Complete guide to buying property in France as a UK buyer: legal process, costs, taxes, notaire role, and timeline. Post-Brexit requirements explained.
OMF Property Team
FCA Ref: 305228 | International Mortgages Since 1999
France remains the most popular destination for British buyers purchasing abroad — and has been for decades. Despite Brexit, UK citizens retain the right to buy French property without restriction. What has changed is the visa landscape for longer stays. This comprehensive guide walks you through the French property buying process step by step, covering costs, timelines, legal requirements, and mortgage options for UK buyers in 2026.
Yes, without any restriction. British nationals can buy French property in the same way as any non-EU citizen. Ownership rights were not affected by Brexit. UK buyers have historically been one of the largest groups of foreign buyers in France, though exact rankings vary year to year. Verify current statistics at: notaires.fr (Notaires de France annual statistics).
French property is primarily sold through agents immobiliers (estate agents) and notaires. Unlike the UK, the asking price in France is often close to the final price — aggressive negotiation is less common. Typical negotiation is 3–7% below asking. Once your offer is accepted verbally, the process moves quickly to the next legal stage.
The compromis de vente is the preliminary purchase contract signed by buyer and seller. Once signed, it is legally binding on both parties. As a buyer, you pay a deposit of 5–10% at this stage. After signing, you have a statutory 10-day cooling-off period (délai de rétractation, introduced by loi ALUR 2014) during which you can withdraw and recover your deposit in full. After those 10 days, if you withdraw you forfeit your deposit — unless a conditional clause (such as mortgage approval) applies.
The compromis typically includes suspensive conditions (conditions suspensives) — usually a mortgage approval clause. If your mortgage is refused, you can withdraw and recover your deposit.
Once the compromis is signed, you typically have 45–60 days to secure your mortgage. French banks and international mortgage brokers both offer mortgages to non-resident UK buyers. Key factors: French lenders assess your debt-to-income ratio (taux d'endettement) — total monthly debt payments should not exceed 35% of gross monthly income (Banque de France macroprudential guideline).
The acte de vente is the final notarised deed of sale, signed before a notaire. The notaire acts as a neutral, state-appointed public official for both buyer and seller (or you can appoint your own, at no extra cost, as the fee is split between them). At this stage, you pay: the remaining purchase price, notaire fees (frais de notaire — approximately 7–8% for existing properties, 2–3% for new builds), and any outstanding mortgage arrangement fees.
After signing the acte de vente, the notaire registers the transaction with the Service de Publicité Foncière (SPF — formerly the Bureau des Hypothèques). You receive a certificate of ownership within days. The full title document (titre de propriété) typically arrives within 3–6 months.
Budgeting accurately is essential. For a typical resale property purchase in France, expect:
French lenders typically offer up to 70–80% LTV for non-resident buyers. The 35% debt-to-income rule (taux d'endettement) is the binding regulatory constraint set by the Haut Conseil de Stabilité Financière (HCSF). The minimum deposit is therefore approximately 15–20% of purchase price plus buying costs.
French mortgage rates have eased from their 2023–2024 peak. In early 2026, indicative rates for non-resident buyers are approximately:
Rates are illustrative and subject to change. Verify current rates at meilleurtaux.com or empruntis.com and the Banque de France monthly rate publication. Your actual rate will depend on your profile, loan amount, and lender.
All property owners pay taxe foncière, calculated by local authorities. The amount varies significantly by location and property size — for a typical rural property it might be €500–€2,000 per year; Paris and major cities are significantly higher.
If the net value of your French real estate assets exceeds €1.3 million, you are subject to IFI. The IFI applies on a graduated scale (not a flat rate):
Note: IFI applies to the total net value of French real estate held. Source: impots.gouv.fr
If you sell French property, capital gains tax (CGT) applies unless it is your primary residence. The base CGT rate for non-residents is 19%. In addition, French social charges (prélèvements sociaux) apply: EU/EEA residents pay a reduced rate of 7.5%; UK buyers post-Brexit are subject to the full 17.2%, bringing the total effective rate to 36.2%. Note: some advisers argue UK nationals paying into a state social security scheme elsewhere may be entitled to the 7.5% rate under bilateral arrangements — you should seek specialist advice on your individual circumstances.
Taper relief (abattement pour durée de détention) reduces the taxable gain from the sixth year of ownership:
Source: service-public.fr — Plus-values immobilières
As a UK citizen post-Brexit, you can visit France (and the Schengen Area) for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without a visa. This is the Schengen visa-free allowance. Source: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france
If you wish to spend more time at your French property, you will need a long-stay visa from the French consulate. Common options include:
Always verify current income thresholds directly with the French consulate in the UK (uk.ambafrance.org) or france-visas.gouv.fr, as requirements are subject to change.
No. Non-resident UK buyers can obtain French mortgages from French banks and specialist brokers. However, non-residents typically face slightly stricter criteria — lower LTV limits (typically up to 70–80%) and full income verification. The 35% debt-to-income rule (HCSF guideline) applies equally.
The notaire (French notary) is the legally required, state-appointed public official for French property transactions. Their role combines conveyancing, tax collection, and registration — they act neutrally for both parties, not as an advocate for either side. Many buyers additionally use a UK-based French law specialist for independent advice, particularly for complex transactions. This is optional and typically costs an additional £1,500–£3,000.
Buyers have a statutory 10-day cooling-off period (délai de rétractation) after signing the compromis de vente. During this period you can withdraw for any reason and receive your deposit back in full. This right is statutory under loi SRU as amended by loi ALUR (2014) and cannot be waived.
From offer accepted to completion, typically 3–4 months. The compromis de vente is usually signed within 1–3 weeks of an accepted offer. The acte de vente (completion) follows 2–3 months later, allowing time for mortgage approval, surveys, and legal searches.
Yes — the IFI (Impôt sur la Fortune Immobilière) applies if your net French real estate assets exceed €1.3 million. The rate is graduated from 0.5% to 1.5% across six value bands. Source: impots.gouv.fr
If your compromis de vente includes a mortgage approval condition (condition suspensive d'obtention de prêt) — which is standard — and your mortgage application is refused, you can withdraw and recover your full deposit. You must apply for the mortgage within the timeframe specified in the compromis and provide the lender's refusal letter to trigger this clause.
OMF Property Team
FCA Ref: 305228 | International Mortgages Since 1999
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