New powers have been granted to France’s justice commissioners, also known as huissiers, who can now add assistance in real estate dealings to their roster of services. 

As of 1st September, huissiers in France have been granted new privileges, enabling them to offer real estate mediation and negotiation services alongside their traditional duties.

This development builds on the existing skills of qualified justice commissioners in the realm of rental management. Since 2011, huissiers have been able to include ancillary property administrators as part of their remit, with their responsibilities extending to locally and regionally owned properties in 2015. 

“Already an expert in rental management, the Commissioner of Justice can, with real estate intermediation, meet the growing expectations of clients in terms of advice and legal security in real estate transactions, for individuals and companies,” affirms the French government.  

WHAT CAN THEY DO 

Under a decree published on 3rd July, justice commissioners are permitted to act as property administrators, real estate brokers for the sale of property they already administer, as well as negotiate the terms of real estate transactions, act as insurance agents, judicial or treaty mediators, and serve as qualified professionals responsible for the verification and approval of management accounts for protected adults.

This means there will be an overlap in several functions that were previously the sole domain of notaires and lawyers, but there are some restrictions. Commissioners can only mediate sales of properties they have previously administered. The decree also stipulates the need for “specific and continuous” training to ensure that huissiers stay up-to-date with legal changes and developments affecting the real estate sector. 

This expanded role positions justice commissioners as versatile legal professionals, meeting the increasing demand for real estate expertise and legal security in property transactions. 

For more information about the changes, click here. 

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