Home Inspections & Structural Engineering in Southern France

We help English-speaking buyers gain peace of mind before buying a property by performing an in-depth inspection and highlighting any defects in a detailed report.

Fill in this form to request a property inspection quote or 15 minutes of our time completely free, to discuss any concerns prior to purchasing a property.

About Us

A recent Google review:

toby D.

09:50 23 Aug 25

Eric surveyed an old house for us in southern France. He was very professional, timely and a pleasure to deal with. He has an intimate knowledge of all construction, but particularly old historic houses. His reports were detailed, very useful and easy to read and understand with a detailed list of suggested actions. I highly recommend his service.

John K.

17:52 17 Aug 25

We hired Eric to carry out a Full RICS Level 3 Survey on a Farmhouse in Southern Haute Vienne. Eric was extremely helpful both before and after the Survey, helping arrange access to the property with the Agent on a Changeover Day as the Vendors rented it out in the summer. The Survey was very comprehensive and he also noted structural issues with the Roof Beams which could have proved to be very costly as we not had the Survey carried out. He also provided advice post Survey and also engaged in a 25 minute call with myself to go through issues raised in the Survey and provide his advice and personal opinion were he to be in our position as the Buyer. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Eric and would use his services again in the future. John King.

Yoko Y

10:08 04 May 25

Eric has prepared such a comprehensive surveyor’s report which helps a lot for our pre-sales discussion. He is so professional but also very kind to answer all our questions precisely. Highly recommended!

christopher H.

17:18 14 Apr 25

Eric was fabulous. He was flexible about dates and came very quickly.He took into account all my requests specific to my health conditions. He was very reassuring and once he explained there is no equivalent of building control in France, I think it is very silly not to employ him atleast for English people in France given the different building styles that we do not understand . Being RICS qualified is very important too. I strongly recommend him. He was charming too Christopher Harris

Joanne K.

09:43 11 Jan 25

I was very pleased with the results and all interactions I had with Eric at Southern France Surveys. The survey I received was more complete than I imagined. Eric is an experienced builder who understands old French properties and can suggest solutions/improvements including estimated costs. He takes his time to examine all aspects of a property including drone imagery. He even researches and includes seismic and flood details of the area. His suggestions helped me to prioritize projects and estimate renovation costs. Eric is a true professional who reacts quickly and goes beyond your requests to provide a complete survey. The money invested in Eric’s expertise was invaluable to my purchase decision. Thank you, Eric!

Rosina S.

18:24 10 Aug 24

Great service - Éric got to the site within hours and did really thorough work, going above and beyond his duties. A great experience!

5/5 ⭐

"I was very pleased with the results and all interactions I had with Eric at Southern France Surveys. The survey I received was more complete than I imagined. Eric is an experienced builder who understands old French properties and can suggest solutions/improvements including estimated costs. He takes his time to examine all aspects of a property including drone imagery. He even researches and includes seismic and flood details of the area. His suggestions helped me to prioritize projects and estimate renovation costs. Eric is a true professional who reacts quickly and goes beyond your requests to provide a complete survey. The money invested in Eric’s expertise was invaluable to my purchase decision. Thank you, Eric!"

Joanne Korfhage

Property Survey Client

A pre-purchase inspection can save you several tens of thousands of euros.

Buying a home is often the most important purchase of our lives. But, unlike most other purchases, there is no money-back guarantee or return policy if you later find out that it does not live up to your expectations.

When you purchase a property in France, there are several compulsory diagnostic surveys that are legally required before a sale can be completed. These basic French building surveys check lead and asbestos levels, fungal or beetle infestations of any woodwork, and also include the Diagnostic Performance Energétique (DPE) test that relates to power consumption and insulation. They are commonly grouped together as a single report known as the Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (Technical Diagnostic File) or “DDT”.

What is not included in these mandatory surveys is a study of the building itself and any structural defects.

For peace of mind, most International buyers and increasingly many French buyers, also commission an independent building survey, which complements the DDT and gives total peace of mind before committing to a sale.

What to expect from a Residential Building Inspector / Engineering Report?

For many years, Eric at Southern France Surveys has carried out hundreds of building inspections. These are shared as an oral report on site or, more often, a written report in the format of a RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyor) Technical Due Diligence report.

The survey will include a list of:

structural defects to walls, roofs, and woodwork, and any external barns, buildings, outhouses, or pools
other considerations (external risks from surrounding properties/landscapes)
hard-to-reach roof diagnostics – carried out using an aerial drone
the evaluation of improvement projects

The information in this report puts buyers in a strong position to negotiate a price that reflects the true value of the property, taking every detail into account.

Fill in this form to request a property survey quote