Cooling-off period (SRU law)
A right granted by the SRU law allowing any non-professional buyer of a residential property to withdraw without reason or penalty within 10 days of signing or being notified of the preliminary sale agreement. Distinct from the reflection period on the loan offer, this right of withdrawal allows the buyer to cancel the purchase and recover their full deposit.
Key points
- Right applies only to non-professional buyers of residential property.
- The period starts the day after receipt of the notification by registered letter.
- No reason is required: withdrawal is discretionary and free of any penalty.
- The full deposit must be returned within the legal deadline of 21 days.
Frequently asked questions
How is the SRU cooling-off period calculated exactly?
The start date is the day after the first delivery attempt of the registered letter (or hand delivery with acknowledgement) notifying the signed agreement. The period is 10 calendar days; if the tenth day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, it rolls to the next working day. Withdrawal must be sent by registered letter before midnight on the final day.
Why is this period separate from the loan offer reflection period?
The SRU cooling-off period protects the buyer at the preliminary contract stage, even before a bank application is submitted. The 10-day reflection period on the loan offer arises much later, once the bank has approved the file, and prevents hasty acceptance of financing. Both rights are cumulative and protect the buyer at two distinct stages of the process.
Can a buyer withdraw after the SRU cooling-off period has expired?
Once the SRU period has expired, the buyer can no longer withdraw freely. They may still abandon the purchase, but forfeit their deposit unless a suspensive condition (such as loan approval) has failed. In the latter case, the deposit is returned in full and no penalty is due.
In practice
A first-time buyer signs a preliminary contract on a Monday; the registered letter notification is delivered on Wednesday. The 10-day cooling-off period runs from Thursday to the Saturday of the following week, giving the buyer time to reconfirm the project with their broker.
Official sources
- Sale agreement: 10-day withdrawal right · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Reflection and withdrawal periods: differences · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Obtaining a mortgage loan · Service-Public.gouv.fr