Selling a home in France: what should I tell the utility companies?

Reader question: I am selling my French home: how and when should I tell the utility companies? Do they need the buyer’s details?

When you sell a home, the transfer of utilities is a separate task from the notarial sale process. 

For energy and water services, contracts are personal, not attached to the real estate itself. They cannot be transferred directly from seller to buyer. Energy supply contracts must be closed when you vacate. 

Contact electricity and gas suppliers to cancel your contracts, ideally with the termination date set to the day you relinquish the property. 

For the buyer’s part, it is advisable they arrange their new contracts before they move in, ideally at least a week before their intended start date. This reduces the risk of interruptions to supply.

In practice:

• Notify each one in advance of the departure date. This can be done by phone, by letter or - increasingly - online through the client area. If by letter, do it by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt to create a formal record of giving notice.

• When you hand over keys, take a meter reading (relevé de compteur) for electricity and gas. Provide these readings to your supplier so your final billing period can be correctly calculated.

• The supplier will stop invoicing you from that date. If you fail to end the contract, you risk being charged for consumption after you have left.

Read more: how to save money when relocating to France: moving, fees and property tips

You do not need to provide the buyer’s details to the companies. It is their prerogative to set up their own contracts in their names once they take ownership. However, you are free to recommend the companies you used and pass on contact details.

Read more: how France's energy ratings system is affecting property prices

Electricity and gas

In order to ensure a smooth transition, the buyer needs certain details about the property – such as meter number and final readings – but not your personal supplier account details. This helps them ensure their new energy contract is active from the day of purchase.

For electricity, the buyer will supply the PDL (Point de Livraison) number to their chosen provider; for gas, they will use the PCE (Point de Comptage et Estimation) identifier. These can be found on meter equipment and past bills.

Water

Water contracts follow similar rules. If the water contract for the property is in your name, you should cancel that contract when you sell, and the buyer should open a new one with the local supplier. 

As with energy, failure to terminate can leave you liable for charges after the sale.