As if there weren’t enough scam artists around (and in this region we’ve got a lot of them, let’s face it), French legislation has created a new source of good pickings for dodgy operators. In recent years it’s become obligatory for any home on the market to come with a “diagnosis”, a report covering such matters as the presence of lead and asbestos, of termites (in certain regions), the level of energy efficiency and the premises’ exact surface area; as from the beginning of next year there will have to be a report on the safety of the electrics in homes over 15 years old.

To become a domestic diagnostician requires no recognised qualification or proof of relevant experience. You just set up a company and get on with it. According to the consumer organisation UFC-Que choisir? this situation has led to unacceptable variations in competence, working practices and pricing as the good, the bad and the indifferent share a turnover now nudging close on €400 million a year. The consumer body advises clients to confirm that a “diagnostician” is a member of the trade association FIDI (though this is a very limited guarantee of anything). They also argue that this new “profession” should be required to standardise prices, produce reports in good time before a sale, with a clear summary attached in non-jargon terms, and be forbidden to accept commissions from estate agents handling the sale. Well, until all that comes to pass, “diagnoses” will continue in many cases to be regarded with some scepticism (there are a lot of real horror stories to support this). Buyers beware, indeed.

From Riviera Reporter Issue 129: Oct/Nov 2008

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