Sign a real estate sales mandate online, in 2 minutes
Sales mandate between a property seller and a real estate agent holding Card T, signed electronically with the same legal value as a paper mandate. Compliant with Hoguet Law (No. 70-9 of January 2, 1970) and the eIDAS regulation — advanced signature recommended, multi-signers (co-ownership, joint ownership), 10-year archiving included.
- Legal framework
- Hoguet Law — Card T
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal archiving
- 10 years included
What is a real estate sales mandate?
A real estate sales mandate is a contract through which a property owner (principal) entrusts a real estate agent holding professional Card T (real estate transactions) with the mission to find a buyer for their property. It is governed by Law No. 70-9 of January 2, 1970 (known as the "Hoguet Law") and subject to strict rules: Card T, financial guarantee, mandatory provisions (net seller price, commission, duration, possible exclusivity), termination terms. The mandate may be simple (the owner can sign multiple mandates and sell themselves) or exclusive (the agent is the sole one authorized to present the property).
Why sign the sales mandate electronically?
Identical legal value
Article 1366 of the French Civil Code recognizes electronic documents as having the same evidentiary force as paper documents, provided that the person from whom it emanates can be identified and the document is preserved under conditions guaranteeing its integrity. No Hoguet provision requires a handwritten signature for the sales mandate.
Multi-signers (couple, co-ownership)
If the property belongs to multiple co-owners (married couple, co-ownership, family SCI), all must sign the mandate under penalty of partial nullity. Our workflow handles sequential or parallel signing: each signer receives an individual link secured by SMS OTP and signs at their own pace from their phone.
10-year archiving included
Article 72 of the Decree of July 20, 1972 requires the real estate agent to preserve mandates for 10 years. Certyneo automatically archives the signed mandate + its eIDAS audit trail for this entire duration, accessible with one click from your dashboard to respond to a CCI or DGCCRF inspection.
Enforceable eIDAS audit trail
Each mandate is delivered with a proof PDF: identity of signers, qualified timestamp, SHA-256 hash, IP geolocation, SMS OTP verification. Enforceable in case of dispute over commission, duration, exclusivity, or powers granted.
Sign a sales mandate in 4 steps
From mandate preparation to legal archiving, in less than 5 minutes.
1. Prepare the mandate
Upload your existing PDF or start from a Hoguet Law-compliant template (Card T, financial guarantee, duration, net seller price, commission, exclusivity or not, termination conditions).
2. Add signers
Real estate agent + property owner(s). In co-ownership or joint ownership, add all co-owners. Each receives a personalized secure link by email.
3. Choose the eIDAS level
Advanced signature (AES) recommended for real estate sales: identity verification via SMS OTP, unique certificate per signer, qualified timestamp. Compliant with Article 26 of the eIDAS regulation.
4. Sign and archive
Each signer signs from their phone or computer. The finalized mandate + proof PDF are automatically archived for 10 years, accessible at any time.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a real estate sales mandate be signed electronically?
- Yes, without restriction. Hoguet Law does not require a handwritten signature: only the provisions of Article 1 of the Decree of July 20, 1972 are mandatory (Card T, financial guarantee, duration, net seller price, commission). Article 1366 of the French Civil Code grants electronic signature the same value as paper signature as soon as the signer's identification and document integrity are guaranteed.
- Which signature level to choose: SES, AES or QES?
- For a real estate sales mandate, advanced signature (AES) is the professional standard. It provides enhanced reliability presumption through identity verification (SMS OTP) and unique certificate per signer. QES is reserved for the authentic deed of sale before a notary; SES (simple signature) is undersized given the financial stakes of the mandate.
- What to do in case of co-ownership, joint ownership or married couple?
- All co-owners must sign the mandate under penalty of partial nullity (Article 815-3 French Civil Code for co-ownership; Article 1424 French Civil Code for joint ownership between spouses). Certyneo's multi-signer workflow handles sequential or parallel signing. Each signer receives their personal link with SMS OTP on their own number.
- What is the maximum duration of a sales mandate?
- Duration is freely set by the parties, limited to 30 years (Article 73 of Decree No. 72-678). In practice, most simple mandates are concluded for 3 renewable months, and exclusive mandates for 3 irrevocable months then simple. Beyond 3 months, the principal may terminate with 15 days' notice by registered letter.
- What are the mandatory provisions of a sales mandate?
- Full identity of the parties, professional Card T number of the agent, financial guarantee organization and amount, precise duration, net seller price, commission amount or rate and party bearing the cost, exclusivity or not, termination conditions, designation of competent jurisdiction.
- Does the exclusive mandate have a different legal regime?
- Yes — the exclusive mandate (Article 78 of the Decree of July 20, 1972) must include an exclusivity clause in a separate box on the front of the mandate, and specify its irrevocability period (often 3 months). The simple mandate allows the owner to sign multiple mandates and sell themselves; the exclusive mandate prohibits both under penalty.
- Can a digitally signed sales mandate be terminated?
- Yes — termination follows the same rules as for a paper mandate: respect of the notice period set in the contract (15 days for most mandates beyond 3 months), notification by registered letter or any means provided in the mandate. Termination itself may be signed electronically.
- Is a digitally signed mandate enforceable in court?
- Yes — French case law unanimously recognizes eIDAS-compliant electronic signatures. The reliability presumption of Article 1367 of the French Civil Code makes advanced signature (AES) enforceable without further demonstration, subject to producing the eIDAS audit trail in court (proof PDF automatically delivered by Certyneo).
Also read
Sign your first sales mandate online
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes/month), no credit card required. Compliant with Hoguet Law and eIDAS. Audit trail and 10-year archiving included.