risks.

With the permission of the seller, a photograph most often accompanies ads. It is recommended to obtain the written agreement of the architect who designed the building and to make its name appear at the bottom of the photograph.

The presentation of prices on the ad differs if the agency fees are paid by the buyer or seller:

Paid by the buyer

The advertisement must specify the following:

  • Price of the property with the amount of fees TTC: titleContent
  • Price of the property without the amount of fees
  • Percentage of fees
  • Who pays the professional fees (seller or buyer).
Paid by the seller

The advertisement must specify the following:

  • Price of the property without the amount of fees TTC: titleContent
  • Who pays the professional fees (seller or buyer).

The Energy Performance Diagnostic (EPD) indicates legibly and in color the energy and climate classifications of the property on reference scales (from A, extremely efficient to G, extremely poor).

It thus makes it possible to estimate the energy consumption of the dwelling and its greenhouse gas emission rate.

The DPE shall indicate the amount of annual notional energy expenditure for standard use. It specifies the base year of the energy prices used to establish this estimate.

Where the dwelling is classified F or G, the advertisement must include the words " housing with excessive energy consumption ».

Real estate listings for enclosed and covered buildings with heating or hot water installations must display the EPD. The buildings to be built are not affected by the display of the DPE if the announcement is made before the end of the work.

The real estate advertisement must include the following statement: “Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Georisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr ».

The Georiques site allows you to know if the property is impacted by natural and technological risks, mining risks, a retreat of coastline, soil pollution or an obligation to brush clearing.

FYI  

At the time of sale, a risk status must be transmitted to the buyer.

The advertisement must also include information about the real estate agency :

  • Number SIREN
  • Mention of the registration of the real estate agent at the one-stop shop for company formalities.

If you find that the real estate listing is incomplete or inaccurate, you should contact the real estate agent. For this, you can reach him by:

  • Letter RAR: titleContent
  • Hand delivered letter against a receipt
  • Letter filed by a commissioner of justice (former bailiff).

If you don't get an answer, you can report the incorrect announcement to the fraud enforcement services, file a complaint with the advertising ethics jury, make an amicable appeal or take legal action.

Deceptive marketing practices are punishable by 2 years' imprisonment and a fine of €300,000.

Report an inaccurate ad

The SignalConso website allows you to report problems related to deceptive marketing practices to the administration:

Conso signal

Filing a complaint

You can file a complaint with the Advertising Ethics Jury:

Filing a complaint about the content of an advertisement

Amicable remedy

You can appeal free of charge to one mediator of consumption for the amicable resolution of the dispute between you and the professional.

Legal recourse

You can file a complaint with the police station or by letter to the public prosecutor.

You can also refer the matter to the judicial court to request the nullity of the contract or damages.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • 0809 540 550 DGCCRF - ConsoResponse

    Are you experiencing a problem following a purchase? Do you have a question on a point of law before buying or ordering?

    You can get an answer from an agent of the DGCCRF: titleContent by calling the 0809,540,550.

    Opening hours of the service:

    Number not overtaxed

    • Monday and Tuesday: from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.15pm to 5.15pm
    • Wednesday: from 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm
    • Thursday: from 8:30 to 12:30
    • Friday: from 8:30 am to 4 pm
  • Mediators of consumption