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IStock / City Presse

A poorly insulated house or an outdated heating system can quickly explode your electricity bill.

Not to mention the security risks posed by older installations.

In order to avoid unpleasant surprises for tenants, the legislator has reinforced the lessor's duty of information in this area.

Targeted old installations

Whereas previously only sellers had to provide a diagnosis of the state of electrical and gas installations dating back more than fifteen years, the Alur law of 2014 extended this obligation to lessors who must comply under penalty of a fine.

Since January 1, 2018, all rental accommodation has been affected when the electricity or gas installation is over fifteen years old, regardless of the age of the building.

Enough to further thicken the technical diagnostic file given to the tenant and which, let us remember, already included a finding of risk of exposure to lead, another for the presence or absence of asbestos, the state of natural and technological risks in certain areas, and finally the energy performance diagnosis.

Essential checks

More than 7.3 million homes built before 1974 are said to present dangers.

Therefore, these checks consist in giving an overview of the safety of the equipment of the accommodation.

Issued by a certified professional, they are valid for six years for rentals, against three years for sale.

In the case of electrical diagnostics, the diagnostician verifies, for example, the presence of an overcurrent protection device and ensures that no electrical equipment is unsuitable or in direct contact with live parts.

On the gas side, the control relates to the fixed heating and hot water production devices, the piping and the ventilation conditions of the premises.

Have these checks identified anomalies?

The expert will suggest securing your system, limited to renovation work.

And be careful, because if these diagnoses are only informative, the law requires you anyway to rent a property that does not present a risk for the occupant.

In the event of a breakdown or, worse, a fire, due to a faulty installation, you will be held liable.

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Who to contact?

To find a professional, consult the directory put online by the ministry at Diagnostiqueurs.din.developpement-durable.gouv.fr.

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