The most Frequently Asked Questions
Your property
WHAT TYPES OF PARTITION WALLS ARE USED?
Most of the partition walls between rooms are constructed from plasterboard with a cardboard matrix core. The standard partition wall thickness is 5-7 cm. The thicker the partition, the greater the level of sound insulation. Occasionally, partitions may be constructed using gypsum blocks or plasterboard screwed to a metal framework.
WHAT IS STAPLED STONE CLADDING? ?
This refers to a covering of natural stone tiles used to clad all or part of the building’s exterior walls. These stone tiles are stapled to the wall and come in a wide range of shapes and colours. They therefore form an integral part of the overall building design.
WHAT IS MEANT BY INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOINERY?
External joinery means windows, window frames and shutters. They are made either from PVC, wood or aluminium. Internal joinery refers essentially to the internal doors and wooden starircases.
WHAT IS MEANT BY AN “ANCILLARY AREA” (SURFACE ANNEXE)?
These are areas that are not directly part of the living accommodation, but are sold with it, and include features such as a wine cellar, garage or car parking space, either at ground floor or basement level. Not all properties have ancillary areas, however they may be offered as optional extras, over and above the purchase price of your property.
Most of the partition walls between rooms are constructed from plasterboard with a cardboard matrix core. The standard partition wall thickness is 5-7 cm. The thicker the partition, the greater the level of sound insulation. Occasionally, partitions may be constructed using gypsum blocks or plasterboard screwed to a metal framework.
WHAT IS STAPLED STONE CLADDING? ?
This refers to a covering of natural stone tiles used to clad all or part of the building’s exterior walls. These stone tiles are stapled to the wall and come in a wide range of shapes and colours. They therefore form an integral part of the overall building design.
WHAT IS MEANT BY INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOINERY?
External joinery means windows, window frames and shutters. They are made either from PVC, wood or aluminium. Internal joinery refers essentially to the internal doors and wooden starircases.
WHAT IS MEANT BY AN “ANCILLARY AREA” (SURFACE ANNEXE)?
These are areas that are not directly part of the living accommodation, but are sold with it, and include features such as a wine cellar, garage or car parking space, either at ground floor or basement level. Not all properties have ancillary areas, however they may be offered as optional extras, over and above the purchase price of your property.
Your purchase
CAN YOU CANCEL MY PURCHASE AND, IF SO, HOW?
You have a “cooling-off” period of 7 days from receiving the reservation contract or the promesse de vente (non-binding sales agreement). If you change your mind, you should inform Bouygues Immobilier by registered letter. Your reservation deposit will then be returned to you within 3 months. Under the Scrivener law, you can also cancel your purchase if you are unable to secure a mortgage loan. However, to qualify under that law, you must have made your loan applications within the period allowed by the "contrat préliminaire" (preliminary contract) and can justify that fact (by submitting a loan application certificate, for example). Lastly, you may also cancel your purchase if the description of your property prior to, or at the time of, signing the sales contract is substantially different to what you have been promised.
WHAT IS THE SECURITY DEPOSIT (DÉPÔT DE GARANTIE), AND WHEN DO YOU PAY IT?
The security deposit is the payment you make when you reserve the property and which is freezed on an account. This deposit is usually between 2% and 10% of the purchase price, depending on the cases. Your security deposit will be deducted from the total purchase price. If you cancel your purchase at a later date, you may reclaim your deposit, under certain circumstances.
You then make further stage payments (usually 4) as work progresses. If you are buying a property that is already completed, you will pay your initial deposit on signing the sale agreement, and the balance on signature of the contract of sale.
WHAT GUARANTEES COME WITH YOUR PROPERTY?
When you sign the reservation contract, Bouygues Immobilier gives you firm dates for completion of construction and handover, and is committed to meeting these dates.
Moreover, the law obliges Bouygues Immobilier to provide a guarantee of fault-free completion or a refund guarantee. The guarantee of fault-free completion is your assurance that all the necessary work has been completed. The refund guarantee provides for the refund of all amounts paid, should the sale be cancelled for any reason.
You have a “cooling-off” period of 7 days from receiving the reservation contract or the promesse de vente (non-binding sales agreement). If you change your mind, you should inform Bouygues Immobilier by registered letter. Your reservation deposit will then be returned to you within 3 months. Under the Scrivener law, you can also cancel your purchase if you are unable to secure a mortgage loan. However, to qualify under that law, you must have made your loan applications within the period allowed by the "contrat préliminaire" (preliminary contract) and can justify that fact (by submitting a loan application certificate, for example). Lastly, you may also cancel your purchase if the description of your property prior to, or at the time of, signing the sales contract is substantially different to what you have been promised.
WHAT IS THE SECURITY DEPOSIT (DÉPÔT DE GARANTIE), AND WHEN DO YOU PAY IT?
The security deposit is the payment you make when you reserve the property and which is freezed on an account. This deposit is usually between 2% and 10% of the purchase price, depending on the cases. Your security deposit will be deducted from the total purchase price. If you cancel your purchase at a later date, you may reclaim your deposit, under certain circumstances.
You then make further stage payments (usually 4) as work progresses. If you are buying a property that is already completed, you will pay your initial deposit on signing the sale agreement, and the balance on signature of the contract of sale.
WHAT GUARANTEES COME WITH YOUR PROPERTY?
When you sign the reservation contract, Bouygues Immobilier gives you firm dates for completion of construction and handover, and is committed to meeting these dates.
Moreover, the law obliges Bouygues Immobilier to provide a guarantee of fault-free completion or a refund guarantee. The guarantee of fault-free completion is your assurance that all the necessary work has been completed. The refund guarantee provides for the refund of all amounts paid, should the sale be cancelled for any reason.
Quality marks
WHAT IS THE HABITAT & ENVIRONNEMENT (H&E) MARK?
Launched in 2003 by QUALITEL, and awarded by CERQUAL, the aim of Habitat & Environnement certification is to ensure low environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of a building.
Habitat & Environnement certification applies to new-build homes in apartment developments and estate developments. Its provisions govern the internal and external environments of the property and also the residents way of life (garbage sorting...).
In order to receive certification, a development must meet at least 6 of the following 7 criteria:
* 2 organisational criteria
. the environmental management of the development
. site cleanliness
* 4 technical criteria
. energy and reducing the production of greenhouse gases
. choice of materials
. controlled consumption of water
. comfort and health issues, such as thermal and acoustic insulation, selective waste sorting, etc.
* 1 criterion applying to the information provided to residents
. good environmental practice
3 criteria must be met in all cases: the environmental management of the development, energy consumption and good environmental practice.
WHAT IS THE QUALITEL MARK?
The Qualitel mark is an official certification recognised under the French law of 3 June 1994 and Decree of 30 March relating to the certification of industrial products and services.
Based on a rigorous evaluation of 7 technical criteria, this label recognises construction project performances in 3 key areas:
- acoustic and thermal comfort,
- control over space and water heating energy input,
- the useful life of domestic fittings (plumbing and electrical) and the external envelope of the building (external walls and roof).
Bouygues Immobilier is a voluntary member of the Qualitel mark scheme. Obtaining this certification involves a commitment to completing the development in compliance with the certified specifications shown on the plans. Compliance checks are conducted by sampling the construction work carried out on certificated projects as they progress.
WHAT IS THE VIVRELEC MARK?
VIVRELEC is a partnership between EDF (the French national power company) and the construction and electrical industry. The aim of this partnership was to design comfortable and affordable electric heating for inclusion in new-build developments: the resulting solution is called VIVRELEC. New-generation heating equipment, higher insulation levels (10% to 30 % above the regulatory requirements), effective ventilation, lower electricity bills, advice, checks and PROMOTELEC certification are just some of the benefits ensured by this approval mark, and which can reduce heating-related electricity consumption by up to 30%, compared with traditional new installations.
WHAT IS THE PROMOTELEC MARK?
PROMOTELEC is an independent organisation which checks and guarantees VIVRELEC quality. In order to receive this label, a home must be checked by PROMOTELEC during the following installation phases: electrical, space heating, hot water system and insulation. All these systems must comply with precise and demanding standards.
Launched in 2003 by QUALITEL, and awarded by CERQUAL, the aim of Habitat & Environnement certification is to ensure low environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of a building.
Habitat & Environnement certification applies to new-build homes in apartment developments and estate developments. Its provisions govern the internal and external environments of the property and also the residents way of life (garbage sorting...).
In order to receive certification, a development must meet at least 6 of the following 7 criteria:
* 2 organisational criteria
. the environmental management of the development
. site cleanliness
* 4 technical criteria
. energy and reducing the production of greenhouse gases
. choice of materials
. controlled consumption of water
. comfort and health issues, such as thermal and acoustic insulation, selective waste sorting, etc.
* 1 criterion applying to the information provided to residents
. good environmental practice
3 criteria must be met in all cases: the environmental management of the development, energy consumption and good environmental practice.
WHAT IS THE QUALITEL MARK?
The Qualitel mark is an official certification recognised under the French law of 3 June 1994 and Decree of 30 March relating to the certification of industrial products and services.
Based on a rigorous evaluation of 7 technical criteria, this label recognises construction project performances in 3 key areas:
- acoustic and thermal comfort,
- control over space and water heating energy input,
- the useful life of domestic fittings (plumbing and electrical) and the external envelope of the building (external walls and roof).
Bouygues Immobilier is a voluntary member of the Qualitel mark scheme. Obtaining this certification involves a commitment to completing the development in compliance with the certified specifications shown on the plans. Compliance checks are conducted by sampling the construction work carried out on certificated projects as they progress.
WHAT IS THE VIVRELEC MARK?
VIVRELEC is a partnership between EDF (the French national power company) and the construction and electrical industry. The aim of this partnership was to design comfortable and affordable electric heating for inclusion in new-build developments: the resulting solution is called VIVRELEC. New-generation heating equipment, higher insulation levels (10% to 30 % above the regulatory requirements), effective ventilation, lower electricity bills, advice, checks and PROMOTELEC certification are just some of the benefits ensured by this approval mark, and which can reduce heating-related electricity consumption by up to 30%, compared with traditional new installations.
WHAT IS THE PROMOTELEC MARK?
PROMOTELEC is an independent organisation which checks and guarantees VIVRELEC quality. In order to receive this label, a home must be checked by PROMOTELEC during the following installation phases: electrical, space heating, hot water system and insulation. All these systems must comply with precise and demanding standards.