Parasite diagnosis: importance and protection against parasites

Diagnosis parasitic condition

Despite their small size, wood-eating fungi and insects are a real threat to buildings. By attacking wood, they are capable of damaging even the most modern buildings.
The easiest way to prevent such a disaster is still to resort to a pest diagnosis. In humid areas, notaries strongly recommend carrying out it before selling a building. In fact, although not mandatory, pest control allows the seller to avoid accusations of hidden defects.

What is a parasitic condition diagnosis?

Without you even knowing it, your home can be attacked. As you go about your daily activities, behind your baseboards, under your floors and in humid places, an infestation is at work. Without making noise, fungi and insects eat up your wood from within.

A parasitic condition diagnosis is an examination that makes it possible to identify not only wood-eating fungi, but also insects that can damage wood. It is non-invasive, but requires professional equipment to give convincing results.

Focus on real estate diagnostics

What species are looked for when diagnosing parasitic conditions?

 Two types of living organisms generally attack wood: insects and fungi. In each case pest control The agent should look for the presence of these organisms.

What fungi are looked for when diagnosing parasitic conditions?

Attention... Even if mushrooms have a particular taste for wood, not all species are necessarily harmful. In fact, depending on the extent of the damage, mycotic agents fall into two categories: lignicolous; lignivores

In the first case, the damage caused by parasites is only aesthetic. In contrast, wood-eating fungi damage the structure of the wood itself.

Of all the species of fungi involved in infestations, one that gives nightmares to even the most experienced operators. It's the weeping merula, a fungus that can grow at relatively normal humidity levels.

Example of xylophagous fungi

• Mushrooms that eat wood
• Xylophagous mushrooms

Which insects are actively sought when diagnosing parasitic conditions?

Unfortunately, there are many types of insects that can degrade wood. In fact, there are currently four main groups, namely:

• Xylophagous insects with a preference for dry (or indoor) wood;
• Xylophagous insects prefer fresh wood (or outside);
• nesting insects;
• termites.

The most harmful insects in households are xylophagous larvae. In order to pass from larvae to pupae, these organisms feed heavily on wood. In doing so, they cause irreparable damage to the frame and other woodwork.

It should be noted that although pest control is by no means equivalent to a termite diagnosis. If you think that your home has become a haven for these fearsome insects, you should opt for a specific examination.

When should a parasitic condition be diagnosed?.

At present, there is no law that regulates the use of a diagnostic parasitic condition. However, it is customary for a notary to require one when selling a property in a wetland. In this case, the infestation must be attached to the Technical Diagnostic File.

Another point that should be taken into consideration is the validity period of the diagnosis parasitic condition. Only attesting to the state of affairs at a given moment, it does not provide any additional guarantees. However, it allows the seller to protect himself against a possible allegation of a hidden defect.

Diagnostic Technique File

The Technical Diagnostic File (DDT) is a series of surveys that home sellers are required to provide to potential home buyers. DDT is not a structural investigation but rather covers a number of tests such as energy efficiency.

The Diagnostic Survey in France

It is mandatory for the owner to have a series of surveys carried out on the property sold. The test results are provided to the notary and attached to the sales agreement document, the purchase and sale contract, and then to the bill of sale, the bill of sale. The tests must be carried out by authorized experts, and it is the responsibility of the notary to ensure that the DDT is provided and meets the required guidelines, for example some aspects of the report are valid for 10 years, for example energy efficiency, some aspects for only six months, for example natural risks. DDT aims to provide the home buyer with all the facts relevant to an informed decision.

We advise you not to sign the sales and purchase contract without the investigation report, but if there is a delay in its delivery, you can request that the completion be subject to specified conditions covered by the investigation, for example a compliant septic tank.

What does a French diagnostic survey cover?

This is a summary of some of the information required to be included in the DDT, your real estate agent will be happy to go through the detailed document provided to you.

• Lead and asbestos: The paint is tested for lead content on all properties built prior to 1949.
• Gas (fixed only) and electricity: if gas or electricity was installed or renewed in the property more than 15 years prior to the sale of the property, the electrical wiring should be checked and the gas installation revised.
• Parasitic condition: All properties are assessed for natural risks (e.g. floods) and to determine if there are risks posed by industry in the region. Homeowners who have had an insurance claim related to a natural disaster should declare this in the report. In areas known to have termite problems, properties should be tested for their presence, as they can cause a lot of damage.
• Energy efficiency: Before the property is announced, a test must be done to assess the greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency of the property. The report will include information on the property's efficiency rating, such as annual energy consumption.
• Area: Apartments and apartments, or properties that are part of a condominium building, are measured to confirm exactly what square footage is included in the sale.
• Sewers and septic tanks: Many rural properties in France are not connected to a sewage system and instead have a “septic tank” (septic tank) .When the properties are connected to the main sewer, a certificate confirming this will be provided by the local town hall.
  If the septic tank does not meet the required guidelines, the purchaser of the property is required to rectify this within one year of purchasing the property. This may involve installing a new system which can be very expensive, so as with any DDT issue, it can be part of negotiating the price with the seller.
  

However, some results may require immediate action, for example if a test reveals termite problems, this should be reported to the city hall.