french-real-estate-leaseback-property

French Leaseback & Real Estate Law

We Make French Law Understandable.

Navigating French real estate law, especially leaseback agreements, can be complex for foreign buyers and investors. Whether you are buying, selling, or handling legal disputes, our expert French real estate lawyers provide clear legal guidance to protect your interests.

Buying, Selling, or Renting Property in France

Purchasing or selling real estate in France, including French leaseback properties, requires careful legal oversight. Here are some key issues you may face:

  • Legal complexities of French leasebacks
  • Preliminary real estate agreements
  • Handling deposits after signing a preliminary agreement
  • Eviction of tenants due to unpaid rent
  • Choosing a real estate agent & contract review
  • Dealing with hidden defects in property purchases

Our firm ensures legal compliance and protects your investment by reviewing contracts, handling disputes, and representing you in litigation.

French Leaseback Investments: Challenges & Solutions

Investing in a French leaseback seems attractive due to VAT refunds, tax cuts, and guaranteed rental income. However, many investors face unexpected legal and financial difficulties:

✅ Lease renewal complications – Understanding your rights when your lease term expires.
✅ Rent reductions & financial disputes – Operators often seek to renegotiate rental agreements.
✅ Managing legal claims – Legal action may be required to enforce agreements.
✅ Selling a leaseback property – Should you sell with or without the lease?

Our legal team specializes in helping French leaseback owners resolve disputes, negotiate lease terms, and recover unpaid rent.

Common Legal Issues in French Leaseback Properties

  1. Eviction Indemnity (Indemnité d’Éviction)
    Under French law, leaseback tenants may claim compensation if their lease is terminated. Some owners unknowingly sign contracts that require large compensation payouts (up to €30,000 or more).
  2. Rent Reduction Cases
    After a 9-year lease term, operators may legally request a court-ordered rent adjustment. This often leads to lower returns and decreased property value.
  3. Increasing Maintenance Costs
    After 9+ years, lease operators often increase common area maintenance fees, leading to unexpected financial burdens for owners.
  4. Selling a Leaseback Property
    Many owners seek to sell their French leaseback but struggle due to legal restrictions and market devaluation. Our firm provides legal strategies to maximize resale value and minimize financial losses.

How We Help Leaseback Property Owners

Our law firm provides tailored legal solutions for leaseback investors:

✔ Unpaid rent disputes – Enforcing lease agreements and recovering lost income.
✔ Negotiating lease terminations – Minimizing eviction compensation fees.
✔ Litigation & expert consultation – Defending property rights in French courts.
✔ Legal advice on property resale – Helping owners sell profitably with or without an existing lease.

Why Choose Us?

✅ Experienced French Real Estate Lawyers – 10+ years specializing in leaseback law.
✅ English-Speaking Legal Team – We simplify French legal processes for international clients.
✅ 500+ Leaseback Cases Handled – Proven success in resolving lease disputes, evictions, and contract negotiations.
✅ Client-Focused Approach – Personal, transparent, and results-driven legal representation.

solutions

Legal Issues in France

We Make French Law Understandable !

our-service

Solutions

Providing Practical Real Estate Advice and Timely Legal Counsel for English-Speaking Clients Around the World.

tenant-clients-review

Clients Reviews

We Make French Law Understandable. Read some reviews of our satisfied customers!

Mike C., London, UK, Settlement Successfully Negotiated

We only wish we had involved him earlier! We fell into a dispute over the findings of a ground study and no longer wanted to complete our French property purchase. We felt that French Law supported our case but were unable to persuade the seller, and the notaire was unhelpful. We quickly became comfortable communicating our position in English and trusting M. Traesch to represent us to the other parties. He successfully negotiated the return of our deposit at a reasonable cost.

Nick, England, United Kingdom, Unpaid Rent of a Leaseback Property

My “flat” is split into 2 self-contained rooms. I had a phone call with the manager, who was claiming that he is not the tenant! (liquidation and change of company), litigation was the only way. I employed the services of Bruno Traesch. He has been very efficient in fighting my corner. We have won all our court cases … I would seriously recommend his services to you all.

John W. Bermuda A comprehensive settlement: Unpaid Rent and Selling the Tax-Exempt Property

The tenant (a major Parisian hotel company) of my French lease-back property decided not to pay any rent for five years. Unreal. The French legal system for the uninitiated is complex. Two lawyers tried and failed to rectify matters. An American contact recommended Maitre Prot and matters immediately improved. Ms. Prot adopted a practical, no-nonsense and wise approach to the case. Adrienne explained the relevant laws in layman’s, started the right proceedings in the right venue and ultimately negotiated a comprehensive settlement of the rent arrears and advantageous sale of the property. Adrienne was fast, solution-oriented and her English is more than adequate for communication. I would have no hesitation in recommending Maitre Prot or her Firm to any client that may be considering their services.

Jeremy & Diana, Noosa, Australia, Great relief! Sell our lease-back apartment in France

We were unsuccessful over many months in our endeavours to sell our lease-back apartment in La défense, Courbevoie. However, within a matter of weeks following her appointment as our attorney,  Me PROT was able to source a buyer through her extensive network and to negotiate favourable terms of sale (alleviating the need to appoint a separate sale agency). Indeed, her firm took care for us of all the sale formalities and legal procedures from start to finish and it was a great relief to be able to rely on her expertise through this path of potential pitfalls, especially for foreigners unfamiliar with the French processes and language. We are confident that in placing your trust in Me PROT, she will act in your best interests, as if they were her very own at stake !

Jack & Chris Arizona (USA), Get the money which belonged to us, Unpaid Rent French Lease Back

We were so lucky to find Adrienne, who rescued us from our leaseback problems. After lies, misinformation, and delays from the developer, Adrienne protected us, and was able to get the money which belonged to us. The French legal system is fair, but difficult to understand for foreigners. Adrienne’s legal skills, her persistence on our behalf, and her ability to communicate perfectly in English were a tremendous benefit. We highly recommend her.

Mr and Mrs Newman, Normandy, France, Dispute with my tenant, Property in France

Mr Bruno Traesch worked for us where we had a tenant on our land. Our tenant was sub letting and we did not know what to do. Mr Traesch  advised us and worked for us on the removal of this tenant this was very successful. We will hire him again if we needed to . No problem was too small for him.

english-speaking-lawyer

Your Lawyers

LOW COST and CLIENT ORIENTED legal services in France for English-speaking clients.

Affordable, Client-Focused Legal Services in France for English-Speaking Clients.

Who Are We?

Experienced English-speaking lawyers with international backgrounds (including time spent living in Sydney, Australia).

Based in Paris and the French Riviera, with the ability to represent clients across France.

Members of the Paris Bar since 2006 and 2003.

Me Bruno Traesch

Founded TRAESCH AVOCAT in 2010.

Member of the Paris Bar.

PhD in Online Dispute Resolution from Sorbonne University (2004–2009).

Graduate of Sorbonne University Law School and Sciences Po Paris.

Former legal representative at the French Consulate General in Sydney, Australia.

Email: bruno.traesch@traesch-avocat.fr

Me Adrienne Prot

Founded PROT AVOCAT in 2007.

Graduate of Sorbonne University Law School and the Institute of Criminology (Paris).

Member of the Paris Bar since 2003.

Certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution (130-hour course, Paris Bar).

Trained in Non-Violent Communication (Paris).

Completed an international negotiation course in English (International Association of Lawyers).

Email: adrienne.prot@lesavocats.info

Maître Bruno TRAESCH Maître Adrienne PROT

Maître Bruno TRAESCH Maître Adrienne PROT

Lawyer, Bar of Paris, France View Details
Maître Bruno TRAESCH Maître Adrienne PROT

Maître Bruno TRAESCH Maître Adrienne PROT

Lawyer, Bar of Paris, France

Maître Bruno TRAESCH Maître Adrienne PROT
Lawyer, Bar of Paris, France

ASK YOUR QUESTION (FREE) - RESPONSE WITHIN A BUSINESS DAY

We will respond to all e-mail contacts within a business day. We Make French Law Understandable. The answer to your question will be written only by a partner of our law firm.

OUR ADDRESS

  • 5, rue de l'Ecole Polytechnique(75005), Paris, France
  • + 33 (0) 1.83.06.17.83
  • bruno.traesch AT traesch-avocat.fr
  • adrienne.prot AT lesavocats.info

       

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK YOUR QUESTION

    YOUR NAME *

    EMAIL *

    PHONE NUMBER

    ASK YOUR QUESTION (FREE) *