Termites in habitat
Verified 23 October 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
What to do if termites in a dwelling or building? It all depends on whether the dwelling is located in an area identified as contaminated by termites or not. These sectors are defined by an order of the prefect. We explain the information you need to know.
To find out if a dwelling or building is located in an area contaminated by termites, it is possible to consult a map:
Departments covered by a decree delimiting the termite zones
It is also possible to contact the city hall to find out.
Contaminated area
The mayor may make an order to compel the owner of this built or unbuilt building to be carried out within 6 months the search for termites and the necessary preventive or eradication (removal) work. This obligation is notified to the owner.
Termites should be tested by using a termite diagnosis.
If the property is co-owned, the obligation shall be notified to the joint owners' union taken in the person of condominium trustee.
The trustee must inform them without delay each co-owner by registered letter with notice of receipt.
The owner or trustee must send a copy of the termites diagnosis to the town hall of the location of the building.
This copy must be sent by registered letter with notice of receipt or deposited against receipt at the City Hall.
If the owner or trustee fails to act and after formal notice, the Mayor may, with the authorization of the president of the judicial tribunal, automatically carry out the search for termites and the necessary preventive or eradication work.
The amount of the fee is then advanced by the municipality then asked the owner or the union of co-owners.
If the diagnosis confirms termites, the owner or the liquidator must cause to be made eradication work within a time limit fixed by the City Hall. This work must be carried out by a freely chosen professional.
Warning
The professional who carries out the eradication work must be different from the one who carries out the diagnosis of termites.
Once the work has been completed, the owner or trustee must send to the town hall a certificate certifying that the work has been carried out.
This certificate is given by the professional who carried out the work. It must be sent by registered letter with notice of receipt or deposited against receipt at the City Hall.
FYI
It is not clear whether treatments eradicate termites permanently. It may therefore be necessary to repeat the treatments if they recur. Their presence does not prevent the sale of a house, but the future buyer must be aware of them before buying.
Failure by the owner or liquidator to have the termites diagnosis or the incineration or treatment of contaminated wood and materials carried out may be punishable by a fine of €1,500.
Warning
If the owner is a legal person, the maximum fine shall be €7,500.
Unidentified sector
All Occupants (owner or tenant) who notices the presence of termites in his dwelling (for example, presence of a tunnel-gallery in a wall) must inform the city hall of the location of the building. If the occupant is a tenant, he must, before that, inform his landlord by all means.
Likewise, any person which notes the presence of termites in common areas of a condominium must inform the condominium trustee.
People who have identified the presence of termites should do so the declaration in town hall of the location of the building.
To properly identify the presence of termites, it is recommended to have a termite diagnosis.
This declaration must be made on a form within a month which follows the finding of the presence of termites:
Declaration of termites in a dwelling or building
The declaration shall specify the following information:
- Identity of the person making the declaration
- Identification of the dwelling or common areas
- Indicators of termites and diagnosis of termites if done.
The declaration must be dated and signed.
It must be sent by registered letter with notice of receipt or deposited against receipt to the City Hall of the location of the building.
Failure to declare the presence of termites may be punishable by a fine of €450.
Declaration of presence of termites
Termite eradication work
Criminal sanctions
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