Property co-ownership in Paris: how to sell a property blocked between heirs in 2026?

Every year, thousands of apartments remain immobilized for years, not for lack of buyers, but for lack of agreement between heirs. The reform adopted on March 26, 2026 aims to make these situations more fluid. But on the ground, the reality remains more complex. Fairway Luxury Real Estate, a specialist in high-end real estate in Paris, regularly assists with sales in co-ownership, often among the most technical cases on the market.

Co-ownership: definition and property issues

Co-ownership refers to a legal situation in which several people jointly own the same property, generally following an inheritance.

In practice:

• no co-owner can sell alone, except in exceptional cases
• all important decisions require collective agreement
• a single blockage can be enough to paralyze a sale

Key figures in France

• 630,000 inheritances opened each year
• 425,000 separations, divorces, PACS dissolutions
• up to 40% of land blocked in Corsica and overseas territories

These figures reflect a structural reality of the market.

Why do so many properties remain blocked in co-ownership?

On paper, the law provides that no one can be forced to remain in co-ownership. In reality, blockages are frequent and lasting.

The human factor, decisive

This is the central point, and often underestimated.

In our experience, when a sale is blocked, the problem is almost never real estate. It is human.

• disagreement between heirs
• absence of response from a co-owner
• opposing strategies between keeping and selling
• distrust or long-standing family tensions

The settlement of an inheritance regularly becomes the continuation of deeper family conflicts.

Direct consequence: properties remain frozen for years, sometimes in exceptional locations in Paris, before even reaching the market.

Legal complexity

• need for unanimous agreement
• long and unclear procedures
• difficulty in initiating a collective dynamic

Lack of steering

In many cases, no actor truly structures the situation:

• no clear valuation
• no exit strategy
• no neutral point of contact

2026 reform: what changes in concrete terms

The law adopted on March 26, 2026 brings several important changes.

Sale without unanimity, subject to conditions

A co-owner may now ask the judge to sell alone, in case of urgency and in the common interest.

Silence no longer blocks

The inertia of a co-owner is no longer enough to paralyze a procedure.

Acceleration of procedures

Judicial partition is simplified and supervised to reduce delays.

Management of vacant properties

Public authorities have new tools to put ownerless properties back on the market.

In principle, this is a real step forward.

Field analysis: a useful reform, but not sufficient

The reform makes it possible to unblock certain situations.

It does not, however, transform the nature of the cases.

In practice:

• convincing remains essential
• aligning interests remains complex
• managing human relationships remains central

The law opens possibilities.

It does not replace the underlying work.

Selling a co-owned property: an operation apart

A sale in co-ownership is not a classic sale.

It is a negotiation file, a matter of balance, sometimes bordering on mediation.

Each co-owner has:

• their interests
• their timing
• their reading of the situation

And often, no shared vision.

Fairway method: intervening in complex situations

At Fairway Luxury Real Estate, we have structured a specific approach for these cases.

Absolute neutrality

This is a fundamental point.

We never take sides.

Our role is to align, not to oppose.

Understanding the real blockages

Beyond the legal aspect, it is necessary to identify:

• deep motivations
• existing tensions
• the real points of blockage

In these cases, the agent also becomes, by necessity, a contact person capable of deciphering human dynamics.

Adapted exit strategy

The priority always remains an amicable solution:

• faster
• less costly
• more effective

Judicial recourse intervenes only as a last lever.

Close coordination with advisers

• notaries
• lawyers
• wealth advisers

Consistency between the actors is decisive.

Concrete case in Paris

Family apartment in the 17th arrondissement:

• 4 heirs
• 1 opposing co-owner
• property blocked for several years

Approach implemented:

• objective valuation of the property
• highlighting the cost of inaction
• individual discussions with each heir

Result:

• agreement obtained
• sale completed in less than 4 months

Market opportunity: an invisible property stock

Co-ownerships represent a significant pool:

• family apartments
• properties to renovate
• sought-after locations

With the reform, part of this stock could gradually return to the market.

Conclusion

The 2026 reform constitutes a useful evolution of the legal framework.

But on the ground, the success of a sale in co-ownership still relies on three pillars:

• understanding human issues
• structuring the strategy
• the ability to support complex situations

At Fairway Luxury Real Estate, we intervene precisely on these cases, with a pragmatic, neutral and results-oriented approach.

Are you in co-ownership in Paris?

Are you considering selling a property blocked between heirs?

We support you with a precise, confidential analysis adapted to your situation.

Contact Fairway Luxury Real Estate for a tailor-made study.

FAQ on property co-ownership