Buying Property in France as a British Buyer After Brexit: The Steps, the 10-Day Withdrawal Period and the Notary (2026)

A British citizen buys a French home through the same two-stage process as anyone else: a pre-contract, then a deed signed in front of a notary. This guide follows the French government’s pages on existing homes and GOV.UK’s guidance for British buyers, as read on 20 October 2026. It covers buying an existing home, not building or buying off-plan beyond a short pointer. For the notary’s fees, see notary fees when buying in France. For the whole process, see buying property in France: the process.

What buying does and does not give you

Before the steps, the point that matters most after Brexit. GOV.UK’s France travel advice says you can visit the Schengen area, France included, for up to 90 days in any 180, and that to stay longer you must meet France’s entry requirements. It says that if you own a second home you may need to show evidence of ownership at the border, such as a tax or utility bill.

France-Visas goes further for British second-home owners. It says stays in a second home of between 3 and 6 months do not make it your main residence and need a temporary long-stay visa, the VLS-T “visiteur”, and that stays of more than 6 months need a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit, the VLS-TS “visiteur”. The official pages I read do not say that owning a French home gives a right to live there. See how long UK citizens can stay in France without a visa and British citizens and French visas after Brexit.

Step 1: advice and checks

GOV.UK’s guidance on buying property in France (the page was last updated in 2015, so treat details as dated) and its general guidance on buying abroad give a consistent list:

• take independent legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer licensed to practise, rather than one recommended by the estate agent or developer, who may act for both sides;
• use an independent translator or interpreter for contracts;
• the notaire is a public official qualified in French law who advises on property law and is empowered by the state to legalise property sales;
• ask for the information pack of reports and partial surveys before signing. GOV.UK says these are not the equivalent of a full survey in the UK, and that if you want a full structural survey you should arrange it before you sign or write a withdrawal condition into the contract;
• for a flat, check the service charges and the minutes of the last co-owners’ meeting;
• do not pay in cash. GOV.UK says cash payments are a common but illegal practice and that you should pay only by transfer through established banking channels;
• allow time. GOV.UK says two months or more can pass between contract and completion, and that transfers to the notary’s client account should be arranged at least 10 days before completion so the funds clear.

The seller must also supply a technical diagnostics file. service-public.gouv.fr lists their validity: asbestos finding, permanent; lead, 1 year; termites, 6 months; gas and electricity (installations over 15 years old), 3 years each; energy performance record, 10 years. The diagnostics must be valid on the date of the pre-contract.

Step 2: the pre-contract

For an existing home there are two main pre-contracts, according to service-public.gouv.fr (page verified 10 April 2026).

• The unilateral promise of sale. The seller commits to sell to you and you have an option, which you may exercise or give up within a period the two parties fix. During that period the seller may not sell to anyone else.
• The compromis de vente (sales agreement). Both sides are bound. The seller cannot withdraw in principle, unless the contract gives that right.

In both, suspensive conditions can be written in. The page names obtaining a mortgage, obtaining a contract, work the seller must do before the sale, and the purging of a pre-emption right. The parties set the deadline freely, except for the loan condition, which must run for at least 1 month from signing.

If the conditions fail, for example you are refused the loan, the pre-contract lapses and a sum you paid is returned in full. If you simply give up the purchase without a legitimate reason, the seller keeps it.

A deposit is common in a compromis: the page says it generally corresponds to 10% of the price, held in the notary’s escrow account until the deed is signed. In a unilateral promise, the sum paid to the seller for the commitment (indemnité d’immobilisation) is, in practice, between 5% and 10% of the price, also held by the notary; the page says a minimum of 5% is mandatory when the promise lasts more than 18 months.

Your 10-day right of withdrawal

service-public.gouv.fr says a non-professional buyer of a residential property has a right of withdrawal of 10 calendar days. The period starts the day after the first presentation of the registered letter notifying the pre-contract. You withdraw by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The deed page adds a second protection. When a compromis was signed first, you have already had your 10 days and there is no further cooling-off period. If there was no compromis, you have a 10 calendar day cooling-off period before signing the deed, during which the deed cannot be signed and no money can be demanded from you.

GOV.UK’s 2015 page says there is a compulsory 7-day cooling-off period after signing a preliminary “reservation” contract for an off-plan purchase. That is a different contract from an existing-home pre-contract, and it predates the 10-day rule on the French page, so check the period with your lawyer if you buy off-plan.

Step 3: the notarised deed

The sale of an existing home is an authentic deed that must be written by a notary (service-public.gouv.fr, page verified 25 June 2025). The notary first checks the legal situation of the seller, the buyer and the property, and annexes the supporting documents.

• Signing: the deed is signed by the seller, the buyer or a representative who holds a power of attorney, and the notary. The notary reads it out loud, on paper or on screen. You can use the same notary as the seller or have your own; the costs are then shared between them. GOV.UK also lists the fees to arrange a power of attorney among the extra costs of buying abroad, if you need one.
• Payment: on the day of signing, the buyer must pay the full price and the notary’s fees. A price of 3,000 euros or more is paid by bank transfer. The notary gives you a receipt and passes the amount to the seller after the deed is registered with the land publicity service.
• Afterwards: the notary registers a copy of the deed and, on the day of signing, gives you a proof of ownership. If you paid an immobilisation sum with a promise of sale, it is deducted from the price.

GOV.UK suggests thinking about who is going to buy (for example with or without a survivorship clause), what happens when an owner dies, and making a will in France, because inheritance laws may differ from the UK. It also says that equity release as understood in the UK does not exist in France, and that the French vente en viager is a different thing that needs qualified legal advice.

Mortgages and money

GOV.UK’s general guidance on buying abroad says to compare lenders, not to accept the seller’s agent’s recommendation automatically, to look at the interest rate, the term and the setup and early repayment fees, and to consider how changes in the euro against the pound could affect your repayments. It lists extra costs to budget for besides the price: international transfer fees, translation, surveyor fees, legal fees, and ongoing costs such as annual property tax, income tax for non-residents and community fees.

GOV.UK’s France page names two local property taxes. Because the page is dated 2015, check the taxes that apply to your home with the French tax authority before you buy. For sending money between the two countries, see sending pounds to euros for a move to France.

Off-plan purchases

GOV.UK’s page covers buying a home off-plan in some detail: staged payment limits, a bank guarantee, and the caps on a reservation deposit. Because that page is from 2015, I have not repeated its figures here. If you are buying a home that is not yet built, ask your lawyer which rules apply today.

Related guides for British readers

• Our guide to renting in France as a British citizen sets out what a French landlord may ask a British tenant for, the deposit, the lease and whether the Visale guarantee is open to you.

FAQ

Can a British citizen buy a house in France after Brexit?

The official pages I read set out the same buying process for everyone and describe no ban or special rule for British buyers. GOV.UK’s general advice is to take independent advice from an English-speaking lawyer.

Does buying a house give me the right to live in France?

The pages read do not say so. France-Visas says British second-home owners staying 3 to 6 months need a temporary long-stay visa, and those staying over 6 months need a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit.

Can I withdraw after signing the compromis?

Yes, within 10 calendar days from the day after the first presentation of the registered letter notifying it, if you are a non-professional buyer of a home, according to service-public.gouv.fr.

What if my mortgage is refused?

If the pre-contract has a suspensive condition for obtaining a loan, the pre-contract lapses and the sum paid is returned in full. The legal minimum for that condition is 1 month from signing.

Do I have to be in France to sign?

service-public.gouv.fr says the deed is signed by the parties or by a representative holding a power of attorney.

When do I pay?

On the day of signing the deed: the full price and the notary’s fees, with the price paid by bank transfer if it is 3,000 euros or more.

Do I need a lawyer as well as the notary?

GOV.UK advises independent legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer, not one recommended by the agent or developer. The notary is a public official, not your personal adviser.