France real estate agent fees: free to set, but shown on every advert.
// Short answer
French estate agents set their fees freely: the law does not cap them. What it does is force them into the open. The agency must display its maximum fees including tax, every sale advert must say who pays, and when the buyer pays, the fee is shown as a percentage of the price. Nothing can be paid before the final deed is signed at the notary.
Where agent commission is capped, who pays it and the VAT, in twenty-one countries side by side: real estate agent fees by country.
Rules and rates as of October 2026.
On this page
How much does a French estate agent charge?
The fee is not regulated. The agent sets it and must display the maximum price of each service including tax, so the client can negotiate below it.
The posted scale is the ceiling, not the price. The notary's own scale and the transfer duties are separate: France property buying costs.
Who pays the estate agent in France, buyer or seller?
The mandate decides, and the advert has to tell you. Every sale advert must say how the fee is split. If the buyer pays, the advert shows the fee as a percentage of the price excluding fees, with the fee-inclusive price first.
So the split is never a surprise: it is on the listing before you call.
When is the agent's fee paid in France?
Only after the deal is done. No money may be demanded before the sale is concluded, and the commission is paid after the final deed is signed before the notary. Breaking this rule is a criminal offence.
The deed that triggers it: the acte authentique explained. VAT at the standard 20% rate is included in the displayed price.
France agent guide
Choosing an agent in France? The questions to ask first
French fees are free but forced into the open, and the regulator found breaches at 65% of the agencies it inspected. The 12 questions to ask, the red flags, who may hold your deposit during the 10 days, how to end an exclusive mandate, a first-call script and a worksheet to read two listings side by side.
How do I check a French estate agent?
Agents must hold a carte professionnelle issued by the chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) and show its number on every document. Ask for it, and check it against the CCI's register of property professionals.
Taxes once you own: France property tax for foreigners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the estate agent commission in France?
Who pays estate agent fees in France?
When do you pay the estate agent in France?
Do French estate agents need a licence?
Header photo: Mike is Michi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.