Before launching your construction project, you must already think about purchasing the land on which the project will be carried out. The land can be purchased by a professional (developer, builder, or subdivider) or a private individual. However, before purchasing a plot of land, it is important to make certain verifications. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn about some of the precautions you need to take when buying a piece of land.
Find out about local planning regulations at the town hall
To build your house, you must first have a plot of land for this purpose. Once you have identified the site you are interested in, you must find out about the local urban planning regulations for the land. To do this, you must go to the town hall to obtain the local urbanism plan (PLU).
The latter contains the rules applicable to the land (the buildable area, for example) and to the constructions (maximum height, for example). For more information, you can contact a real estate specialist. The PLU also allows you to check if the land is located in the zone defined as buildable by the town hall.
You should also know that the PLU evolves over time. A plot of land classified as buildable can be downgraded before construction begins. Another very important document to obtain is the town planning certificate which is to be obtained from the town hall. It provides information not only on urban planning rules but also on the administrative limits to property rights.
Make sure that the land is suitable for construction and that it is serviced.
To be sure of acquiring the right plot of land to build your house, you must check if it is indeed buildable. The PLU and the town planning certificates inform the buyer in this respect. The buyer can also contact an expert to analyze the soil to ensure that the land can be built.
Furthermore, the land must be serviced, i.e., it must be suitable for housing. A plot of land can be used for housing when it is connected to water, electricity, gas, telephone, and sewage networks. The decision to develop the land depends only on the owner and is not, in any case, imposed by the town hall.
However, it is compulsory to build a house or a building on it. The purchaser of an undeveloped plot of land must therefore contact the water company, ERDF, and GRDF (or the local network managers). He will also have to contact the town hall for the connection to the sewage network. For this point, you have the possibility to opt for a septic tank instead.
Carry out a subsoil analysis to prevent landslides
A house that is built on the unstable or weak ground is likely to disappear. Landslides and settlements can actually put your future construction at risk.
It is, therefore, crucial to have the subsoil of the land studied, especially if the plot is sloping. By having a geotechnical study done on the geology of the land beforehand, you can make sure that the plot is stable.
If, on the other hand, the land is not very stable, you can put in place the appropriate means with the house builder. However, these arrangements have a cost that could increase the overall amount of the real estate project. It would therefore be preferable to find another more suitable piece of land.
Check the boundary of the land to avoid neighborhood conflicts.
Technically, the demarcation of a parcel of land is not mandatory. However, it is important to prevent neighborhood conflicts. Therefore, it is advisable to use a surveyor to proceed to a contradictory demarcation with the neighboring owners. This will allow you to fix the limits of the land without appeal and to fence your property without risk.
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