- Loi Carrez
The loi Carrez, or Carrez law [ [http://www.lexinter.net/lois/loi_du_18_decembre_1996_(loi_carrez).htm Loi n°96-1107 du 18 décembre 1996] fr icon] is a
French law enacted on18 December 1996 which obliges the vendor of a property lot (or fraction of a lot) in acondominium to specifically mention the surface area in all documents relating to the property sold.The law does not apply to sales of property not yet constructed, which comes under the building code [ [http://www.lexinter.net/patrimoine/chapitre_i_vente_d'immeubles_a_construire.htm article R 261-13 of the Building Code] fr icon] , nor to construction land.
Calculation of floor area
The effective useable surface area, known as the "superficie Carrez", is the total enclosed floor area of an apartment or other construction discounting walls, partitions, staircases and stair wells, piping and electricity conduits and ducting, window and door
embrasure s. Parts of the enclosed area which are of less than 1.8m in height are also excluded. [ [http://www.lexinter.net/JPTXT/loi_carrez.htm Amendment to the loi Carrez by Article 4-1 of the decree of 23 mai 1997] fr icon]Lots, or fractions of lots of surface areas of less than 8 m² are also excluded from the calculation of habitable surface area. [Article 4-2 of the decree of 23 mai 1997] Typically, maid's rooms ("chambre de bonne") would fall into this category.
Cellars, garages, parking places, and other storage facilities sold as separate lots are also excluded.
Redress
* If the floor area is not indicated in the legal sale contract of the property, the buyer may void the contract within one month of signing the contract.
* If the floor area is understated by more than 5% in the sale contract, the buyer has the right, within one year, to demand a price reduction in proportion to the extent of understatement.
* If the floor area is overstated, the seller has no recourse. [Article 46 of the law n° 65-557 of 10 July 1965, as modified by the loi Carrez]References
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