Technical Property Inspection: What Is a DDT?
With our real estate agency in Paris's 16th arrondissement, at our CENTURY 21 Auteuil Immobilier and Auteuil Seine offices, find out everything you need to know about the DDT.
What is a technical diagnostic report (DDT)?
The Technical Inspection Report, commonly known as the DDT, is a set of documents containing the mandatory property inspections required for the sale or rental of a property. The purpose of these inspections is to inform the buyer or tenant about the condition of the property, particularly in terms of safety and energy efficiency. The DDT includes several components, such as the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), the status of natural hazards, or even the Assessment of the Risk of Lead Exposure.
How does a DDT work?
The DDT process is based on a series of inspections and analyses—in the form of a technical assessment of the property—conducted by certified professionals. Each assessment included in the sales file or attached to the lease agreement follows a specific protocol:
For the sale, the technical file includes:
- The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assesses a home's energy consumption;
- The report on natural, mining, and technological risks provides information on the potential hazards associated with the property’s location;
- The Lead Exposure Risk Assessment (CREP) detects the presence of lead in paint in homes built before 1949;
- An inspection of the indoor gas system verifies the safety of the equipment;
- The electrical system inspection verifies that the electrical system complies with regulations;
- A report indicating the presence or absence of materials or products containing asbestos in housing units built before 1997;
- A report on the presence of termites in the building;
- The NOISE Diagnosis or the status of noise or air pollution;
- Measurement Carrez Law determines the living area of the property.
For rental purposes, the technical file includes:
- The Lead Exposure Risk Assessment (CREP) for housing built before 1949;
- The Report on Risks and Pollution (ERP), natural and technological;
- The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC);
- L’Condition of the Indoor Gas System checks that the equipment is safe;
- L’Condition of the Electrical System checks the electrical system for compliance;
- A report indicating the presence or absence of materials or products containing asbestos in housing units built before 1997;
- A report on the presence of termites in the building;
- The Boutin Act survey determines the living area of the property.
Is DDT required?
Yes, the DDT is required for any sale or rental of real estate. The law mandates the preparation and submission of this document to ensure transparency and security in real estate transactions and to prevent potential hidden defects.
What are the seller's obligations?
The seller is required to provide the buyer with a complete and up-to-date DDT. These documents must be attached to the preliminary sales agreement or, failing that, to thenotarized deed of sale. The seller must ensure that all required inspections are performed by certified professionals and that the results are provided to the buyer within the legally prescribed time frame, after first verifying their validity dates.
What are the landlord's obligations?
The landlord’s obligations regarding the DDT are similar to those of the seller, but adapted to the context of a lease. The landlord must provide the tenant with a complete DDT, which the tenant must countersign when signing the lease. This file must include, among other things, the Energy Performance Certificate (DPE), the Lead Exposure Risk Assessment (CREP), and the Natural and Technological Risk Report (ERP). The landlord is required to renew these reports in accordance with their respective validity periods.
