Property
Napoleonic ownership, notarial deeds and registration transfer duties
Property law follows the Civil Code in the French tradition: ownership transfers by contract, but the transaction is executed by notarial deed and made enforceable against third parties through the mortgage registry. Buyers pay registration and transcription duties on acquisition.
Key rules
- Sale of immovable property is executed by notarial deed and transcribed in the mortgage registry (Administration de l'Enregistrement).
- Acquisition attracts registration duty and a transcription duty on the price.
- Certain tax reliefs (Bëllegen Akt tax credit) reduce duties for buyers of a main residence.
Governing law
- Civil Code, property provisionsFrench Napoleonic tradition
- Law on registration and transcription dutiesDuties on property transfers
In practice
The notary handles verification, duties and registration, and the main-residence tax credit is a significant relief that buyers should claim. Very high property values make duties a material cost to budget for.