France: Treating Termites in the Dordogne

In the UK, we don’t worry about termites. In the greater warmth of the Dordogne, however, termite infestations of properties are a common hazard – and a serious one. Within two or three years, these creatures can destroy the structural backbone of a house to leave it fit only for demolition.

Channel 4’s Selling Houses Abroad looked last night at the misfortunes of an English couple who had bought a home for themselves and their three children in Lalinde, a town in the Dordogne. Suzanne and Steve were hoping their new life in the Dordogne would enable them to spend more time with their children than they had in the UK.

When they bought their house for £100,000, it was certified to be termite free but the couple soon discovered the certification was incorrect – the house was riddled with termites. Suzanne and Steve began legal proceedings in order to recover the costs of treating the house for termites. Unfortunately the result of this was an 18 month delay during which they were not allowed to take action against the termites that were eating the structure of their home. There was a real danger that, in the absence of immediate treatment, Suzanne and Steve’s home might be destroyed.

The makers of Selling Houses Abroad invited a termite eradication company to determine the extent of the problem. It turned out that the house’s structure had not been destroyed but that the termites were present in the woodwork throughout the property. After obtaining approval from the courts, the house was treated using a substance that poisoned the termites but was harmless to children and pets. The treatment cost £2,600.

Homeowners who discover themselves in the same position as Suzanne and Steve were advised not to delay action while the legal system acted at a snail’s pace. Let the courts know your home is being destroyed and obtain permission to have treatment carried out as soon as possible.