Real estate diagnosis: state of indoor electricity installation

Verified 16 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

In what case should a state of the indoor electricity installation, also called electrical diagnosis ? The condition of the indoor electrical installation is a diagnostic that assesses the risks that may endanger the safety of persons and their property. It must be provided by the owner salesman or lessor and be given to the purchaser or lessee when the electrical installation has over 15 years.

As owner salesman or lessor of a apartment or a detached house, you must provide an electrical diagnosis to the purchaser or tenant if Electricity installation of dwelling a over 15 years.

Electrical installations included in the outbuildings of individual houses are also concerned.

Electrical diagnosis should be done by a diagnoser meets certain criteria, including certification.

This person must have purchased a assurance to cover the consequences of liability arising from its operations.

It must not be bound in such a way as to impair its impartiality and independence.

A tool can be used to search for a certified diagnoser:

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Electrical diagnosis is done in private parts of the dwelling and its outbuildingsdownstream of the general apparatus for controlling and protecting the electrical installation specific to each housing, to the power supply terminals or to the sockets of the power outlets.

The electrical diagnosis shall also cover the suitability of fixed equipment for the characteristics of the network and the conditions of its installation with regard to safety requirements.

The electrical diagnosis shall record the existence and describe, with regard to safety requirements, the characteristics of:

  • A general control and protection apparatus and its accessibility
  • At least one differential device of appropriate sensitivity to the earthing conditions, at the origin of the electrical installation
  • An overcurrent protection device adapted to the section of the conductors, on each circuit
  • An equipotential connection and an electrical installation adapted to the particular conditions of the rooms containing a bathtub or a shower.

Electrical diagnostics identify electrical equipment that is unsuitable for use (or that presents a risk of direct contact with live parts) and conductors that are not mechanically protected.

Electrical diagnosis shall be carried out in accordance with regulated methodology and model.

You need to integrate electrical diagnostics with the various real estate diagnostics included in the technical diagnostic folder (DDT) in sales case or rental case and deliver it to the future buyer or tenant.

The period of validity differs depending on whether a sale or a lease is involved.

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In case of sale

Electrical diagnosis has a validity period of 3 years.

In case of rental

Electrical diagnosis has a validity period of Six years.

However, a certificate of compliance from the National Committee for the Safety of Electricity Users (Consuel) can replace the electrical diagnosis if the attestation has been made for less than 6 years.

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For Selling Owner

Your liability may be incurred if you do not transmit the electrical diagnosis or if you mention false information in the sale announcement to mislead the future buyer.

If you do not provide the diagnosis, you cannot be exempt from the guarantee of hidden defects.

The purchaser may to appeal to the court of justice of the place where the property is located to request the cancelation of the sale or a reduction in the price.

You may also be fined €1,500 if you are using an uncertified (€3,000 in case of recurrence).

For the landlord

You may be liable if you do not voluntarily pass the diagnosis to the tenant or if you mention false information in the rental advertisement to mislead the tenant.

In addition, you can also be fined €1,500 if you are using an uncertified (€3,000 in case of recurrence).

For the Diagnoser

If the diagnoser makes a mistake by not complying with the regulations to carry out the diagnosis (for example, incorrect diagnosis), the buyer or the tenant can make a complaint to the  court of law of the place where the property is situated to request  damages.

In addition, the diagnosers may be fined €1,500 if he exercises without certification (€3,000 in case of recurrence).

For the notary

The liability of the notary may be incurred if he has validated the sale in the absence of the diagnosis or with knowledge of misleading information misleading the buyer.

Who can help me?

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  • Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

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    The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.

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