Practical property

Does being an EU citizen affect rate of French property taxes?

Two main property taxes may be due each year

France's ‘garden shed tax’ sees 2025 rise, find new rates below

Completed property extensions and new constructions have to be declared to your mairie within 90 days

Is it right time to renegotiate mortgage on French home?

Falling interest rates prompt many homeowners to consider new deals

practical

Legal: French court rules against using neighbour's land for parking

A droit de servitude (right of way) is not for mere convenience, rules France's highest court

French landlord faces questions over near 300% increase in heating costs

Tenants face eviction after increase in bills leaves them facing heavy debts

France's heat pump market drops as second home owners opt for alternatives

Despite government support, declining sales and high costs hinder heat pump adoption, especially in second homes

Little-known Linky meter trick can help people in France save on energy bills

Information transmitters plugged into meter give real-time information about electricity consumption

Over-60s can now unlock capital from their home in France

Mortgage solutions to tap into a niche market remain available after the closure one scheme

MAP: French property price variations in 2024 by region

Only one region saw house prices increase last year

French towns selling off land cheaply benefit from population growth

Land sold for as little as €1/m² helps rejuvenate rural areas and increase commercial activity

What is cost of septic tank diagnostic when selling a French second home?

Tests are mandatory before selling your property

Is there a register of certified local chimney sweeps in France to use?

Only professional sweeps can provide certificate that chimney has been swept

French authorities use AI to help recoup €200 million in unpaid tax from one department alone

Undeclared swimming pools and property extensions can be captured by AI imagery

Is taxe d’habitation required for flats let in French farmhouse?

Taxes due depend on the status of the property

What is the role of an estate agent when buying a property in France?

Some properties are advertised with multiple agencies

Chimney sweeping rules in France: Can you do this yourself - and how often is required by law?

Insurance companies have their own requirements

French court orders withdrawal of Linky smart meter in home after health complaints

Homeowners who do not install a meter now face annual surcharge on electricity bill

New formality for homeowners selling a property in France

The new regulations also apply to those who let a property

Is it possible to leave French second home to nephews and not spouse?

John Kitching, a director of French Law Consultancy Limited, answers a reader query

Five things they don't tell you about wood fires in France

There are various types of logs you can purchase, but you must be careful about sourcing your own from woodlands

Buying property in France: Two key steps

Property lawyer Ronald Sokol explains the practical steps, taxes and rules of purchasing a home

Commune to use drones to enforce planning rules in south of France

The drones will be able to assess expansions to private properties as well as larger constructions by companies

15 changes in France from January 1, 2025

Pensions, gardens, boilers, registering cars and postal costs are just some of the areas which change

The trees in your French garden have a worth - here is how to value them online

Owners of properties can see values rise thanks to trees, similarly to garages or barns

Revaluation of property data used to set local taxes delayed in France but concerns continue

A reform of the valeurs locatives cadastrales, a theoretical annual rental value assigned to every property, has been planned for several years

Are French tax charges on foreign property rental income correct?

France should award tax credits in some situations

Must I continue paying French property tax for second home sold in January?

Property taxes can be split into ten monthly payments

French property: Share of foreign buyers increases for houses - which areas are popular?

Non-French buyers make up more than 10% of purchases of non-new build houses in some departments

Property sales plummet in France but did any areas resist price drops?

Values have increased in the last ten years across the board despite post-Covid slump in sales

How to get retrospective approval for building works on French home after completion

Unauthorised home improvements potentially lead to problems when selling

Is my information safe with French estate agents?

Using major national estate agencies is an option if you need to have more confidence

French grants for home renovations are changing

Act now if you want to fit a wood stove before the MaPrimeRénov grants are reduced in 2025

This will be the minimum property tax increase in 2025 in France

Actual bills are likely to increase by more in many communes

Weighing up costs of renting a home versus buying in France

Rent increases and property price drops make it better to purchase in some areas but significant regional differences persist

Is Capital Gains Tax levied on land in France?

Additional taxes apply in the case of certain sales

Off peak hours, Linky meters: electricity and gas bills are set to change in France

Hours for cheaper electricity set to differ depending on season under new rules

New tough tax rules apply on French holiday rentals from 2025

Short-term holiday lets are the target of a new law

Notaire fees expected to rise for home purchases in France

Local authorities set to increase fees to combat budget cuts

Must you remove snow in front of home in France? Rules to respect

Icicles must be removed from roofs in some cases

What is process for building work near a site listed as historic monument in France?

The Architectes des Bâtiments de France must approve of external renovations within 500m of a listed site

Neighbour’s chimney blows smoke into our French home: what can we do?

Chimney stacks must be a certain length from nearby rooftops

Property slump eases in France but sellers still need to be patient

The drop in prices is steadying but the situation is not the same across the country

How a builder's creative tip helped me in my farmhouse renovation

Nick Inman continues with his project to restore an old farmhouse

What you can challenge on a French taxe d’habitation bill - and how to do it

Over €700 million was erroneously collected for the property tax last year

What are the documents that a landlord cannot request from a tenant in France?

Renters can refuse certain invasive demands from property owners

Properties: see what you can buy in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m

Explore Orne's scenic routes, traditional sausages, and surprisingly affordable property market

Is French second-home property tax levied on garages?

Tax may also be levied on parking spots in certain situations

AirBnb rental laws to be toughened in France

Tax reductions will be partially brought in line for long and short-term rentals, with communes having more power over the market

French fire service asks people to check for empty or unused gas bottles at home

Canisters can be returned to points of sale, reducing fire risk

Are drain unblockers for septic tanks commercially available in France?

Supermarkets offer a variety of standard unblockers

400 French communes declared natural disaster zones after October floods

Property owners have 30 days to make insurance claim

How much does a house cost in ‘the healthiest department’ in France?

This area scored well in a national study on air pollution, green spaces, healthy shops, and hiking trails

French property market: Six key points from latest notaire data

Signs of recovery in view from post-Covid slump although sales numbers and prices remain low

MAP: house price falls in France - see how your area fares in new notaire data

Only a handful of cities avoided a fall in price at the start of 2024

What are the rules for domestic wind turbine installation in France?

Turbines of all sizes can be purchased

Why home insurance costs are expected to rise in France next year

Properties in the south face higher costs as natural disasters and droughts hit hard

Further crackdown on tourist rentals under debate in France

Communes would be given more autonomy to manage tourist rental market as tax allowances drop

Some main homes in France targeted for capital gains tax under new plan

The length of ownership would be an important factor

Is it illegal to fit a boiling water tap in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

How to identify and destroy toxic plants that grow in French gardens

Some can cause illness or even be fatal if eaten

Widow loses right to live in French property due to lack of maintenance

‘Total and long-standing failure’ to maintain home means it requires complete renovation

Why have we not been paying taxe d’habitation on our French second home?

Exemptions exist but only apply in a very limited number of scenarios

What is the procedure if septic tank is classed as non-conforme?

Rules are different when buying a new home

17 new and recent changes in France

Many of the recently-announced measures will come into effect from January 2025

Home buyers given wrong French bank details and must now pay again

Cooperative gave them IBAN of a tradesperson it employed in error. Court has ordered that couple must pay a second €70,000 payment for the property

Explained: rent increase limits in France as latest inflation figures published

Many renters will face price increase in January

More second homes in France face higher tax under new proposal

Far-left proposal would see all communes able to levy additional surcharges on second-home tax

Oise: Properties you can buy from €39,000 to €1.9m in the north of France

The department is just north of Paris so buyers may have to look hard for a bargain

How I revived the rusty railings at our old French farmhouse

Columnist Nick Inman explains how an inventive use of copper tubing gave his garden wall a new lease of life

French property and tax: 7 common questions

Rob Kay, Senior Partner at Blevins Franks, reviews costs, taxes, and estate planning for UK nationals

What are the rules on building a fence at French property?

Everyone has the right to build one on their own land but local planning regulations may apply

What is the ‘soil survey’ required before fitting a septic tank in France?

Local authorities may ask for an étude de sol before you install a new sanitation system that is not connected to sewers

Obligatory garden clearance in France: New campaign clarifies who is impacted

New residents will be told of rules from January onwards

French second home tax notices to be sent in November - who pays it?

Taxe d’habitation was formerly charged on all properties but is now only levied on second-homes

How to see the sale price of property in France near you

A government online tool includes data from the last five years