Modernised 5 bedroom Chateau for sale in Niort, Poitou-Charentes

821,500 EUR 714,705 GBP 813,285 USD

Reference: 233474

Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 7
Floor Size: 552 m2
Plot Size: 1.54 hectares / 3.82 acres
Work Required: None
Lake, River or Pond
Gite / Annex / Additional Accommodation
Income Potential
Parking space(s)
Building Consent / Planning Permission

Details

Rare opportunity to acquire a magical, fully restored 5 bedroom French Chateau with gite and outbuildings, surrounded by nearly 4 acres of glorious land with lake and views, located near all amenities in Niort.

Looking for an established lifestyle business with even greater potential, here is the perfect opportunity to combine living-the-dream in a charming chateau, with an established income from chambres d'hotes, gites, licensed vintage tearooms, and specialist retailing.

Plans are already well underway for further gites and hospitality.

Lovingly and sympathetically restored by the current owners, the main chateau has a grand entrance hall with imposing fireplace, and a large kitchen with fabulous original stone floor. There are plenty of character features throughout, such as stone floors, lovely staircases, exposed stone walls, fireplaces and artisan plasterwork.

There are three reception rooms. Two are currently used as vintage tea rooms and enjoy direct access onto a large terrace overlooking the grounds, and wine cellars.

On the first floor are five sumptuously decorated bedrooms, including two suites of rooms. All have luxury en-suite facilities.

The vast attic offers the opportunity to create further accommodation, and there are also magnificent vaulted cellars with yet more potential.

Extending from one side of the chateau is a courtyard surrounded by outbuildings, including a large stone barn of 150m2. The old stables have been converted into a lovely maison d'amis or gite, and planning permission is in place to convert the other outbuildings into six further gites and a function room.

The current owners have done all the hard work of restoring the chateau, updating the basics to meet modern needs and regulations, and enhancing it to become the lifestyle business it is today.

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France Property Buying Guide

Guide to the French Buying Process

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)
On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner. The next step, once you are in agreement, is to sign the preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente). This is a legal document and after ten days will be binding on both parties. Rules change frequently in France and it is best to consult with your notary about when this period starts. Generally the compris will be signed in France with the Agent. Variants can be included in the compris, for example an Acte (clause) can be added if the name or names to go on the title deed have not been finalised. If a mortgage will be required to purchase the property, the details for this, including the name of the mortgage company, must be on the compris.

2. Paying the Deposit
Generally the deposit will be 10% of the agreed purchase price. This will normally be paid to the notaire. There are exceptions to this, if the agent holds a carte professionelle, is bonded and fully registered then you may pay them, but do not hand over the deposit to anyone else. If for some reason the purchase does not go through, for example, if you write to the notaire and the agent that you do not wish to go continue with the purchase before the contract is binding (within seven days of signing the compris), then your deposit would be repaid. This would also apply if a condition had not been met, or the mayor or S.A.F.E.R. (a government agency that has the right of first purchase on most rural property that comes onto the market in France) could oblige the purchaser to give way. If you decide after the seven days 'cooling off' period that you do not wish to complete the purchase and pull out of the sale you would lose your deposit. If however the vendor pulls out of the sale then you will receive your deposit back plus the same amount from the vendor.

3. On Completion
Generally it will take around two or three months to complete the purchase. During this time the balance of the purchase money must be paid into the account of the notaire, this must be done well ahead of the completion date. The notaire will prepare the documents, check that the deed of sale (Acte de Vente) is in order and have the legal title ready to be signed over. It is possible to have someone sign on your behalf if you give them power of attorney. An interpreter may be of use at this point if your French is not very good and many Notaires will suggest (or insist) that an interpreter is with you.