THREE QUESTIONS FOR – Olivier Gonnet has just taken office as President of the Regional Council of Notaries of the Grenoble Court of Appeal. A Council that brings together three departments: Isère, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes. Notary in a study in Embrun since 2003, Olivier Gonnet succeeds Mathieu Fontaine for a non-renewable two-year term. He previously served as vice-president to better prepare for the task at hand.
PLACE GRE’NET – Have the Covid crisis and confinements had an impact on the activity of notaries? How have the studies adapted to the new health rules?
OLIVIER GONNET – There were impacts. It may be that young people unfortunately chose to settle down when the pandemic and especially the containment began. However, when we got out of containment, I told myself personally that we were not going to do anything for four months. And, in fact, not at all! Like many professionals, we have a very difficult reading of the future.
Olivier Gonnet, new president of the Regional Council of Notaries of the Grenoble Court of Appeal. © Regional Council of Notaries
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In terms of adaptation, the tools already existed but were being deployed slowly. There is a certain solemnity in signing deeds on paper, in going to the notary to have all the explanations when buying, to meet the seller, to visit the property one last time, for the transmission of the keys … Everything this was swept away by the first confinement! There is a real change of habit. We are asked for video appointments. Remote signing was deployed very quickly.
We were financially encouraged by the Superior Council of Notaries to equip ourselves and encouraged to lend our facilities to those who were not yet. Because when everyone ordered the same type of equipment at the start of containment, there was a bottleneck effect. There is therefore financial solidarity in the loan of premises and equipment. The brotherhood that we knew, very strong between notaries, one of the professions where it existed the most, tends to disappear a little, but there are still systems of solidarity!
PLACE GRE’NET – Real estate represents the “bulk” of notarial activity. How is it doing since the health crisis and following the periods of confinement?
People realized that they were perhaps not comfortably accommodated, that they weren’t satisfied with their accommodation, that they wanted bigger or move to another place… There was a real catch of awareness on the part of customers of a desire and a need to change their place of residence, or even their second home. Result: the market since May 2020 has been extremely dynamic! I would almost tend to say that what limits the number of transfers today is the lack of goods to sell. Every month, I tell myself that it cannot go on like this indefinitely, but for the moment it lasts …
Chamber of notaries in Seyssins. © Florent Mathieu – Place Gre’net
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We are not the only ones: the kitchen designers are overwhelmed, the sellers of mattresses or sofas are overwhelmed … There has been an awareness of the comfort that one can get from his home and many people are taking the plunge. The craftsmen are very happy, the real estate agencies are very happy. After that, it remains difficult to know how all of this will evolve over time.
I also think that the real estate market in France is healthy: when you buy and resell stone, there may be a little loss in value, but you never do bad business. Some people may have thought that the money on life insurance contracts was not earning much and that the bank guarantees were a little weakened. About 5% of people have in any case decided to take out savings to acquire real estate. And 5% on a portfolio, that’s a lot of customers.
PLACE GRE’NET – The notary has a particular look at families, through marriages, divorces or even deaths. Have you felt an effect of the health crisis on this part of your activity?
Unfortunately, on an increase in deaths, yes. For example, in our study, we usually do between 110 and 120 successions per year. We did 150 last year. And I think all notaries have unfortunately seen this increase.
The confinement was also a moment of reflection. People wondered if this was not the time to give to their children. We have seen sharing: when you were in joint possession with your brother or your sister, it was an opportunity to reflect.
The Grenoble courthouse. Notaries are placed under the authority of the public prosecutor. © Place Gre’net – Tim Buisson
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Regarding weddings, people did not get married because ceremonies were not possible, but still consulted us on marriage contracts or PACS contracts. And then, people who were not married or in a civil partnership but who still wanted to buy together also approached us.
I saw a few divorces, a little more after coming out of confinement. When you are locked in your home and you can’t stand yourself, it’s not easy to make a video for that! We have been asked. We have noticed a slightly stronger rate of separations or divorces… but it is not an explosion.
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