- Water rights
- Right of way
- Termites, asbestos and your own rights
- Damage by moisture

1) Water rights

Some properties get their drinking water from a private well. In that case we advise you to locate the well and the water pipes and to find out where the water is being drawn off. If the well is located on somebody else's territory (often the territory that remains the property of the seller), you should be sure that in the conveyance the water right is being related to the right of ownership. Usually this is called a servitude. In the contract should not only be mentioned how much water can be drawn off but also the right to set up installations, such as a storage tank and pipes and cables, as well as the right of way for maintenance of the installations.

2) Right of way

Quite a big number of houses and territories can only be reached by taking a road which crosses someone else's territory. In that case you should check if the right of way is put down in writing and signed by the owners of the parcel. A private contract will do but the best guarantee is a notarial act. If their is any doubt about the precise location of the road, then we advise you to consult a land surveyor.

3) Termites, asbestos and your own rights

As far as we know, termites have never been found in the Cevennes. However, the buyer does not have any guarantees for properties which are older than ten years or for which extensive maintenance didn't take place during the last ten years. When you buy a house, you accept the current condition, after you had the possibility to view the house and to inspect it with the help of a constructional engineer to see if there are any defects.
Asbestos search is legally required before the conveyance takes place, if the property is built before July 1997. If afterwards it becomes clear that the seller or the intermediary has deliberately failed to tell you about certain defects, there is a legal possibility to recover the loss from the wrongdoer. In case of houses in communal property the contract should mention the exact surface of the accomodation (Carrez Law). If the surface mentioned is incorrect, the buyer will have the possibility to demand a reasonable price reduction up to a year after the contract was signed.

4) Damage by moisture

Moisture increases the process of decomposition of buildings and can be dangerous for the health of the users. Rain is the main cause of damage by moisture by way of the following:
– Vertical walls: porous brickwork and joints, cracks in walls
– Roof or terrace: defects in links, crumbling–away of overhanging parts, shields which are too old
– Bad or blocked roof–gutters, waste pipes and drains

Other causes of damage by moisture:
– Groundwater which gets into a building as a result of leakage or capillarity
– Condensation on the outer walls in case there are big differences in temperature inside and outside the building.

The following symptoms can also be an indication of damage by moisture:
– efflorescence
– flaking paint and whitewash
– black and grey spots on walls and ceilings
– vertical traces
– wallpaper which isn't fixed to the wall anymore
– a mouldy smell in the house
In all these cases moisture will damage the building and decrease isolation. This isn't only uncomfortable but also very expensive because the costs for heating will increase. Moisture in your house can also lead to mildew and mites. And it's harmful for the health of the residents.


If any of the symptoms mentioned above seem to occur in your house, Causses Cévennes Immobilier advises you to consult a construction expert.Your expert will help you solve the problems.

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