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Housing and property · Regulated ownership · a BRS

Bail réel solidaire: buying and reselling in France

A French bail réel solidaire grants rights over a home while land remains with an OFS land organisation. The lease lasts 18 to 99 years and requires principal-residence occupation. Price, resources and resale are controlled; a ground charge is additional to financing. The OFS must confirm household and project conditions. A monthly budget or isolated income figure is insufficient to establish eligibility.

OFScontrolled purchase and resale
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By the AlphaDeep legal editorial team

General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.

Julie by AlphaDeep

Illustrative conversation
Example question

Does a BRS give full ownership of the land?

Julie Illustration

No. It separates land ownership from acquired dwelling rights.

Read the references

Let’s prepare questions for the OFS about the BRS, ground charge and resale conditions.

French law

3 free questions at signup. Avoid names and sensitive information.

Comparison

Which conditions distinguish purchase from resale?

The OFS remains involved throughout the lease
PointCheck
PurchaseHousehold, zone, assessed resources and property
OccupationPrincipal residence and ground charge
ResaleCapped price, buyer and approval

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-1Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-2Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-8

Answer

What does a BRS purchaser acquire?

The 18-to-99-year lease grants property rights tied to principal-residence occupation. Land and dwelling ownership remain separated under the OFS structure. Do not compare its price with unrestricted freehold without considering the lease, ground charge and transfer restrictions.

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-1Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-3

Bail réel solidaire: buying and reselling in France: Resources and project, Loan plus ground charge, Resale approval
Bail réel solidaire: buying and reselling in France
Answer

Which limits should be checked in 2026?

The temporary table applicable from 8 March through 31 December 2026 includes annual category-1 limits of €38,844 in A/A bis and B1, and €33,771 in B2/C. Confirm statutory household category and zone; the OFS may apply a lower ceiling.

Arrêté du 26 mars 2004, annexe III : plafonds du 8 mars au 31 décembre 2026Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article R255-1

Tool

Which budget should be kept separate from eligibility review?

The example totals €960 monthly from three agreed cost items.

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Fields stay on this page. The Julie button sends your worksheet when you choose to use it.

Fictional example · Your preparation worksheet

The OFS must confirm household category, zone, assessed resources and property-ownership conditions. Monthly cost does not establish eligibility.

Illustrative monthly total
€960.00
  1. Read duration, principal-residence duty, ground charge and transfer conditions.
  2. Gather tax notices and household details; ask the OFS for its methodology and limits.
  3. Separate financing, ground charge and other costs in the budget.
  4. For resale, obtain the notification and approval process before committing.

The example adds entered costs. It determines neither eligibility nor the permitted resale price.

Answer

Is tax-reference income alone sufficient?

The referenced methodology compares, among other things, tax-reference income from the penultimate year with operation cost divided by nine, with occupant adjustments. Have the OFS confirm application at the BRS stage. Conditions relating to already-owned homes also require examination.

CCH D31-10-3-2CCH R255-1-1Arrêté du 26 mars 2004, article 1

The law

What does the governing text say about a brs?

Ces logements sont destinés, pendant toute la durée du contrat, à être occupés à titre de résidence principale.

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-1In force since 22 July 2016Read on Légifrance

In plain English: A BRS is a regulated property right: duration, principal residence, resources and approval cannot be reduced to monthly cost.

Answer

How should resale be prepared?

Resale is capped and requires OFS approval; the buyer must qualify. Keep the offer open for at least thirty days; it cannot be accepted before ten days from receipt. The OFS has two months after transmission of the prior offer to grant approval.

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-5Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-10Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-11

Answer

Which costs come in addition to the loan?

The lease sets the ground charge; there is no single national tariff. Add other documented project costs. The example adds financing, the ground charge and entered costs; it calculates neither resale price nor future lease changes.

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-8

Frequent questions

What else should you know about a brs?

Does a BRS give full ownership of the land?

No. It separates land ownership from acquired dwelling rights.

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-1

Is every property owner excluded?

Not automatically: R255-1-1 concerns specific situations involving suitable housing or income sufficient to obtain private housing.

CCH R255-1-1

Can resale use an unrestricted market price?

No. The lease caps the price and the sale requires OFS approval.

Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-5Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-11

Do the 2026 limits apply indefinitely?

No. The cited table is temporary through 31 December 2026; recheck the applicable version for later projects.

Arrêté du 26 mars 2004, annexe III : plafonds du 8 mars au 31 décembre 2026

Next steps

Which steps connect with a brs?

Sources

Which sources explain a brs?

  1. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-1Légifrance / DILA
  2. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-2Légifrance / DILA
  3. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-3Légifrance / DILA
  4. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-5Légifrance / DILA
  5. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-8Légifrance / DILA
  6. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-10Légifrance / DILA
  7. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article L255-11Légifrance / DILA
  8. Code de la construction et de l'habitation, article R255-1Légifrance / DILA
  9. CCH R255-1-1Légifrance / DILA
  10. Code de l'urbanisme L329-1Légifrance / DILA
  11. Arrêté du 26 mars 2004, article 1Légifrance / DILA
  12. Arrêté du 26 mars 2004, annexe III : plafonds du 8 mars au 31 décembre 2026Légifrance / DILA
  13. Arrêté du 24 février 2026, article 3Légifrance / DILA
  14. Arrêté du 24 février 2026, article 4: application temporaire jusqu’au 31 décembre 2026Légifrance / DILA
  15. Arrêté du 4 octobre 2001, article 3Légifrance / DILA
  16. CCH D31-10-3-2Légifrance / DILA

Texts cited last checked: 19 October 2026