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Real estate A new obligation to provide information on brush clearance

As of January1, 2025, owners of properties located in high-risk fire zones will be required to inform buyers and tenants of their brush-clearing obligations, as soon as their property ad goes online. This measure is designed to reinforce the prevention of forest and vegetation fires.

New obligations for landlords

Property owners are already required to provide a number of diagnoses when selling or renting out their property. As of January1 , 2025, they will also be required to provide information on the clearing of undergrowth in at-risk areas. This document must be given to :

  • to tenants: when they first visit the property, and attached to the lease
  • to purchasers: during the first visit to the property, and attached to the promise to sell, the deed of sale or the preliminary contract in the case of a sale in the future state of completion.

On the Géorisques website

Sale or rental advertisements must state "Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on Géorisques.gouv.fr". On this site, you will be able to consult an information sheet on the obligation to clear brushwood and a map of areas subject to this obligation. A national map assessing the risk of forest and vegetation fires will be available on the same site by December 31, 2026 at the latest. A decree will draw up a list of communes exposed to a high or very high risk of fire.

Obligations already in force

At present, the obligation to clear undergrowth must be mentioned at least in the promise to sell, the deed of sale or the lease in the case of sale or rental. Clearing undergrowth involves reducing the amount of vegetation to reduce the intensity of fires and slow their spread. Prefects determine the conditions for implementing this obligation, based on local risks.