Frequently Asked Questions: Property Finance in France for English Speakers

The typical timeline is 45 days from initial assessment to funds being released into your account. This is significantly faster than traditional bank mortgages (8-12 weeks) or other equity release providers (who often quote 8-10 weeks). After you submit your request, we provide an initial answer within 48 hours.

The essential documents are: your property title deed (acte de propriété), proof of identity (passport), and details of any existing mortgages or charges on the property. For urgent cases such as property seizure, we also need any legal documents you have received (commandement de payer, etc.). We can begin our assessment with scanned copies sent by email.

An independent property expert carries out a professional valuation of your property. This is not a desktop valuation — it involves a physical inspection of the property. The cost of the valuation is included in the process. Based on this valuation, we confirm how much equity you can release (typically 30-50% of the assessed market value).

Yes. Under French law, any transaction secured against property must be formalised by a notaire (public notary). The notaire ensures the transaction is legally valid and protects both parties. We work with notaires who are experienced in these transactions. All legal documents will be in French (as required by law), but our team explains everything to you in English.

The main costs are: notaire fees (approximately 1-2% of the transaction amount, as set by French law), the property valuation fee, and our service fees. We provide a complete, transparent cost breakdown during your free assessment — before you commit to anything. There are no hidden fees. You will know the exact total cost before signing any document.

Yes. This is what we specialise in. The FICP (Fichier des Incidents de remboursement des Crédits aux Particuliers) is France’s credit incident database. If you are listed, every French bank will automatically refuse your application. Our equity advance bypasses the banking system entirely — we use private funding partners who evaluate your property value, not your credit score. Learn more on our dedicated page.

Yes, and urgently. If you have received a commandement de payer or any seizure-related legal documents, contact us immediately. Our equity advance can provide the funds to pay off your creditors and stop the seizure process before it reaches auction. Time is critical — the earlier you act, the more options are available. Visit our property seizure help page for detailed information.

Yes, but the situation requires careful handling. If the property is jointly owned, both owners must agree to the equity advance. In cases where the equity advance is used to buy out one party’s share as part of a divorce settlement, we can work with your legal team to structure the transaction appropriately. Contact us to discuss your specific situation confidentially.

Yes. Once the inheritance process (succession) is complete and the property is legally in your name, you can release equity just like any other owner. If the inheritance is still in progress, we can discuss your options and timeline. Inherited properties are common in our client base — many English-speaking owners inherit French property from family and need liquidity without wanting to sell.

Since Brexit, UK nationals are classified as non-EU by French financial institutions, which has severely restricted access to French bank mortgages and remortgages. Our equity advance is unaffected by Brexit — it works for all nationalities. Additionally, since 2025, the lifetime mortgage (prêt viager hypothécaire) has reopened to non-EU nationals, offering another option for UK property owners in France aged 65+.