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Real estate case law: analysis and practical advice

📅 Décision du 21 March 1972⚖️ Cour de cassation📖 2 min de lecture

After having found that a public limited company was the promoter of a real estate operation consisting in the construction of a building divided into apartments, participated in that operation through its subsidiaries and formed with a third party a real estate investment company (société civile immobilière) for which it acted as intermediary to grant bilateral promises of sale of the apartments, the trial judges distorted the agreements entered into with the subscribers by deciding that they had only contracted with the real estate investment company.

Reference decision: Court of Cassation • No. 70-12.131 • 21 March 1972 • View decision →

This decision provides important insight into your real estate law. Here is what it changes for you.

The situation

After having found that a public limited company was the promoter of a real estate operation consisting in the construction of a building divided into apartments, participated in that operation through its subsidiaries and formed with a third party a real estate investment company (société civile immobilière) for which it acted as intermediary to grant bilateral promises of sale of the apartments, the trial judges distorted the agreements entered into with the subscribers by deciding that they had only contracted with the real estate investment company.

What the law says

This decision confirms the fundamental principles of property law.

Points to remember

  • Strictly comply with the statutory time limits for appeals
  • Keep all your supporting documents (title deeds, deeds, correspondence)
  • Be proactive: preventive advice always costs less than litigation

For an analysis of your situation: 30-minute consultation at €45 with Maître Zakine.

📌 Does this apply to your situation? Maître Cécile Zakine, French real estate lawyer, practises throughout France.
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Informations juridiques

  • Numéro: 70-12.131
  • Juridiction: Cour de cassation
  • Date de décision: 21 mars 1972

Mots-clés

droit immobilierjurisprudenceimmobilier

Cas d'usage pratiques

1

First-time buyer faces 18-month delivery delay in Lyon

A first-time buyer in Lyon signed a reservation contract in March 2023 for a new-build apartment priced at €320,000 with the SCI Résidence Confluence. The developer behind the project, Groupe BâtiLyonnais, was heavily involved in marketing and site management but was not named in the contract. Delivery is now 18 months overdue, and the SCI claims it has no funds.

Application pratique:

The 1972 Court of Cassation ruling allows you to treat the parent developer as the true contracting party when it acted as the real promoter through an SCI. Gather evidence of the parent company's involvement (brochures, site signage, corporate registry extracts showing control over the SCI). Send a formal demand letter to both the SCI and Groupe BâtiLyonnais for specific performance and damages. If there is no response, file a claim in the Lyon judicial court against both entities, asserting the developer cannot hide behind the SCI.

2

Buy-to-let investor loses deposit on abandoned Bordeaux project

An investor purchased two off-plan studio flats in Bordeaux for €150,000 each, paying a 30% deposit to an SCI created solely for the development. After the foundations were laid, the project was abandoned and the SCI has become insolvent. The parent developer, a major property group, refuses to refund the €90,000 deposit, claiming the investor only contracted with the SCI.

Application pratique:

This case law confirms that the parent company, as the actual promoter orchestrating the project through its subsidiary and an SCI, can be held liable for the refund and damages. Use corporate records and marketing materials to prove the parent's role as promoter. Issue a formal notice to both the SCI and the parent developer for cancellation of the contract and full restitution of the deposit. Consider applying for a protective attachment (saisie conservatoire) on the parent company's assets to secure your claim before litigation.

3

Condominium association faces €800,000 waterproofing repair bill in Marseille

A 40-unit condominium in Marseille, completed in 2021, suffers from severe waterproofing defects, with repair estimates at €800,000. All apartments were sold through an SCI set up by the original developer, which is now dormant. The condominium association wants to claim against the developer but is unsure whether the SCI alone is responsible.

Application pratique:

Under this 1972 ruling, the condominium association can bring a claim directly against the original developer company as the real promoter, even though sales were made through an SCI. Commission an independent building expert to document the defects and link them to construction. Collect evidence of the developer's control over the project (planning permissions, site management, corporate links between the developer and the SCI). File a joint claim against both the developer and the SCI for the full cost of repairs, arguing that the developer cannot avoid liability by using an intermediary entity.

Maître Cécile Zakine

À propos de l'auteur

Maître Cécile Zakine — Avocate au Barreau des Alpes-Maritimes, Docteur en Droit. Chaque article de ce magazine est rédigé à partir de l'analyse d'une décision de jurisprudence réelle, commentée et mise en perspective par les équipes de Maître Zakine.

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