Selling French house to a friend?

[armando]

Hi,
I have a house over in France that I really want to sell as we are immigrating to Oz. I have contacted French immobilizer and sent them the key 6 weeks ago but have not heard a thing from them. Whenever I phone the person I want to speak to is out of the office and don?t return my calls. The thing is I have a friend in England that is really interested and has made an offer. Can I just sell it to him or does it have to be sold through an immobilizer? I know that the laws have now changed but don?t quite know what the rules are. Please help!
Thanks

 

[austin]

Hello Armando,
As far as I know, you have no obligation towards the estate agent. The only thing is, you will have to contact someone and ask them to return the key - you can explain that you are now selling your house privately - presumably you have nothing in writing from them from what you say? Do you even know if they have your key, did they acknowledge it? You don't have to speak to the same person, anyone in their office would do. Failing that, you could send them a registered letter in which you state you are making a private sale and asking for your key.
It is very usual for them NOT to return phone calls, I had this happen to me numerous times, when we were actually cash buyers and yet they did not seem to be interested at all, could not have care less, so much that you wondered whether they were in business at all!!! I'm sure you are better off selling to a friend: no agent?s fees for anyone for a start! But you will still have to go through a notaire here in France...
Many Thanks