Drainage survey in Bordeaux

Mains sewer or private system: what is required to sell your property in Gironde.

A septic tank in the Médoc, a treatment plant in the Graves, mains sewer in Bordeaux: the rules for a sale differ. Before signing, you need to know which inspection applies to your home.

CBDI helps you see clearly. We identify your drainage system, check the documents available and point you to the inspection required. Based in Mérignac and Qualixpert-certified, we visit within 24 to 48 hours across Gironde.

Private drainage: a compulsory inspection before selling

If your house is not connected to the public sewer, it has a private (non-mains) system: septic tank, all-waste tank or treatment plant. When you sell, the inspection report from the SPANC (local non-mains drainage service) is compulsory.

This report must be less than 3 years old at the time of sale. If it is older, or does not exist, you must request a new inspection from the SPANC covering your town. Their lead time is outside our control, so plan ahead.

Mains sewer: check the local rules

For a house or building connected to the mains sewer, no national rule requires an inspection when selling. Some local authorities do, however, ask for a connection check before signing.

Depending on the rules of your town or the metropolitan authority, we point you to the right procedure. A faulty connection, such as waste water sent into the rainwater network, can also become a negotiating point with the buyer.

Validity and bringing the system up to standard

The SPANC report must be less than 3 years old on the date of sale. For a mains connection check, there is no single validity period: it depends on local rules.

If a private system is found non-compliant, the buyer must carry out the works within one year of the sale. The cost of those works often weighs on price negotiations, so it is better to know early.

Médoc, Graves, metropolitan area: very different situations

In the Médoc, in Lacanau, Carcans, Hourtin or Soulac, many houses and second homes run on a septic tank or treatment plant. Wine estate buildings and isolated hamlets in the Graves and the Libournais are often in the same position.

In Bordeaux, Mérignac, Pessac, Talence or Bègles, most homes are on mains sewer. Older échoppes and houses in the Garonne flood zones still deserve close attention to their connections.

Timescales, quotes and why choose CBDI

We identify your system from your documents and what is visible on site: inspection chambers, covers, vents, the location of the tank or treatment plant. We check whether a SPANC report exists and whether it is still valid. Free quote within 24 hours.

CBDI, 26 avenue de Bellefort, Mérignac. Qualixpert-certified, insured surveyors, visits within 24 to 48 hours, reports within 48 hours for your property surveys. Bordeaux, the metropolitan area, the Médoc, the Arcachon Bay, the Graves and the Libournais. Call +33 6 98 13 41 53.

Frequently asked questions : drainage survey

How do I know if my house is on mains sewer?

Check your water bill: a sewerage charge usually means the house is connected. Your town hall or the drainage service can also tell you. On site, a septic tank or treatment plant in the garden means a private system. If in doubt, we check with you when we visit for your other surveys.

Is the SPANC inspection compulsory to sell?

Yes, if the house has a private drainage system. The SPANC inspection report must be less than 3 years old at the time of sale and be included in the technical survey file. Without it, your sale file is incomplete. Request it early: the lead time depends on the service, not on the seller.

Who pays for the drainage inspection?

When selling, the seller must provide the SPANC report. The inspection is invoiced by that service at its own rates. For a mains connection check, the arrangements depend on the local authority. For our support and your other surveys, we send you a free quote within 24 hours.

What happens if my system is non-compliant?

You can still sell. The report is given to the buyer, who must carry out the works within one year of the sale. The cost of the works then becomes part of the negotiation. You can also choose to do the works before selling, so the property has no issue on this point.

Is a connection check required in Bordeaux?

There is no national requirement for mains drainage. Some local authorities do require a connection check when a property is sold, and the rules can vary from one town to another. Depending on the rules of your town or the metropolitan authority, we point you to the right procedure before you sign the preliminary contract.

Drainage survey : where do we work?

In Bordeaux, across the metropolitan area and in the Médoc, from Lacanau to the Pointe de Grave.

Our other surveys in Bordeaux