Not levied French tax on UK pensions, but do we pay social charges? A dual tax treaty exists between the UK and France which dictates treatment
Can I renew my UK driving licence using my French address? Having homes in France and the UK may mean regular driving in both countries
How much should you pay for house insurance where you live in France? We look at average prices around the regions of France and the main cities Gardening, DIY: what you can and cannot do on a bank holiday in France Will EES be applied to those entering France from another EU country? CALENDAR: Check to see you are up to date with vaccinations in France
The best way to sell a used car in France Selling a used vehicle is easy through a garage, but you will likely get a better price selling privately
What are the options to find cheap DIY tools in France? We also review the possibility for second-home owners to bring tools to France from abroad
What does 10-year builder insurance cover in France? The assurance décennale saw changes after a recent court case
Advice for the newly separated in France When your relationship breaks down, how do you cope in France and should you stay?
French banking rules: when can officials freeze your account? The authorities’ right to take money from individuals surprises many newcomers
PHOTOS: €527,000 buys you ancient castle with a museum in west France ‘It may be little but it’s the real thing’
Neurotoxin in wheat flour poisons 49 in Brittany Victims, including five children, suffer hallucinations and confusion
Rules to know if someone lives with you for free in France Who can be included in this definition, what are the tax implications, and how can you provide proof of address?
Tax questions, boiler grants, May changes: 5 French practical updates Our round-up of practical articles you may have missed
Call for action to reduce mosquito numbers in France Rise in tiger mosquito numbers has prompted regional health authorities to urge steps to prevent transmission of disease What is changing for transport to and from hospitals in France? Thousands of jobs lost as new building permits plummet in France French residency card: how long does it take prefecture to issue this?
Which areas of France are most at risk from earthquakes? Earthquakes can sometimes be felt across the country How do tax credits for having a gardener at French home work? What are options for older people and ‘wearable’ alarms in France? Can I find details of any driving fines in France online? Have rules on bringing tobacco products into France changed? Is there a deadline to claim reimbursement of medical costs in France?
No mow May: homeowners in France asked to let grass grow ‘There is no life in a 4 cm-long lawn’ warns one expert, saying that longer grass helps bees and insects to thrive
New shed, veranda, pool: how to declare in France and what time frame Tax authorities have been using AI software to track down undeclared extensions
Do you recognise these French road signs? Their meanings have changed… Many drivers are unaware that the highway code been updated
How to get free help with your tax declaration in France We have also updated our 2024 Income Tax guide, which answers specific questions for non-French declarants
Make sense of… boating in France Summer is almost upon us and many people will be taking to the water once more. We recap what paperwork you might need to get afloat
Tax rises for property owners: French mayors say they have no choice ‘A commune cannot borrow to cover its running costs. We don’t have the right, unlike the central state’
Advice for the newly bereaved in France and English-speaking help When the worst happens, how do you cope in France?
Planning to replace your boiler at home in France? Now is a good time Eco-friendly alternatives will be easier – and cheaper – to install from mid-May
Life expectancy – simple changes to benefit from France’s good stats What can we learn from the French about living longer?
Address change deadline looms for one million French homes Mairies of small communes must update a government website with all the new street names and house numbers
Museums, mothers and muguet: key dates to note in May in France Dates of interest to put in your calendar for the next month
Medical fees, eco-grants, gas prices: 5 changes this May in France We also include the French income tax declaration deadlines for residents and second-home owners and other dates coming up
Phone scams, gardening, insurance claims: 5 French practical updates Our roundup of recent practical articles you may have missed
House ruined by wood-rotting fungus - ‘French insurance will not pay’ Fungus can be swept in through windows and vents and lead to extensive damage. Insurers consider it homeowners’ fault
Heat pump insurance cover downgraded for many home owners in France Wood-burning stoves are also affected following a court ruling
Grass clippings: what to do if the tip does not accept them in France Rennes metropole is the first to bring in a ban - and has ended door-to-door pick ups - but other areas have followed
Should I include appliances in a French house insurance estimate? When taking out a home cover policy, you are asked to calculate the approximate value of the property
What is cost of average funeral in France? Prices are reported to be similar in France to those in the UK
How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers
Does everyone in France need to complete an income tax return? Deadlines to complete declaration fall in May or June this year
Must children help to pay for elderly parents in French care homes? There are strict rules dictating when family support is required
What dental work is covered with the 100% Santé scheme in France? The scheme was introduced in 2020 and covers those in the healthcare system with mutuelle cover
What items can I take to local tip in France? Are any banned? Déchetteries can accept various types of non-household waste
How do people change when they move to France? From embracing a sportier lifestyle to keeping their brains sharp
Stay up-to-date: 20 recent and upcoming changes in France We cover tax updates, renovation scheme revamps, possible money changes for British residents and more
READER FEEDBACK: What you wish you had known before moving to France See recommendations from those who have taken the plunge
Call for pharmacists to strike over medicine shortages in France Total shutdown of pharmacies at end of May expected. 36 pharmacies closed in January 2024 for economic reasons
Change for foreign residents and eligibility to family benefit in France People will only be able to obtain family benefits if they spend majority of the year in the country
How France is trying to combat people’s feeling of loneliness Social isolation is hitting young people in particular, a study shows - we look at some innovative solutions
French AI system can see inside bin bags: what is it being used for? The technology uses a camera to detect anomalies, and is already used by 45 communes
Doctor raises alert on sepsis in France, which kills 80,000 a year ‘It is vital to inform people’, said the leading professor, who believes it is less well-known in France than in the UK or US
Who has to complete the new French property form? Helen Fullerton of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query
Can I change my name to one that is more ‘French’? There must be a ‘legitimate reason’ for a name change
Car damaged in France: Can I claim without having the driver’s details? It is not obligatory for a driver to sign a constat amiable (accident form)
Telecom firms, utilities: which offer English language services in France? We checked out any advertised dedicated helplines
Where in France are people now negotiating most off a property? Some towns are seeing price drops of 9%
Ways to avoid queues at motorway tolls in France You can make travel easier by anticipating the 133 payment barriers
Can I burn trimmings from my French garden in spring? Regular upkeep of your garden can result in a lot of déchets verts
Do US citizens need documents notarised at embassy in France? Some real estate procedures for US property sales require a notary
Is it possible to opt out of organ donation in France? A 2017 law changed the rules on the default stance of people who die in the country
Can I be certain I am insured against flooding at French second home? A number of heavy floods have recently hit the country
How to check for leaks in your French home without a smart water meter Homeowners should do regular checks to monitor their water consumption
Woman wins local tax fight over French home invaded by squatters A court has ordered that she is refunded four years of the tax. It was her fourth attempt to be exonerated
Nine things people often overlook when they move to France From different plug sockets to the differences in healthcare, we look at some of the typical points people forget
More everyday French supermarket products accused of ‘shrinkflation’ Cordon-bleu, yoghurts, and ham are in the firing line, with prices up to 25% higher for lower quality items
Strepsils, Olbas Oil, TCP: Find French equivalents to common remedies Moving to France means navigating pharmacies and hunting down alternatives to treat everyday ailments
What is average salary in France? How does it compare with US or UK? We also look at the average disposable income per capita in OECD countries
Interest rates for loans to buy property in France continue to fall The drop may help kickstart the market as banks and politicians explore new ways to boost home sales
Patients to pay more for doctor visits in France from May 15 The participation forfaitaire will double in most cases
Obligatory property declaration in France: paper forms now available Missing declarations must be made by June 30, 2024. Up to one in six property owners did not complete this new declaration last year
Emergency cash, care advice: Nine ways a French social worker can help We look at the role of social workers in France and the support they offer to those in need
Workers in France to pay €100 towards previously free training Reforms to the compte personnel de formation are expected to result in 20% of trainees abandoning their courses
Driving in France: why are the roads more deadly than in the UK? The number of fatal accidents is high despite good infrastructure
What changes require you to make new property declaration in France? Tax officials have sent out an email reminding people of the rules
Preserving tradition in every drop: The travelling French distiller Meet the fourth-generation mobile Armagnac distiller and his 110-year-old copper still called Marie-Jeanne
Five things they don’t tell you about the President of France A humorous look at the position and pomp of the Président de la République
Explained: Why you might need a certificat d’urbanisme in France How to get the document and what information it reveals about plots of land and planning issues
‘Tiny swimming pools’ catch on in France as easier and cheaper option Smaller pools are not subject to same regulations as larger conventional ones
Next Covid vaccination campaign to begin in France Vulnerable people are advised to get booster shot before influx of visitors for Olympics